Tommy Smith was named Town’s Supporters’ Player of the Year at this tonight’s Player Awards Evening, beating his central defensive partner Luke Chambers in the second and last year’s winner Aaron Cresswell in third.

Smith said he was honoured to pick up the award: “It’s a proud moment. The fans have always backed me from when I was in the youth team and it’s a brilliant feeling to be receiving this award.”

He says Town’s excellent recent defensive record hasn’t just been down to the back four: “It’s going well, me and Chambo have been getting the accolades but the whole team have been working hard defensively.

“You saw the other week Frank [Nouble] got his two goals from closing down people. Perhaps we weren’t doing that earlier on in the season.”

The 23-year-old New Zealand international admitted that at one point he wondered whether he might have to move on having fallen out of favour under previous manager Paul Jewell: “I never gave up, I thought at one point maybe my time was up, but obviously I’ve now got myself in the team and hopefully I can go from strength to strength.”

Smith, who came through the ranks of the Town academy having joined as a scholar at 16 after moving back to the UK from New Zealand, is confident that the Blues can push on during 2013/14: “We’ve finished the season strongly and hopefully we can carry that momentum on into next season.”

The centre-half also added the Junior Blues Player of the Season award and the Away Match Passport holders’ Player of the Year gongs to the Boxholders and Sponsors’ Player of the Year trophy he won at the End of Season Dinner on Tuesday.

Striker Jack Marriott won the Dale Roberts Academy Player of the Year award, while Paul Cooledge received the Young Fan of the Year trophy from his favourite Blues player Michael Chopra.

Presentations were also made to all this season’s full debutants with the first team squad, manager Mick McCarthy, assistant Terry Connor and their staff in attendance.

Meanwhile, on-loan Celtic man Daryl Murphy says he’d be happy to join the Blues on a permanent basis this summer with his contract at Parkhead up at the end of June: “I’d love to be a part of that future here. I’ve made no secret that I love it here at Ipswich and I’m settled in the area.

"If something can be done then I would love to stay here on a permanent deal.”

Photo: Action Images

StochesStotasBlewe added 22:40 - Apr 27 Well done Tommy. Well deserved.
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hogster1970 added 22:54 - Apr 27 well done tommy you deserve it
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NorthSTANDER_ITFC added 23:01 - Apr 27 The young fan of the year is a Chopra fan, Christ of all the people you'd want your son to choose as a role model you wouldn't pick Chopra
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miltonsnephew added 23:03 - Apr 27 Please if any scouts come on here please look at Dave Winfield of Wycombe wanderers!! :)
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riley26 added 23:28 - Apr 27 Not for the first time I hold my hands up as one of the many who thought Tommy was simply not good enough. Great to see him prove me wrong, hope he is with us for many years, a future captain. We fans often complain about the players we let go too early, I think many of us would have discarded Tommy a while back, thankfully the people in charge kept him on!
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Chicago_Blue added 23:55 - Apr 27 Well done Tommy boy - well deserved!
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whittonite added 07:12 - Apr 28 well done tommy smith,outstanding improvement,how can we not be exited about next season.we now have a core to our team.looking at our squad i think there will be more in than out during the summer.with our team now looking the part,(hopefully not putting the mockers on it!)the players who do come to town will want to sign up asap,instead of all this farting about and not having a clue what our best team is until the end of january transfer period...!i would also like to to thank dj campbell and mcgoldrick for scoring the goals that kept us in this division.and also super mick mccarthy and t.c.(top cat? he is now!)terry connor for restoring some pride for the town faithful .

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LankHenners added 08:52 - Apr 28 Fully deserved!
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Ipswich24 added 09:20 - Apr 28 Fantastic he has been brilliant and nobody else comes near him this season. I made him man of the match in over half the games. Has really grown into a solid defender. He is getting better with every game. I was one last season who said he is a liability but he was playing alongside Delaney. Brilliant achievement Tommy may you continue playing like this for many years.

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IvorFeeling added 09:40 - Apr 28 Riley - i was also a non believer so hats off as you say to prove us wrong. Well done Tommy fully deserved.
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oldelsworthyfan added 10:04 - Apr 28 Well deserved!! Tommy Smith's improvenment has had so much to do with the Manager, the Coach and the players around him. Confidence is a wonderful thing for a footballer and Tommy has been the first to recognise how much he owes to others. International football would have helped.
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TimmyH added 10:47 - Apr 28 Great season Tommy - hope your still here for next season, also well done to Luke Chambers who has also played well. @riley26 - at least you admit it! there are a few others on here saying he was no where near the standard needed.
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TractorCam added 10:56 - Apr 28 Well deserved Tommy
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jas0999 added 12:41 - Apr 28 Yet another player badly treated by the last management. Mick gives players a chance, even if a mistake is made. Congrats to tommy. Well deserved. Mick deserves credit for sticking with him and giving encouragement. His treatment of players like tommy and Luke hyam is miles better and we are now reaping the rewards.
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Lightningboy added 13:57 - Apr 28 Well done Tommy..you've been a rock.
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 14:39 - Apr 28 Well done Tommy! I too thought his time was up circa 2011/12. What a happy ending (and beginning). Ironic that for all the hand wringing about people having thought we should have let him go, coming out and admitting (like me) they were wrong. Meanwhile, on another TWTD page people are saying get rid of other players like Chopra and Martin. If Chopra scores 25 for us next season, we will be desperate for him to re-new his contract. Perhaps we need to get off individual players' backs a bit and give 'em a chance.

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ITFCMarcus00 added 01:56 - Apr 29 Dropping Tommy at the start of the season done him the world of good! Well done Tommy you disserved it!
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kangablue added 10:16 - Apr 29 Well deserved tommy
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Pendejo added 12:56 - Apr 29 Are you all too young? Lightening Boy almost got it.... ROCK ON TOMMY! From shipping goals to shut out success; congratulations to all the team. Now next season Tommy, more shut outs and a goal record akin to Steve Bruce - no pressure...
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h32 added 19:05 - Apr 30 Well done Tommy - not at all surprised at the excellent progress made this season - was always going to happen, and spotted by anyone who knows the game well. Excellent Player - with the best still to come. Rock on Tommy.
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