END OF SEASON AWARD WINNERS

A host of Men's and Women's players were honoured at this evening's End of Season Dinner, sponsored by Greene King.

Close to 700 people attended the dinner at Venue 16 in Ipswich, at the end of a stunning season which saw the Blues promoted to the Premier League. 

The event came just a few hours on from the Blues parade through the centre of Ipswich, with thousands of supporters lining the streets and flocking to Christchurch Park to celebrate promotion.

A highlight of the evening saw nearly £45,000 raised for the Ipswich Town Foundation through the evening's auction and raffle, with the biggest lot of the night seeing a signed Ed Sheeran guitar fetch £18,000.

The centrepiece of the evening saw a host of awards handed out, with the winners as follows:

Men’s Player of the Year, sponsored by Greene King – Sam Morsy 

The skipper has led from the front once again throughout the season, bringing control, drive and a robustness to the Town midfield, while also scoring three vital goals, including the late winner away at Watford in December.  

Women’s Player of the Year, sponsored by S&P – Sophie Peskett 

In what has been her first full season back from an ACL injury, Sophie has enjoyed an outstanding season which has seen her named the FAWNL Southern Premier Division Player of the Year award, thanks to her contribution of 12 goals and 20 assists.

Men’s top goalscorer, sponsored by Birketts – Conor Chaplin/Nathan Broadhead 

The award is shared this season, with both Conor and Nathan scoring 13 goals, all of which came in the Championship. Conor’s highlights include winners away at QPR and Sheffield Wednesday early in the season, as well as a superb header at home to Sunderland in January and the only goal in a vital success at Blackburn in March.  

Nathan scored Town’s first goal of the season, away at Sunderland, with 10 of Broady’s 13 goals coming in victories as he played a major role in the Blues’ promotion to the Premier League.  

Women’s top goalscorer, sponsored by MSC – Natasha Thomas 

It’s been another season packed with goals for Natasha Thomas, with the striker netting 25 times in 29 appearances during a campaign which saw her finish with the league’s Golden Boot. Two of those goals came in Town’s superb victory over Chatham at Portman Road in March. The campaign also saw her reach the 200 appearance mark while also becoming the first female player to reach 150 goals for the club. 

Men’s Players’ Player of the Year, sponsored by Halo – Leif Davis 

Voted for by the first-team squad, Leif came out on top during a season where he adapted to life in the Championship seamlessly. Contributing in both defence and attack, he scored vital goals against Bristol City and Southampton while leading the league in assists with 18 – the most in Championship history by a defender. He was also named in the EFL Championship team of the season. 

Women’s Players’ Player of the Year, sponsored by Kesgrave Kitchen – Sophie Peskett 

After being voted Player of the Year by supporters, Sophie has also been honoured by her teammates. An exceptional season, packed with goals and assists, also included a goal at Portman Road in the 5-0 victory over Chatham Town. 

Men’s Goal of the Season, sponsored by DPS Tech – Wes Burns (v Coventry, 2 December 2023) 

A goal seen around the world, Burns finished superbly with the outside of his foot to find the top corner against the Sky Blues, but the build-up play was just as spectacular. It involved almost the entire team, with the ball moved from front to back before Burns hit the back of the net, winning an award voted for by supporters. 

Women’s Goal of the Season, sponsored by Farnham Leisure – Natasha Thomas (v MK Dons, 10 September, 2023)

A brilliant volley from Thomas secured victory away at MK Dons in September, sparking wild celebrations as the Town Women players secured three points in dramatic fashion thanks to the striker's late strike.

Academy Player of the Year, sponsored by OCS – Finley Barbrook 

Finley was nominated as captain of Town’s U21 side at the age of only 18, putting in some superb displays for the club while also spending the second half of the season on loan at Chelmsford, where he made real progress to help the Essex club finish second in National League South. Finley displays the club’s values and morales on a daily basis and is a positive role model for other players in the academy, while also engaging in the club’s work in the community. 

The Philip Hope-Cobbold Award – Harry Clarke 

This award is given to players who go above and beyond when representing the club in the community, with Harry conducting the most community visits of any member of the squad with nine. He has attended the Foundation’s Refugee Football sessions, Soccer Schools, Holiday Camps, Christmas Hospital visits and many more, showing a genuine enthusiasm for the club’s community work.  

The Philip Hope-Cobbold Award – Kyra Robertson 

This award is given to players who go above and beyond when representing the club in the community, with Kyra representing Town Women exceptionally. The midfielder showed real care and compassion while taking part in two Christmas hospital visits in two days, while also spending significant time meeting with young supporters before and after Town Women’s game at Portman Road in March.

Men’s Young Player of the Year, sponsored by Fleximize – Omari Hutchinson 

An award voted for by the Club’s coaching staff, Omari has enjoyed an excellent first full season of senior football, scoring 11 goals in 50 games. A mainstay of the starting XI during the closing stages of the season, his superb brace at Hull was as spectacular as it was vital, before the young attacker finished the season in style with goal in the promotion-clinching victory over Huddersfield. 

Women’s Young Player of the Year, sponsored by QTV – Leah Mitchell 

Still only 18, Leah scored Town Women’s first goal of the season away at Cardiff City and has been a regular throughout the campaign, featuring 26 times and scoring twice. She has played a variety of positions, including right back, centre back, and central midfield, making real progress to become an important member of the side.