It is awards season, the time of year where all media outlets choose their best manager, players, moments and anything else they can find an award for.
The team on Match Of The Day 2 announced the save of the month at the weekend. The deserved winner was David De Gea who in truth could have had the top three credited to the Spanish international after a wonderful season between the sticks for Manchester United.
Player of the year gongs have been handed out to Eden Hazard of Chelsea and Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur and again there is little argument with either.
While those three awards are undoubted, the goal of the season is always one that is very difficult to decide. Should it be a team goal with plenty of passing which results with the ball in the net or a special effort from long range? I find it tough to make my mind up.
The club awards were held at the Fairfield Halls last week. The goal of the season was awarded to Mile Jedinak for his very special free kick against Liverpool. Perhaps it is easier to decide within a club which should receive such recognition but had it been a week or so later then surely the Jason Puncheon effort against the very same opponents would have run Jedinak’s effort close.
The big winner of the night was Scott ‘Zi’ Dann who deservedly walked away with the Player of the Year award. It seemed a split decision on social media with fans had choosing either Dann or his teammate James McArthur. The Scottish midfielder has had an equally impressive season for the club and took the Vice Presidents Player of the Year award.
There were plenty of awards handed out to academy players with Sullay Kaikai receiving the Development and Vice Presidents Young Player of the Year awards to add to his Young Player of the Year award from Cambridge United where he spent a few months on loan. Quite a haul that.
Young Michael Phillips received the Paul Brooks Academy Player of the Year while highly rated Kian Flanagan was the Oasis Shirley Park Young Player of the Year.
The Palace Ladies Player of Year was Sarah Jones and long serving goalkeeper Sam Saint received a special award ahead of her testimonial game against a squad made up of Holmesdale Fanatics, bloggers and sponsors Lark Insurance.
A Special Achievement Award was presented to former Palace captain Geoff Thomas who is soon to embark on a Tour de France charity ride with Lance Armstrong to raise money for his very special cause.
Other very worthy award winners from the evening were;
- CPFC Foundation Coach of the Year Award – Michael Lacey
- CPFC Foundation Employee of the Year Award – Rob Perrett
- Study Centre Achievement Awards – Sam Smith and Neil Andrews
- CPFC Employee of the Year Award – Chris Woods
- CPFC Matchday Employees of the Year – Robert Bragg and Kelvin Thomas
- Supporters Trust Fan of the Year – Lou Arnold
We would like to congratulate each and every award winner from the 2014/15 Premier League season. The amount of awards handed out is perhaps about the right number. I was hoping for ‘Best Beard’ award to be handed out to Joe Ledley and a ‘Worst Haircut’ award to be given to Marouane Chamakh. I could go on …. Best Tattoo? Best Celebration?
With the awards being handed out, it also means that the curtain is slowly being drawn on on another wonderful season for the mighty red and blue. We can look ahead to a third successive campaign in the top division with plenty of anticipation. Yes, I did say the very same this time last season and I would not have been alone in doing so.
Things are always likely to change and the club will no doubt need to evolve in a real attempt to continue along the path of progression. This is a real moment in time that the club can really take advantage, particularly in terms of arguably the highest profile that the club has ever experienced.
As a fan I sincerely hope that we do not have to sell any of the players that have become real assets this season. If Pardew decides to do so, then it will be for a reason and I am sure many will back him to the hilt. This is an important summer and one that could define our future.
I firmly believe that for the first time in a long long while we have the right men in charge of the club at ownership level and the right manager in charge of the team to take us forward.
And now for the final award. Signing of the season.
Drum roll please …..
Step forward Mr Alan Pardew and take a bow.
