Derby County’s captain Ebou Adams and fellow midfielder Liam Thompson were named as Jack Stamps Player of the Season and Sammy Crooks Young Player of the Season award winners on Tuesday evening.
Derby County Men's First Team Awards
Supporters voted for the winners in an online vote leading up to the End of Season Dinner, which took place at Pride Park Stadium.
Adams’ dominant performances in midfield saw him voted as Jack Stamps Player of the Season in his first full campaign at Pride Park.
The 29-year-old has scored six goals and recorded one assist as he featured in 43 of the Rams’ 44 Sky Bet Championship games so far this term.
Adams’ inspired displays also saw him voted as Men’s Players’ Player of the Season by the Men’s First Team squad, whom he has captained since Head Coach John Eustace gave him the armband back in March.
“It's an honour to win both awards,” Adams told RamsTV after being recognised at Tuesday night’s dinner. “I'm thankful to my team-mates and the fans for voting for me.
“I'll cherish it because it shows how much my team-mates see the hard work in games and the fans appreciate our hard work on the pitch, too.
“I want to give back [to the fans]. If I can continue doing that, hopefully we can make loads of good memories together here.”
Thompson has made 27 appearances for the Rams in the Sky Bet Championship this season, andinfluential performances in wins over Blackburn Rovers and Coventry City saw the 23-year-old cement his place as a crucial part of Eustace’s squad during the end-of-season run-in and earned him the Sammy Crooks Young Player of the Season award.
The Academy graduate has featured in the middle of the park alongside Adams and Harrison Armstrong as Derby claimed six wins and two draws from their last ten games.
“I’m delighted and surprised in a way because so many of the young boys have done well this year,” Thompson said to RamsTV after collecting his award. “I’m really honoured to be up here standing with this award.
“It means everything to be voted for. The fans watch week in, week out. To have that following and backing is always a nice feeling.”
Derby County Women's Awards
Derby County Women’s defensive duo Camille Jenkins and Sarah Jackson shared the Women’s Player of the Season award, while striker Chene Muir picked up the Women’s Young Player of the Season trophy.
Jenkins and Jackson shared the Women’s Player of the Season award as there was nothing to split them following a vote from their team-mates and staff, after they impressed with their respective performances in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division.
Jackson, who also won the award at the end of her first season with the club in 2019/20, has been a stalwart in the heart of defence for Sam Griffiths’ Ewes side.
She has clocked up 130 appearances for Derby and has netted twice, including an impressive 25-yard free-kick against Stoke City this season.
“I’m made up,” Jackson admitted to RamsTV after collecting her Player of the Season award, “Camille has had a great season, too, so to share it with her is great. It’s a privilege to win it.
“To be voted for by the people that you train with week in, week out is always an honour.”
Jenkins was delighted to be recognised for her achievements after rising through the ranks at the club before cementing her place in the first team over recent seasons.
She received the Player of the Season accolade at the conclusion of a campaign where she made 23 appearances and bagged six goals from defence for the Ewes.
“It is kind of a full circle moment for me,” she said. “It's really nice to win at the end of the season. I've scored more than I ever have before this season, too.”
Muir's impressive performances, scoring seven goals in her first season for the club, secured the Women’s Young Player of the Season award.
The 19-year-old joined the club in the summer following three seasons on the books of Sheffield United, and despite injuries seeing her game time fluctuate for the Ewes, Muir stepped up to the plate to score impressive goals when called upon.
“I'm just grateful to everyone that voted for me, my team-mates and the staff,” Muir said after receiving the award at the end of her first season with the Ewes.
“It's been a bit of a rollercoaster of a
season, but now I'm thankful to Sam Griffiths for giving me the
opportunities to play and to everyone making me feel so welcome at the
club - I really appreciate it.”
