Brentford striker Ivan Toney was named EFL Player of the Year for the 2020/21 season at the London Football Awards last night. The ceremony for the annual celebration of London football was held virtually last night, Tuesday 27 April, with awards presented in a variety of categories. Ivan beat off competition from across the capital to take home the EFL Player of the Year prize.
Ivan was named winner while he was captaining Brentford to a 1-0 win over Rotherham United last night. The striker has scored 29 Championship goals this season, to make him the top scorer in the division. He has also reached double figures in terms of assists and secured the prize.
Bryan Mbeumo, who partnered Ivan in attack last night and scored the only goal, was also in the running for the prize, along with Joao Pedro (Watford), Joe Piggott (AFC Wimbledon), and Jobi McAnuff (Leyton Orient). It is the third straight year that Brentford players have won the award. Ollie Watkins took the prize last year with Neal Maupay securing it at the 2019 ceremony.
Elsewhere, Thomas Frank was trying to retain the Manager of the Year award he won last term. Thomas has been Head Coach as we reached the Semi-Finals of the Carabao Cup, the first major semi-final in the Club's 132-year history. Along the way we knocked out four Premier League sides before losing 2-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in January's semi-final.
The Bees have also secured a spot in the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs, which will start next month, and could win a place in the Premier League. This season has seen Brentford already earn 81 points, score more goals than any other Championship side and only lose seven league games all season. However, David Moyes of West Ham United took the prize. A full list of the winners can be seen here.
The London Football Awards raise funds for Willow, the only national charity providing Special Days for seriously ill 16-40-year-olds. These Special Days enable them and their families to reconnect and refocus on each other while enjoying an activity of their choosing. A day for them, a day about them and a day that will create memories they will all treasure forever.
Willow was founded by former Arsenal goalkeeper and TV presenter Bob Wilson and his wife, Megs, as a lasting memorial to their daughter Anna, who died of cancer aged 31. Since 1999 the charity has fulfilled more than 17,000 Special Days for young adults living with life-threatening conditions such as cancer, motor neurone disease, cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy.