RYAN FALLOWFIELD labelled his Billy Fenton Clubman of the Year award as an ‘honour’ after being presented with the award on Saturday afternoon.

Fallowfield watched York City’s 2-0 victory over Woking from the stands as he served his one-match ban, following a second yellow card in the Minstermen’s 1-0 defeat to Eastleigh over a week ago.

The right-back thanked supporters for their backing in earning the award, and discussed his red card and the recent transition into centre-back which has seen Fallowfield blossom alongside the leadership of Callum Howe.

“It’s an honour,” Fallowfield enthused.

“I see some of the names on there, some of the lads I have even played with, David McGurk when I was 18-years-old.

“It is a huge honour, there are other lads who quite easily could have won that award today and I am grateful to the fans that voted for me.

“I was more nervous sat behind the dugout, than actually playing!

“It was very, very tough, I’ve still got chilly legs now! It’s a massive relief, the boys played so good.

“I’ve just been talking about it then but it was a rush of blood, there was no real thought process behind it and for an experienced player I let the lads down massively.

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“I let myself down, I am very grateful that today the lads were able to get the three points, which is huge.

“Even if it wasn’t a yellow card, there was a very good chance that it [Fallowfield’s challenge] could have been a red card regardless.

“On my part, it’s probably a good thing that it was only a one match ban rather than a three match ban.

“It was stupid from me, again I will reiterate that I am so happy that the lads have won it today.

“Today has helped massively and you can tell from the reaction of the fans, this place can be a real good feelgood factor and can really get rocking if we play like we are.

“We can’t just do it with six games to go, we’ve got to do it throughout the season.”

Fallowfield went on to discuss his recent transition into centre-back, with the vice-captain impressing in recent weeks with his performances.

The defender also admitted that he doesn’t expect to be immediately reinstated back into the eleven for the final trip of the season to Solihull Moors on Saturday, April 20 (12.15pm), crediting Adam Crookes after his return to the squad from injury.

“It happened in a situation with Will Smith where he couldn’t come to the game.

“The gaffer pulled me into his office before the Aldershot game and he just said what he wanted me to do, the best thing for me was that because I found out so late, it was the best situation for me because I didn’t have time to think about it.

“It’s a position that I’m not used to at all, the best thing for me was that me and Cal get along and he has my back and I have his back, and then the following week, he gets ill!

“It was not longer Callum playing, but I do enjoy playing there.

“It wasn’t as fluent today just because of how they set-up, I thought they pressed really high, but the gaffer is playing to us that it is clear to see now that we are trying to play football.

“It’s now four wins out of six, unlucky at Halifax and last week was down to me, I’ll take full responsibility.

“We were probably unlucky again apart from the two sending offs.

“Crookesy was superb, this is the game that we’re in, if people come in and do well then you have got to respect that they have done the job.

“Personally, I don’t expect to come back in but that is up to the gaffer, he [Adam Crookes] was superb alongside Callum and we’ve won 2-0.

“Me and Cal travel in together, and I was talking to him in the car and told him that I actually enjoy it.

“I said to Callum that I’m enjoying it, but we are winning, if we were to go on and lose four games on the bounce then I might say that this isn’t for me.

“At the end of the day I’m on the field and I’m playing, and as a lad that is all you want to do regardless of where you play.

“You want to feel comfortable, and to be honest I do feel quite comfortable when I play there.

“If I have to go in at right-back then I will go in at right-back, I could go in at left-back too if needed.

“I say to Callum to go and head it, and I’ll go around you every time that I can.

“We’re always talking to each other whilst we’re playing and bounce off of each other, we benefit each other when we play alongside each other.

“That’s not to say that me and Callum are going to play, because we’ve got more than me and Callum, there’s Tyler [Cordner], Will [Smith] and Crookesy, we’ve got some good centre-halves.

“I want to play next week obviously, but Crookesy has come in today and has done really well.”