Maddison & O’Brien Scoop POTS Prizes At LCFC End Of Season Awards
- James Maddison and Shannon O’Brien win Mens and Womens Player of the Season
- Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall picked up a brace of accolades at the awards ceremony on Monday night
- The Academy graduate won Mens Players’ Player and Young Player of the Season
- Goalkeeper Demi Lambourne was named as the Womens Players’ Player of the Season
- Youri Tielemans’ stunner against Manchester United won the Belgian the Mens Goal of the Season
- O’Brien also scooped the Womens Goal of the Season award
A blue-carpet event hosted at King Power Stadium, the evening celebrated the past 12 months for the Foxes across all levels and age groups – a year which included a first-ever European semi-final appearance for the mens side and a debut year in the Barclays FA Women's Super League for LCFC Women.
After netting in City’s 5-1 victory at Watford on Sunday, Maddison, 25, is now on 16 strikes for the 2021/22 campaign – his most fruitful year in front of goal since joining Leicester in 2018 – and is the first player since 2018 to register 10+ goals and assists in a single season.
Maddison said: "I’m very happy, very humbled. I want to say thank you to every fan who voted for me. It’s very much appreciated. These are the moments you look back on when your career’s finished. I’m over the moon with it, especially with the team we’ve got, the talented team we have here at Leicester."
O’Brien, a star of LCFC Women’s historic promotion-winning feat last term, netted three times across 27 appearances as the Foxes secured survival in the top tier for the first time. She also made her England Under-23s debut after impressing at King Power Stadium.
Speaking later, she said: "I didn’t expect it, I’m a bit shocked to be fair, it’s just incredible for me. At the end of my first proper year here, I couldn’t ask for more. I’ve loved every second [at LCFC]. It’s been an incredible year for me. We stayed up in the WSL, which is the most important thing, it’s been brilliant."
There was an award double also for 23-year-old Academy graduate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who concludes his breakthrough year among the senior squad with the Mens Players’ Player of the Season and Mens Young Player of the Season awards.
City’s No.22 – who joined the Club at the age of eight in 2006 – found the net in style in the Premier League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League this term, making a total of 42 appearances for Leicester.
Elsewhere, goalkeeper Demi Lambourne, 26, was selected by her team-mates to receive the Womens Players’ Player of the Season accolade. Currently the longest-serving player at LCFC Women, the shot-stopper is also the record appearance-holder within the current squad with 57 outings.
The Club’s Mens Goal of the Season honour, meanwhile, was presented to 25-year-old Belgium international Youri Tielemans – for a sensational curled effort against Manchester United in a 4-2 triumph over the Red Devils at King Power Stadium back in October.
O’Brien scooped her second award of the night when the former Coventry United Women midfielder collected the Womens Goal of the Season prize, after hitting a first-time half-volley for the Foxes in November’s 2-1 Continental Tyres League Cup victory at Durham.
At Academy level, defender Lewis Brunt – who made senior Premier League and Emirates FA Cup debuts for the Club this year – picked up the Mens Development Squad Player of the Season award at the end of the 21-year-old's first year at Leicester City.
Sammy Braybrooke’s impressive form was also recognised on Filbert Way, with the 18-year-old central midfielder taking home the Mens Academy Player of the Season trophy. Braybrooke has played for both the Under-23s and Under-18s sides this year, helping the latter reach the semi-finals of the Premier League Cup and the last-eight of the FA Youth Cup.
Finally, youngster Lydia Tilbury-Henry – who netted for LCFC Women's Academy Team as they won the FA WSL Academy League Plate Final in April – was awarded with the Womens Academy Player of the Season, recognising a year of rapid development for the 18-year-old at Belvoir Drive.
Awards winners in full
Mens Player of the Season – James Maddison
Womens Player of the Season – Shannon O’Brien
Mens Players’ Player of the Season – Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Womens Players’ Player of the Season – Demi Lambourne
Mens Young Player of the Season – Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Mens Goal of the Season – Youri Tielemans (vs. Man Utd)
Womens Goal of the Season – Shannon O’Brien (vs. Durham Women)
Mens Development Squad Player of the Season – Lewis Brunt
Mens Academy Player of the Season – Sammy Braybrooke
Womens Academy Player of the Season – Lydia Tilbury-Henry