After a stellar season, Ryan Woods received the Supporters’ and Bees Travel Club Away Player of the Year awards with Romaine Sawyers taking the Players’ and Community Player of the Year prizes. Yoann Barbet rounded out the individual player awards by winning the Goal of the Season prize as well as the fiercely contested Hottie of the Year prize.
24-year-old, Ryan, took 43 per cent of the supporters’ votes, ahead of Romaine in second with Daniel Bentley back in third. Ryan made 40 appearances at the heart of our midfield this season as we recorded a fourth consecutive top ten finish in the second tier. He also netted the clinching goal in our 3-1 win over Leeds United in December.
Ryan, who has made 126 appearances in three seasons at Griffin Park, scooped the Players’ Player of the Year award last season, becoming the 17th player in history to pick up both the major playing awards.
Romaine enjoyed a breakout season in West London which was recognised by his peers with the Players’ Player of the Year prize. The St Kitts and Nevis international contributed five goals and five assists in 44 games this term with only seven players in the second tier setting up more opportunities for their teammates.
The 26-year-old was also commended for his work with the club’s Community Sports Trust. Romaine was appointed the club’s Kick It Out ambassador last month, helping to promote equality in our wider community, and has been a massive supporter of the Trust’s work in the community since he joined the club.
Yoann Barbet also took home a brace of accolades from last night’s awards dinner. The Frenchman’s strike against Bolton Wanderers in September was voted our Goal of the Season, presented by Simplexity Travel Management, beating Nico Yennaris’s strike in the same game, and Ryan Woods’ goal against Leeds United into second and third respectively. That was one of three goals for the 24-year-old this term, the others coming against Middlesbrough and Leeds United. Yoann’s gallic charm also saw him win the Hottie of the Year prize, voted for by supporters.
The Brentford B Player of the Year is top scorer Marcus Forss. The Finnish Under-19 international is the B Team’s top scorer, passing 20 for the season with a brace against Manchester City last Tuesday. The 18-year-old was handed a squad number earlier this campaign and has been a regular for his nation in the build-up to this summer’s Under-19 European Championship’s on home soil.
Away from the individual player awards, two other prizes were handed out at last night’s do. Jersey Road Chef Joe O’Neill won the Special Contribution Award while four former players were inducted into our Hall of Fame. Striker Roger Cross was present on the night to receive a special commemorative salver from Brentford FC Chairman Cliff Crown. The 69-year-old scored 80 goals in 228 games, over two spells at Griffin Park. There were also three posthumous inductions in to the Hall of Fame with Wally Bragg, Ian Dargie and George Poyser also inducted last night.