Skipper Luke Chambers was named the official Supporters Club’s Player of the Year at the Player Awards evening in Legends this evening.

Chambers (pictured above receiving his award from club sponsor Damian Anderson), received 29 per cent of the vote but was run close for the gong by runner-up Matthew Pennington (26 per cent) with Trevoh Chalobah third (19 per cent).

The Blues skipper, who recently signed a new contract, also won the Ultimate Supporters Award (formerly the Away Match Passport Holders Award), while Jack Lankester was named the Dale Roberts Academy Player of the Year.

Manager Paul Lambert, warmly welcomed by a sell-out crowd, was also handed an award by Supporters Club veteran Irene Davey bearing the inscription ‘Thanks for putting the smile back on the terraces’.

All this season's 16 full debutants were given silver salvers with most of the first team squad and staff present.

Speaking to host Terry Butcher after being handed the Harwich Rosebowl, Chambers said: “It’s not the ideal situation to receive the award but all I can say is thanks to everyone that voted and it’s a nice thing to receive but it’s not the circumstances I’d want to receive it.

“The support we’ve received as players when we could have been called anything under the sun, we’ve all had our tough times as players. I don’t think there’s really anyone that massively deserves the Player of the Year award.

“Obviously you guys probably should have got an award at some point for the support you’ve given us.

“It’s been a frustrating time, but we’ve got a good group of players, good staff behind us and we’ll crack on.”

Chambers paid tribute to the club’s support: “Football’s a game of opinions, you play the game and you know individually if you give possession away or someone has a bad touch or someone misses a chance, in the past three years there have obviously been frustrations and that’s sort of come through on the pitch.

“But now, I think the lads have been given so much support so when a mistake is made it’s just batted off and everyone’s pushing in the same direction.

“As the gaffer, it’s kept the lads going massively. The one thing we have taken from this season is the support we’ve had and we hope to repay that next season.”

Reflecting on the club's relegation, he said: “This is not good day for the club, we’re going down a division. I don’t want to put a downer on it.

“We’ve got to continue to be positive after tonight, everyone stick together, which I’m sure we will.”

Looking ahead to next season and League One, Chambers believes the Blues' young squad will have learnt a lot from this season's disappointments.

“I am confident, I think we’ve got players that have stepped up this year. They have the experiences of winning a few games and all the ups and downs in this division and there’ll be no player that will be coming into next season in a worse place.”

He continued: “Everyone’s going to be stronger mentally, everyone’s going to have that experience of [this season].

“I think the boys who [came in last summer] have proven themselves in the division we’re going to be in.

"I’ll take Jon Nolan as an example. I think Jon will be honest and say that it took him four or five months to get himself to the level he wants to be at.

“And I think when we've had that many players who have had to step up a level, it was always going to be difficult for them this season. We’ll see that [from them] next season, definitely.”

Photo: TWTD

Kirbmeister added 08:45 - Apr 14 Did any of the moaners actually vote? It's like not voting in the general election and then moaning when one party wins
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Kirbmeister added 08:46 - Apr 14 Did any of the moaners actually vote? It's like not voting in the general election and then moaning about the party who won.
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goat_man added 08:55 - Apr 14 Doesn't this just mean the backlash towards him will be worse next season, when he captains us to the dopey start we all know we will have in League One?
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Sixto6 added 09:21 - Apr 14 I know I will get marked down for this and I really don't mean to be negative considering the clubs current standing, but I really don't understand how chambes can win this “player” of the year award? I'm sure he is great off the field and he's a wonder ambassador for the club ! However in playing terms this year he's had an awful season, many say how he is a great captain and leader! This is something else I don't understand ?! on the pitch the in too many games we have looked rudderless and completely at six and seven's.....where was leadership then ? he may show passion and shout quite a lot, but I question is he saying the right things?....with our defensive record this season clearly not ! I I think our defence needs rebuilding for next season starting with a new leader at the back.

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ChrisFelix added 09:35 - Apr 14 I looked to see how many TWTD MOM awards he had gained this season. You see I thought I had missed something. The answer nil. Maybe a nice bloke but not player of a very bad season
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ITFCsince73 added 10:10 - Apr 14 Wow. Chambo player of the year.... I refuse to believe the others were that bad. We continue to reward captain calamity. Wonder if that will still be the case when we finish bottom of L1.
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Northstandveteran added 10:16 - Apr 14 The competition really wasn't that strong to be fair.
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ITFCsince73 added 10:27 - Apr 14 Yes NSV I agree. But there was others who could actually play.
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TimmyH added 12:24 - Apr 14 See he made another mistake yesterday - ball watching and not marking his man (watch the highlights)...
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SheptonMalletBlue added 12:36 - Apr 14 Doesn't say much for the rest of them!!!!!
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Blue_Moses added 13:34 - Apr 14 Not even the best player called Luke Chambers playing in Ipswich this season
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dirtydingusmagee added 14:03 - Apr 14 think Player of the Year ,is a bit misleading ,it probably should be '' Jolly good bloke of the year,'' as surely his on pitch performances cant have influenced this award ?. But hey ho ,congratulations Luke ,
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Dolphinblue added 16:57 - Apr 14 Obvious choice Captain Fantastic!
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therein61 added 17:44 - Apr 14 There should not have been an award after the shambles of a season the squad has contributed to, what a farce!!
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RobsonWark added 18:01 - Apr 14 Sixto6 Well said.
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SickParrot added 20:45 - Apr 14 How ironic that on the day that relegation is confirmed the Captain picks up the Player of the Season Award. I am sure that Luke must have been embarrassed to accept it. He knows that he has not had a good season. The Player of the Season Award should have been cancelled. No problem in giving Luke an outstanding clubman award and giving a prize for the best young player but celebrating a player of the year when the team has only won 4 games all season is a joke and indicates underlying issues with the Club mentality.

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dukey44 added 21:49 - Apr 14 What a total joke... The guy is past it and my god how does that sum up our rubbish season... Hahaha what a joke!!!
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pablovian added 00:21 - Apr 15 TIn my opinion this is a well-deserved career award but an unjustifiable player of the year award. Chambers is no longer a consistent championship-level defender. Attempting to compensate for his limitations unsettles the rest of the back four - but kudos to Pennington for valiant efforts. At this point in their careers, players like Chambers typically step down a level or two. He has managed to do this without changing clubs. If Paul Lambert values Chamber's leadership qualities and ability to mentor younger players, who are we to argue? I just hope that Chambers will no longer start every game. With a reduced workload, he may be more effective when he is on the field.

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Razor added 10:27 - Apr 15 Very pleased for Chambo and well deserved-----considering the constant pressure the defence has been under this year because of our paper thin attack and lack of goals it is the right decision----well done Town fans, astute as ever.
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