Drinkwater Named Player of the Year

29 Apr 2014
2 Minutes
Danny Drinkwater picked up the top prize at Leicester City’s 2014 End of Season Awards on Monday night – named Player of the Year by the Club’s supporters.
The 24-year-old midfielder was a popular winner in a sold-out Walkers Hall at King Power Stadium, edging the vote for the night’s major accolade ahead of team-mates Jamie Vardy and Kasper Schmeichel. 

After picking up the main award, Drinkwater told lcfc.com: "I'm massively delighted, it's a bit overwhelming to be honest. Every single player could have won the award this season. It's hard to put it down to anything, but the manager, the staff and the players have all prepared for promotion and I think that's shown."

Drinkwater’s form at the heart of the Leicester City midfield this season has seen him win plenty of plaudits – finishing third in the Football League Championship Player of the Season voting and being named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year alongside Kasper Schmeichel and Wes Morgan. 

The former Manchester United man’s passing has been mesmerising at times this season, and with eight goals to his name as well, his contribution to the team’s success on the field has been huge. 

Hosted by BBC presenter and Leicester City fan Manish Bhasin, the night was a resounding success, and after an incredible season, there were plenty choice for players deserving of recognition. 

Despite Jamie Vardy missing out on the Player of the Year award, he would not leave the event empty-handed however – City’s 16-goal striker earning the vote of his peers to pick up the highly-respected Players’ Player of the Year award. 

The former Fleetwood man has certainly found his feet at Championship level this season and has tormented defences up and down the country with his lightening pace. 

Along with strike partner David Nugent, the duo have forged one of the deadliest partnerships in the league, while there can be little doubt that Vardy has been one of City’s most-improved players this season. 

Elsewhere midfielder Matty James topped the supporters’ vote for Young Player of the Year – polling just ahead of Liam Moore and Anthony Knockaert in a category for players aged 23 and under. 

James has flourished in midfield alongside fellow former Manchester United youngster Drinkwater, putting in a string of dominant performances to help cement City’s place at the top of the league. 

Drinkwater also collected the coveted Goal of the Year prize for his outstanding strike against Watford at King Power Stadium – an award voted for by attendees on the night following a pre-vote at lcfc.com. 

City’s 4-1 victory over Derby County at King Power Stadium in January was selected by Nigel Pearson and his coaching staff as their Performance of the Year. 

The spectacular win in front of the Sky television cameras was City’s third of the season against their then promotion rivals - goals from Ritchie De Laet, Nugent (2) and Vardy moving them seven points clear at the top of the league. 

Steve Beaglehole’s high-flying Development Squad were then recognised for their outstanding season with a huge round of applause from around the room, before Youth Team captain Herve Pepe Ngoma won the vote of the Club’s Academy staff for Academy Player of the Year. 

The scholar has been hugely impressive for the young Foxes this season, putting in some particularly eye-catching displays during this season’s FA Youth Cup fixtures at King Power Stadium. 

Award winners in full: 

Player of the Year Winner: Danny Drinkwater 

Nominees: Jamie Vardy, Kasper Schmeichel 

Players’ Player of the Year Winner: Jamie Vardy 

Nominees: Danny Drinkwater, David Nugent 

Goal of the Year Winner: Danny Drinkwater vs. Watford 

Performance of the Year: Leicester City 4 Derby County 1 

Young Player of the Year Winner: Matty James 

Nominees: Liam Moore, Anthony Knockaert 

Academy Player of the Year Winner: Herve Pepe Ngoma Nominees: Ben Chilwell, Eddy Samba