Brentford striker Ollie Watkins has been awarded the prestigious Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season after an impressive campaign for the Bees. The 24-year-old scored 26 goals in total during the extended 2019/20 season, Brentford's best in generations. He started every league game as The Bees finished third in the Sky Bet Championship and he helped fire Brentford into the Play-Off Final with his formidable attacking prowess and eye for goal.
Top goal scorer Ivan Toney picked up the Sky Bet League One Player of the Season, Peterborough United’s attacking style suited the striker who managed a marvellous 26 goals in all competitions before the curtailment of the season. Another goal scorer picked up the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Season award, as Eoin Doyle helped Swindon Town secure promotion to League One with his 25-goal tally before securing a move to Bolton Wanderers during the summer. Highly rated teenager Jude Bellingham picked up EA Sports Young Player of the Season and LFE Championship Apprentice of the Year after his impressive 44 appearances in all competitions for his boyhood club Birmingham City secured a move to German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.
League One LFE Apprentice of the Year is awarded to 17-year-old Luke Matheson. The Rochdale born youngster made his debut for his local team in the EFL Trophy before also impressing in the Carabao Cup, scoring an equaliser for Rochdale against Manchester United at Old Trafford to take The Red Devils to penalties. The defender, who had been at Rochdale since he was eight, joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in January but re-joined his local side on loan. Northampton Town’s Scott Pollock picked up the League Two LFE Apprentice of the Year after impressing in the league and cup competitions for the Cobblers. The 19-year-old also scored his first league goal away at Carlisle United in a 2-0 victory back in October.
The Mitre Goal of the Season has been awarded to Charles Vernam. The former Grimsby Town striker dribbled from the edge of his own area, skilfully beating several players on his way before striking past the goalkeeper to round off his hat-trick against Colchester United in February. Traditionally awarded for an outstanding moment of on-field action, the Screwfix Moment of the Season Award this year recognises all EFL Clubs and their collective response to the Covid-19 pandemic, as part of the ‘Football Never Went Away’ campaign.
Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 the 2020 EFL Awards ceremony was cancelled. As in previous years an independent judging panel selected this season’s winners.
EFL AWARD WINNERS
Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season
Ollie Watkins – Brentford
Sky Bet League One Player of the Season
Ivan Toney – Peterborough United
Sky Bet League Two Player of the Season
Eoin Doyle – Swindon Town (now Bolton Wanderers)
EA Sports Young Player of the Season
Jude Bellingham – Birmingham City (now Borussia Dortmund)
LFE Apprentice of the Year – Championship
Jude Bellingham - Birmingham City (now Borussia Dortmund)
LFE League One Apprentice of the Year - League One
Luke Matheson – Rochdale AFC (now Wolverhampton Wanderers)
LFE Apprentice of the Year - League Two
Scott Pollock – Northampton Town
Mitre Goal of the Season
Charles Vernam – Grimsby Town (now Burton Albion)
Screwfix Moment of the Season
‘Football Never Went Away’ – Response of EFL Clubs to Covid-19 pandemic
PFA Players in the Community (announced in March 2020)
Sky Bet Championship – Cyrus Christie (Fulham)
Sky Bet League One – Calvin Andrew (Rochdale)
Sky Bet League Two – Joel Grant (Plymouth Argyle)
Ignition Sports Media Community Club of the Year (announced in March 2020)
North West – Wigan Athletic
North East and Yorkshire – Middlesbrough
Midlands – Derby County
London – Charlton Athletic
South East – Crawley Town
South West and Wales – Cardiff City
YouGov Sport Community Project of the Year (announced in March 2020)
Championship – Charlton Athletic
League One – Portsmouth
League Two – Cambridge United
Kin + Carta Connect Family Club of the Year
Championship – Luton Town
League One – Peterborough United
League Two – Plymouth Argyle