Derby County’s Nathan Byrne was handed the Players’ Player of the Season award at the club’s End of Season awards night on Tuesday.
The right-back claimed the accolade following another assured campaign in the Rams’ backline.
Byrne’s team-mates recognised his impressive and consistent displays as he came out on top in the annual vote and the 29-year-old was delighted to receive the award.
The defender, who has made 82 appearances for the club since signing from Wigan Athletic in 2020, spoke to RamsTV moments after receiving the award.
On Winning The Players’ Player Of The Season Award…
The players, your team-mates, see you day-in-day-out in training and preparing around the place for matches, as well as afterwards too, so it’s a pleasure to win it. I have to say, however, there were several the lads here who could have won it and it means a lot to win it.
We’ve been together as a group all season and especially through all the adversity we’ve had, so it means a lot to win this.
Although the fans’ votes and awards are amazing too, it is special when it comes from your team-mates because they see you more than anyone else every single day.
On His Own Performances This Season…
I feel like I’ve had a good season and while I am disappointed we’ve not managed to stay up, it was always a tough ask and we knew that from the outset after being deducted 21 points.
I can’t complain about my season; I feel I’ve done a good job and hopefully my team-mates feel the same as well.
On Looking To End The Season With A Win Against Cardiff City…
I am looking forward to Saturday, which is our last game of the season. It has been such a crazy year and it is something that is hard to explain and one only the Derby County fans will understand it with us.
We want to get a good result on Saturday at Pride Park and send the supporters into the summer happy because they’ve been unbelievable with us all season, which I’ve said on several occasions and all my team-mates have said the same thing too.
I don’t think I’ll ever find a season like this again in my career and, despite all those trials and tribulations, the fans have been there with us for the whole year without fail.
I cannot fault the fans, home and away, so it would be nice to send them into the break looking forward to next year.
On Being Around Derby’s 1971/72 First Division Title Winners At The Awards Night…
It is incredible what they achieved 50 years ago. They were on stage for a while recalling some of their stories and it was great to hear. They are all legends of the club and all I can say is they will always be legends of Derby County; what they did was incredible.
I know what this club means to them all and I know what this club means to everyone; I hear it every day whether that is in the streets, going to get the shopping or being at the training ground. Derby County is massive for the City of Derby and I am proud to be a part of it.
