Billy Sharp, James O'Connor and Gareth Roberts scooped the top awards at Saturday evening's End of Season Gala Awards Dinner at Doncaster Racecourse, celebrating the culmination of what has been an incredible campaign.
The Rovers players and management joined staff and guests of Doncaster Rovers Football Club at Doncaster's spectacular racecourse for the second consecutive End of Season Gala Awards Dinner to be held at the venue, following Rovers' incredible 4-3 victory over Scunthorpe United at the Keepmoat Stadium earlier in the afternoon.
Players and supporters all voted on a selection of awards, with Rovers' loan striker Billy Sharp, defender James O'Connor and full-back Gareth Roberts scooping the top four awards of the night.
Sharp, who has spent the season on loan from Sheffield United, has netted 15 goals this season in the red and white hoops scooped a brace of awards on the evening. For his incredible form in front of goal, Sharp was awarded the Doncaster Rovers Golden Boot award, before later being presented with the Rovers' Players' Player of the Season - as voted for by his fellow team-mates. It caps an incredible campaign for Sharp, who was limited to appearances at parent club Sheffield United prior to arriving at the Keepmoat Stadium.
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Assistant Manager Richard O'Kelly presents Billy Sharp with the Golden Boot |
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Rovers manager Sean O'Driscoll presents Billy Sharp with the Players' Player of the Season Award |
Gareth Roberts scooped the award for Goal of the Season earlier in the evening. The full back has netted three goals this season and each and every one of them has been a stunner; however it was his 67th minute strike against Peterborough United at London Road on 16th March that won him the Goal of the Season accolade - as voted for by supporters of DoncasterRoversFC.co.uk. Gareth was presented with his award by supporter and voter David Beresford.
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David Beresford presents Gareth Roberts with his Goal of the Season award |
The readers of the Rovers Official Website also voted for the other big awards of the evening.
Rovers' full back James O'Connor has been in incredible form for Sean O'Driscoll's side this term, filling in for the majority of the campaign at centre back. In what was seen as a makeshift move, O'Connor instantly became an immediate success in the centre of defence and nothing short of a rock with whomever he played alongside. O'Connor also netted the goal that sent Doncaster Rovers through to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup after a tough Third Round tie against Brentford. O'Connor scooped the Fans' Player of the Season award and was delighted when accepting the award from Rovers' Chairman John Ryan.
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James O'Connor is presented with the Fans' Player of the Season award by Chairman John Ryan |
The final award voted for by supporters of Doncaster Rovers Football Club was the Performance of the Season award - an award given for the most impressive performance over 90-minutes. Rovers' 2-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough won the accolade, in a game where the visiting side at Hillsborough gave Sheffield Wednesday a true footballing lesson from start to finish. The goal was capped by another contender for Goal of the Season from Elliott Ward, whose overhead kick looked better with each and every replay.
Brian Stock, the Rovers team captain for the encounter collected the award from Rovers supporters and voters Tony and Anne Beckwith.
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Brian Stock accepts the Performance of the Season award from Tony and Anne Beckwith |
Adam Lockwood also scooped an award from the evening, netting his second consecutive Worst Dressed Player award, presented by goalkeeper Gary Woods - although Lockwood felt that Mustapha Dumbuya was more deserving of the award for his attire on the evening, whilst Andrew Turner - a first year Youth Training Scheme player won the Youth Player of the Year award.
