The club hosted their annual awards night in more salubrious surroundings this year at the Odeon in Leicester Square.
Fans, players and staff alike congregated in the location more known for movie premiers and even though there were plenty of critics on the choice of venue, those that attended enjoyed the evening.
It was no surprise that the player that stepped up for the main award was Wilfried Zaha who took the Player of the Year award and rightly so. He has had a incredible season returning to the form that we enjoyed before he had that infamous spell at Manchester United. Zaha came into his own when his wing partner Yannick Bolasie suffered an injury in the win away at Stoke forcing him out for several weeks. It put the pressure on Zaha to deliver as the main outlet for the team and he excelled.
There is something to be said for receiving the Players Player of the Year award and this season Scott Dann took the honours. He remains one of the best centre backs ever to pull on the red and blue shirt and his teammates certainly rate him highly too, not just on match days but in and around the training ground. That is what this award is all about.
With the FA Cup final on the horizon, it was perhaps perfect timing with the Special Achievement Award going for former boss Steve Coppell. He was of course the manager that steered Palace to the cup final in 1990 and went so close to bringing the trophy to South London.
The Goal of the Season award was expected to go to Lee Chung-yong for his screamer at Stoke but Jason Puncheon was the winner for his emotional yet terrific strike against Norwich City.
As our readers know only too well, we here at TEB have been advocates of the Palace Ladies for a few seasons now and it was fantastic to see Gemma Bryan pick up the Palace Ladies Player of the Year award. The double winning ladies have had a fantastic season, ending the campaign unbeaten in the league. Gemma has been a major part of that success and is a worthy award winner.
In the youth teams awards, Development Player of the Year went to Hiram Boateng who is enjoying a loan spell at Plymouth Argyle who are in the League 2 play-offs. The Under 18s Player of the Year was handed to Luke Dreher who made it on to the first team bench this season. The Paul Brooks Under 9-16 Player of the Year was awarded to the highly rated Joseph Hungbo.
Other award winners on the night are listed below and all the team here at TEB congratulate everyone involved in the evening and most of all, to those that proudly returned home clutching an award.
Vice Presidents’ Player of the Year – Wilfried Zaha
Vice Presidents’ Young Player of the Year – Sullay Kaikai
Foundation Coach of the Year – Jamie Broughton
Foundation Employee of the Year – Michael Harrington
Study Centre Student of the Year – Daisy Price
Study Centre Volunteer of the Year – Kevin Martin
Supporters’ Trust Fan of the Year – Luke Turner
Long Service Award – Phil Alexander
Palace Employee of the Year – Emilio Okang
Matchday Employees of the Year – Amanda Breach and Michael Stevens
Matchday Special Recognition – Richard Hill
Other than the awards, a much anticipated part of the evening is always the unveiling of the new kits. As we all know, and Steve Parish eluded to it on stage, that images of the new home and away strip were leaked in the build up to the night, much to the displeasure of the Palace chairman.
Much has been said about both kits all across social media including our very own Jack Fitzgerald who really does not like them but while the away kit perhaps edges it in most fans eyes, I am really getting used to the home one now and actually rather like it.
Whether or not this awards night was an experimental location in the West End, most that attended seemed to enjoy the evening for what it was even if cider and beer were served in plastic cups with a straw. It is a cinema, after all.
