The highly anticipated Sky Blues End of Season Awards took place this past weekend, as City celebrated promotion to the Championship.
In what was a standout season for City, Mark Robins side successfully return to England’s second tier, as well as securing the League One title in the process.
In such an amazing season, it was always going to be a difficult and competitive choice when dishing out the end of year awards, but you, the supporters had your say, as well as the management team and first team players.
There was one man on the night however, who was chosen by his teammates as Player’s Player of the Season, the Sky Blues coaching team as Young Player of the Season and also was selected by the supporters as scoring Goal of the Season.
That man was loanee Liam Walsh, who enjoyed a spectacular year with the Sky Blues, establishing himself in the heart of midfield.
When he joined the Sky Blues, Walsh wanted to get minutes under his belt and help the team climb up the table and it’s fair to say he did that and more.
He said: “It’s a huge privilege, especially this season because I think every single one of the lads have put in excellent performances throughout the year and that’s down to the Gaffer because he’s got everyone playing at the top of the game and to be honest I feel lucky to win the awards.
“There’s a great atmosphere between the lads and between the coaching staff in training and outside of training and we have a great bond and it has just shown this season the bond we have together.
“I wanted to come here and play a lot of minutes and show everyone what I can do and try and prove a point and I feel like I’ve done that and it’s thanks to the manager for trusting me and giving me minutes on the pitch and all the lads helping me.
“Also, I just wanted to say, thank you for all of the support I’ve had on social media and at the games, I’ve never seen support like it at home and after everything the fans have been through, they were still there and they helped us get promoted and I wish them all the best for next season.”
The big award on the night, the Player of the Season, which is voted by the supporters was won by defender Fankaty Dabo.
Since coming into the side, Dabo made the full-back berth his own and his performances up and down the right-hand-side were pivotal in the Sky Blues title win.
At the start of the season when he arrived, the defender spoke of his belief in the side to get promoted and now having witnessed his vision come true, Dabo is now looking to go again.
“The season didn’t start how I wanted to, but it gradually picked up and I’m really happy to win the award and I’m so humbled especially to be voted by all the fans.
“They’ve made me feel at home and really welcome since I joined and without them, I wouldn’t be here saying thank you and I wouldn’t have played as well.” He said.
“I don’t say things I don’t believe, when I said I thought we could get promoted, I knew everyone had the same mindset and when I said it I really did mean it.
“I now can’t wait for next season, its where we wanted to be and now we’ve got to work and push for the next aim, because nobody wants be second everyone wants to be playing on the main stage in the Premier League.”
Elsewhere on the night, it was another man who joined in the summer who helped City secure promotion; Matty Godden, who was awarded for his goals.
The striker won the Top Goalscorer award, having found the back of the net 15 times during the course of the season and it’s a year he won’t forget.
“It’s been a season to remember that’s for sure.
“The goal that stands out is the Wycombe hat-trick goal with the left peg and that sticks out for me but then also the Ipswich goal, the turn and the finish which eventually turned out being the last goal I scored and the last goal the club scored before winning the title.”
Finally, an award which reflects not only the player, but the person as well, the Sky Blues Community Player of the Year was won by local lad, Jordan Shipley.
The midfielder has risen through the ranks at the Sky Blues and has never forgotten his roots and has always done up and above to help his community.
He said: “It’s a big award for me because I like to give back to the fans because I was in that position coming through the academy as a kid and I looked up to players in the first team so its always nice to give back to the fans and I’m happy to win the award.”