United players honoured at awards evening last night
Last night's Oxford United 2013/14 awards evening was a great success, with honours going to new and established players alike.With almost 200 in attendance, an auction raised almost £2,000 for the Oxford United Youth & Community Trust, with one item - manager for the day at a home pre-season friendly - realising £600.
The first award of the evening went to the Oxford United Youth Team Player of the Year, which was presented to Josh Ashby, who was recently awarded a professional contract, by the Youth & Community Trust director, Simon Lenagan.
This was followed by Mick Brown presenting away photographer and home scoreboard operator Darrell Fisher with the Club Person of the Year award, Darrell putting his camera down briefly to receive it.
Following the dinner, raffle and auction, hosted excellently by the double act from Isinglass Consulting, the awards ceremony resumed with James Constable picking up a double; he won the Oxford United Goal of the Season award, as voted for by the fans, for his spectacular strike at Plymouth last month, followed by the 2013/14 Golden Boot award, presented by Bang & Olufsen, for his haul of 12 goals. The sixth consecutive season in which Beano has been the club's leading scorer.
The next award was for the Oxford United Young Player of the Season, which was won by rising star and Kidlington boy Josh Ruffels and presented by Avalon Pools.
Next up was another double, this time for long-serving goalkeeper Ryan Clarke. First, Darrell Fisher presented Clarke with the Andrew Knapton Memorial Trophy for the supporters' player of the season, followed by assistant head coach Mickey Lewis presenting Ryan with the Players' Player of the Season award.
The event was superbly hosted by Nathan Cooper and opened with a speech by chairman Ian Lenagan.