David Button feels that a lot of the credit for Brentford’s strong finish to the Sky Bet Championship season should go to the coaching staff for refusing to panic when results were going against them. The Bees won seven of their last nine matches this campaign, having won just one in nine before that, to record a ninth place finish this season. David believes it could have been easy for Dean Smith and his coaching staff to change everything during the poor run during February and March but that sticking to their principles was the right way to go about things.

“It has been a complete turnaround in the mood in the camp,” said David, speaking to Bees Player. “Everyone is a lot more optimistic now. We have seen what one or two players can do to a team. Hopefully that can continue on to next season and we can really push on to where we want to be. The gaffer, Richard O’Kelly, and Simon Royce have got to take a lot of credit for keeping things the same and keeping belief in the things that they were doing. It would have been easy to change everything but the fact that they stuck to their principles, and came in every day with a smile on their head, really rubbed off on the players. Nothing changed and that was the most important thing.”

David enjoyed another successful season between the sticks for The Bees this season, featuring in all 46 league games for a second year running. His form was rewarded at last Sunday’s Player of the Year Awards where he shared the Brentford Travel Club Away Player of the Year prize with Alan Judge. The 27-year-old goalkeeper said it meant a lot to him to have his award voted for by the fans and feels he still has more to come.

“It is really special to get an award chosen by the fans,” said David. “I would happily have finished second to Alan Judge after the way that he has performed this year. I am really honoured that the fans have voted for me and it means a lot to me. I feel like I am always improving as I am playing more games. I feel like I am really part of the team now. Brentford is my home so long may that continue. It’s now two full seasons on the bounce now. That shows a level of consistency and fitness which is a credit to the staff. We have got a great team behind the scenes here.”

The former Tottenham Hotspur youngster had another reason to celebrate on Sunday night as he received the Bees Player outstanding achievement award for his wondersave from Joe Garner in the 3-1 win against Preston North End in February. His instinctive, reaction save from the Preston front man went viral and remains one of the most viewed video of all time on the club’s YouTube channel.

“I didn’t remember too much about it at the time,” said David. “It was great that I could contribute to a win as ultimately that is what I am there for and what I am paid to do. When moments like that come off it is a great feeling. Myself, Jack Bonham, and Simon Royce have a good laugh together but we also push each other all the time. We have had some great times, pushed each other, and it has been a good season. The whole team is a tight unit but in particular the goalkeepers. We work with each other day in, day out and we get to become really close. It is a unique position in that there is only one shirt but we put the pressure on each other and ourselves. We are all there to support each other.”