Oxford United Women celebrated their achievements from the 2019/20 season with an online awards evening last weekend, where the winners of several player awards were announced.
The awards evening kicked off with the winner of the Young Player of the Year award, which was given to Carly Johns. Having progressed through United’s RTC system, Carly enjoyed a successful first full season in senior football in 2019/20, also becoming the youngest scorer of a hat-trick in United Women’s history in the 11-1 victory against North Leigh back in October.
Upon receiving the award, Carly said: “This is my first season in women’s football, so I’m very proud of this achievement. We’ve got real quality in the team and it’s a privilege to work with some great teammates. For my first step up to women’s football, they have all been really welcoming.”
“Now next season I have got to just carry on working hard, keep learning from the coaches and players, and keep on enjoying my football really.”
Soon after, the winner of Player’s Player of the Year was unveiled and awarded to midfielder Kayleigh Hines – with her stunning long-range goal against Portsmouth at Court Place Farm earlier this season also scooping up the Fan’s Goal of the Year award. “There are so many who could’ve been voted Players Player of the Year, but I’m delighted to have won it,” Kayleigh said.
“Being voted by the players, people who see you day-to-day, people who see the best and the worst of you in training – to get their vote obviously means a lot.”
“It’s important to, even though the season has been ruled null and void, mark it with the awards night. Obviously it was different to how we usually do it, but over the course of the season everyone has still committed their time and effort, so it was really important to highlight that.”
Kayleigh also recalled the moment she struck her goal against Portsmouth to win Fan’s Goal of the Year: “I remember that it wasn’t too far away from the edge of the box, I was being closed down, and I just concentrated on getting it on target. The way that the game was going as well, a goal was due and we deserved it, so it was great to get on the scoresheet and settle us down a bit.”
Having notched 16 goals to her name across the 2019/20 season, United forward Georgia Timms was presented with her top goalscorer trophy, as Georgia Clifford was also recognised for winning Fan’s Player of the Year.
You can hear Georgia Clifford’s reaction to winning Fan’s Player of the Year HERE.