Sharpys top lip
Player Valuation: £60m
JOLEON LESCOTT landed two top awards at the Everton awards ceremony last night.
The defender’s consistency and goals earned him both the Player of the Season prize and the Players’ Player of the Season award.
Lescott received his awards at the St George’s Hall as Everton players from the past mingled with manager David Moyes and his present first-team squad.
Lescott received the votes of supporters on the club’s website and also his own team-mates to land his awards, with midfielder Lee Carsley finishing runner-up in the players’ poll.
Lescott’s individual achievements in 2007-08, particularly in front of goal, have been remarkable.
Only Yakubu, Andrew Johnson and Tim Cahill have bettered Lescott’s tally of nine goals and he is the club’s joint second-highest scorer in the league with seven.
He also won his first three full England caps earlier in the campaign, making his debut in the 3-0 win over Estonia in October, despite playing the majority of the season at left-back, out of his preferred central role.
The awards merely underline the seamless transition he has made to the top flight after joining form Wolves for £5milllion two years ago.
His debut campaign at Goodison Park ended with him receiving the Player’s Player of the Year trophy last year as he helped Everton to UEFA Cup qualification by finishing sixth.
The fact that Everton are a point away from the fifth place they need to guarantee an automatic route back into Europe next season emphasises the influence Lescott has had in his two seasons with the club.
Lescott said: “To get the award from the fans this year is fantastic. It is a great privilege and I am sure the awards will take pride of place at my parents’ house – they will be looking to get hold of them.
“It has been a good season for me, but it has been a good season for the whole team and it is all about the team here at Everton. They are a great bunch of lads.”
Striker Victor Anichebe, who turned 20 last month, also landed a double, winning the Shareholders Young Player of the Season and the Young Player of the Season award.
“I am very pleased,” he said. “It has been a good season for me, but hopefully next year will be even better.
“Everybody at the club has been a big help, but I would like to thank Andy Holden who has helped push me along.”
Vaughan scored four times during Everton’s successful UEFA Cup run, often at crucial times, in a season which saw the Nigeria-born youngster make made his first appearance for his country, scoring on his debut for their Olympic team in a win over South Africa.
Former Goodison goalkeeper Gordon West was inducted into the Everton Giants while Dave Hickson won the Peoples’ Club award.
The Howard Kendall Award went to the Everton Ladies team, who beat Arsenal in the final of the women’s League Cup.
AWARD WINNERS:
Female disability player of the season: Lydia Ashton.
Male disability player of the season: Lance Cunliffe.
The Howard Kendall award: Everton Ladies.
Fan of the Year: Terry Parker.
Shareholders Young Player of the Season: Victor Anichebe.
Ladies Player of the Season: Lyndsey Johnson.
Academy Player of the Season: Jack Rodwell.
Reserve Player of the Season: John Irving.
Everton Giant 2008: Gordon West.
The People’s Club Award: Dave Hickson.
Players’ Player of the Season award: Joleon Lescott.
Young Player of the Season award: Victor Anichebe.
Goal of the Season award: Leon Osman (v Larissa).
Player of the Season award: Joleon Lescott.
