Last night, Sunderland's men, women and academy teams gathered for their 2023/24 end of season awards night, celebrating the stand-out players from their respective campaigns. Here's how the awards went...
MEN
First up, Pierre Ekwah was named as Sunderland's 2023/24 Community Players of the season. This recognises the Frenchman's impact off the pitch and in the city. The Frenchman was recognised for engaging with and supporting the Foundation of Light throughout the season, always with that infectious smile of course. He was beaming when he picked up the award, although why did nobody fix his bow tie before taking the picture?..
Next is an award that 99% of our squad would be eligible for, the 23/24 Young Player of the Season. Dan Neil rightly collected that award after a stellar campaign, where he has played an insane amount of minutes and become one of the dressing room leaders. It's often easy to forget h's only 22 because he plays with such maturity and conducts himself well in interviews, but the midfielder has such a high ceiling. Hopefully he can go right to the very top (with us!).
Voted for by his teammates, Jack Clarke was named the 2023/24 Players' Player of the Season. Of course, his 15 goals mean it would never be anyone else. There isn't really much to say about the winger that hasn't already been said. Inevitably, he also won this year's Player of the Season.
Niall Huggins' incredible strike against Watford was voted Goal of the Season - a nice moment for Huggins to collect an award after his season was frustratingly cut short back in December. The fullback jinked past several opponents before blasting it into the top corner and going mad in his celebrations.
WOMEN
20-year-old Mary McAteer was named as SAFC Women's Young Player of the Season. Well deserved after a great season and, having represented Wales at senior level, it's exciting to see what next season will bring for the young winger.
Talented goalkeeper Claudia Moan was voted by her teammates as 23/24's Players' Player of the Season, after a brilliant campaign which saw her earn the Barclay's Women's Championship Golden Glove award. The 25-year-old has kept 10 clean sheets in 25 matches and put her name right up there with the best in the league. Plus, she's been a Sunderland fan since birth thanks to her dad! As a local keeper, she's alongside the likes of Jordan Pickford and Anthony Patterson in recent years.
For the second year running, Emily Scarr earned the 2023/24 Player of the Season award. The winger/striker's seven goals were crucial in Sunderland's promotion push, which so nearly came to fruition. The 24-year-old used to play for Middlesbrough but is now an important figure on Wearside and, as well as the likes of McAteer and Moan, looks to have a bright future in the women's game!
DEVELOPMENT
In other news, young Harry Wood was named our Junior Player of the Season. The young man looked delighted with his achievement - congratulations Harry! Bring your boots and you might get on for the last ten minutes against Sheffield Wednesday...
Chris Rigg collected the Professional Development Phase Player of the Season. Admittedly, it is unclear exactly what the "Professional Development Phase is. Looking at press releases etc, it is lots of Speakman language and management word soup. But obviously, it's good that Riggy has been recognised for his success this season. Incredibly still 16, he's got six years to win the award Dan Neil has picked up!
Finally, goalkeeping coach Mark Prudhoe was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding service to Sunderland AFC. He's been at the club for over 15 years and is a legend - known around the place for his hard work and pure commitment to coaching. Congratulations, Pruds.
