Preston North End have announced the winners of the end of season awards on Sunday night. In a change to previous years the club released a pre-recorded video on YouTube.
Recent seasons have seen the awards take place on the Deepdale pitch after the last game of the season. But with the last home match coming on a Monday night the club have chosen to switch things round for this year.
The awards look to have taken place at the training ground earlier in the week and interviews with the winners were recorded shortly after.
Scholar of the Year
Max Wilson was the winner of the first award, with the youth team captain having led the side to victory in the Alliance Cup earlier this month. The 17-year-old midfielder will be hoping to kick on even further next season.
PFA Community Champion and Community Player of the Year
Dai Cornell was the winner of these two awards which are given to the player who effectively gives the most off the pitch. There are plenty of community initiatives that Preston North End take part in, and players are able to get involved in many different campaigns.
Our reserve goalkeeper has lent a hand in the sunflower scheme, which offers help to supporters with hidden disabilities. Supporters can now choose to wear a Sunflower lanyard to share that they have a disability or condition which may not be immediately apparent.
Young Player of the Year
Kian Best was announced as the winner of this award by Ryan Lowe. The Preston-born defender follows in the footsteps of another left-back in Alvaro Fernandez who won the award last season.
Best was just 17 when he was handed a start in the first game of the season. He kept his place for the following five games before injured players returned and Liam Millar was brought in as another option on the left.
He’s played 13 games in total so far this season and Preston should look to give him more opportunities next season as he has the chance to become a real asset for the club. Best has also received international honours this season, having played five games for the England Under 19’s squad.
Goal of the Season
Liam Millar’s wonderful winner against Leeds United on Boxing Day was announced as the choice for goal of the season. Millar beat off competition from Alan Browne, Ben Whiteman, Will Keane, Milutin Osmajic, Brad Potts, Emil Riis, Robbie Brady and Liam Lindsay.
Alan Browne can perhaps feel harshly done by as his effort at Ewood Park against Blackburn Rovers is certainly one that will live in the memory banks but Millar received 39% of the vote from the fans.
Hopefully there will be an opportunity to see Millar and Browne score more goals next season, with both players’ futures up in the air now.
Player’s Player of the Year
Liam Lindsay was chosen as the winner of this award by his fellow teammates. A rock in defence all season wrong, the Scotsman’s defensive work has clearly not gone unrecognised by the team.
The centre-back has played every single game this season, and is an important part of Lowe’s backline. Lindsay passed 100 appearances for the club earlier this season, and his favourite moment of this season was understandably his last minute winner against Blackburn at Ewood Park.
Sir Tom Finney Player of the Year
Alan Browne was voted as the fans choice for Player of the Year. The club captain has had a solid season, and has led by example on many occasions. Browne reached the 400 game mark for The Lilywhites this season, and fans have seen the 29-year-old go from a boy to a man in his 10 years at the club.
The Irishman picked up goals against Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers, Huddersfield Town, and Leeds United this season. It is the second time Browne has won this award, and Lindsay and Millar are likely to have completed the top three for this. Fans perhaps chose Browne for this one to remind him how much he is loved by the club and to help push him into signing a new deal.
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