Luke O’Nien and Dan Neil brought home awards on Sunday night at the Football Writers’ Association awards ceremony.
Dan Neil received the North East Football Writers' Association’s Young Player Of The Year award after his recent performances in the last 12 months.
The past year has seen the youngster claim many plaudits for his remarkable year after many inspiring individual performances in the league in his debut season. He also made his International debut in November after playing against Portugal for the England Under-20 squad. Then a month later, he received the EFL Young Player Of The Month Award.
Upon receiving the honour, Neil said: “I’m honoured to win this award because I know how big it is within the North East, but it was a surprise because this is my first real season playing first-team football and I know the players that have won it in the past. Of course, it means more because it is a local award and there is a lot of top talent within the region, so to be recognised as one of the best is a real privilege.”
The last Sunderland player to have won the prestigious award was none other than birthday boy Jordan Pickford after he won it back to back in 2016 and 2017.
Luke O’Nien was awarded with the North East Football Writers’ Association’s Personality Of The Year. In association with the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, the award is given to someone who uses their position in football to benefit their community.
O'Nien managed to raise over £7,000 for NHS Charities Together whilst keeping fans active through his daily YouTube fitness sessions during lockdown.
He said: “I feel very humbled and very privileged to receive this award, particularly because there are so many people out there who have done far more than I have over the last year or so."
“During the first lockdown we could see NHS workers putting their lives on the line to save other people and the only way most of us could really contribute was by listening to their advice and staying at home."
“After a little while, staying at home became a challenge in itself. It was a tough time for a lot of people. The idea behind the YouTube videos originally came about because Georgia, my fiancé, has a little brother, Ethan, who had energy to burn and we were trying to find ways to tire him out! Then we thought it would be great if other people wanted to join in and raise money for the NHS at the same time."
“The response we got was amazing. We had a little target and we smashed it. Ethan was the star of the show really! But it just shows what you can do when everybody pulls together."
“Ever since I’ve come up to Sunderland, I’ve been blown away by the spirit and generosity of people in the North East. This makes me feel very honoured and it really means a lot. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
