WeAreBrighton.com End of Season Awards 2014/15

Another season, another defeat in the play off semi finals, another manager leaving as a result. Déjà vu anyone?

Of course, it wasn't all bad. A weaker squad than last season surprised most people by managing to squeeze into the top six at all and there were memorable victories over all the sides who ended up being promoted to the Premier League, none more impressive than the 4-1 win at Leicester City.

What putting together the nominations did highlight however is that it has been a pretty boring season overall compared to the exploits of the last few years. That didn't stop you voting in your numbers though to crown the winners of the WeAreBrighton.com End of Season Awards 2013/14.

And they are as follows...

 

WeAreBrighton.com Player of the Season: Stephen Ward (40.93% of the vote) How do you go about replacing a player like Wayne Bridge, one of the finest to pull on the stripes? Why, you go and sign an equally good left back of course. Arriving a few weeks into the season on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stephen Ward took a bit of time to get going but when he did he was alongside Matt Upson the stand out performer in the defence that kept the most clean sheets in the Championship in 2013/14. He also proved to be a threat at the other end of the pitch, chipping in with four goals making him fourth top scorer. Fingers crossed he is back at The Amex next season. Previous Winners: Liam Bridcutt (2013, 2012), Glenn Murray (2011), Andrew Crofts (2010)

Goal of the Season: Jake Forster-Caskey v Doncaster Rovers (A) (41.36%) There were some absolutely belting goals scored this season but it was Jake Forster-Caskey's strike away at Doncaster Rovers that took the crown from Ashley Barnes' stunning volley at AFC Bournemouth. Eight minutes into the game at the Keepmoat and the England under 21 midfielder collected the ball with nobody around him and not very much going on in front either. Rather than take the normal option of a backwards pass, he tried his luck with an unstoppable rocket of a shot from 35 yards that flew into the top corner. Previous Winners: Craig Mackail-Smith (2013), Inigo Calderon (2012), Liam Bridcutt (2011), Gary Dicker (2010)

Last Minute Goal of the Season: Leonardo Ulloa v Nottingham Forest (A) (88.95%) Last minute goals rarely get any better than this one. Needing three points to guarantee a play off spot with seconds left on the clock and with Reading fans already on the pitch at the Madjeski Stadium celebrating their place in the top six, Craig Mackail-Smith sends in a superb cross that is met by the head of Leonardo Ulloa to make it 2-1, extend the Albion's season by another week, leave Reading fans looking both ridiculous and heat broken and cue absolutely mental scenes in the away end of the City Ground. All with virtually the last touch of the season. Previous Winners: David Lopez (2013), Will Buckley (2012) Own Goal of the Season: Tomasz Kuszczak v Derby County (H) (77.96%) The battle for the Premier League was well and truly on when Derby County visited The Amex. Schteve McClaren's side may have finished third and won the two regular season games over the Albion, but they were hanging on by a thread at 1-1 as Oscar's men laid seige to the visiting sides goal. The last thing you need to happen then is for the winner of your Own Goal of the Season crown to chose then to stake his claim but that was very much the case as Chris Martin's effort from distance cannoned off the crossbar straight into the back of Tomasz Kuszczak and into the goal to put the Rams 2-1 up. Previous Winners: Dean Hammond (2013) Lewis Dunk (2012) Memorable Moment of the Season: Nottingham Forest away (43.48%) Following hot on the heels of Nottingham Forest away being involved in Last Minute Goal of the Season comes its second award in the shape of Memorable Moment. It's hard to think of a better away day than the trip to the City Ground in recent times - glorious weather, a great city with some great pubs, a packed away end. Oh, and the football, Leonardo Ulloa's winners and the celebrations both in the stands and on the pitch at the end weren't bad either. Previous Winners: Brighton 3-0 Palace (2013), Doncaster Home (2012), Charlton Away (2011), Southampton Away (2010)

Dismissal of the Season: Leonardo Ulloa v Reading (A) (34.71%) Reading's Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak had already disgraced himself with two bookings within the opening half hour of the away match with the Biscuitment, the second for an outrageously awful dive. An hour against a promotion rival down to ten men was a great opportunity for the Albion to pick up a huge three points. Unfortunately that numerical advantage lasted a grand total of eight minutes before Leonardo Ulloa decided to try and win the ball with a kung fu kick that nearly decapitated Alex Pearce. Previous Winners: Ashley Barnes (2013), Mauricio Taricco (2012, 2011), Colin Hawkins (2010)

Flair Moment of the Season: Andrea Orlandi celebrates v Forest (54.86%) Oh look, it is that Nottingham Forest game again. In the aftermath of that Ulloa goal, Andrea Orlandi couldn't contain his delight and took the decision to sprint a full 70 yards from the away dugout to celebrate with his team mates. In an absolutely ingenious and obvious time wasting ploy, he then decided that rather than return to the bench around the pitch perimeter he would walk slowly across the middle of it, delaying the restart and earning a booking for his troubles. Previous Winners: Liam Bridcutt (2013), Vicente (2012), Cristian Baz (2011), Inigo Calderon (2010)

Villain of the Season: Nigel Adkins (33.91%) It's fair to say there haven't been that many villains around this season when Nigel Adkins is taking the crown for the second time in his career three season after he last won it. Reading manager this time around of course, it was therefore a sweet irony that it was his side that suffered from that magical moment at Nottingham Forest to lose their play off place in the final minute of the season. Which of course led to the big question - are we keeping up now Nigel? Previous Winners: El Hadji Diuof (2013) Glenn Murray (2012), Nigel Adkins (2011), Dean Hammond (2010)

Themed Game of the Season: Spanish Day v Bolton Wanderers (57.23%) One of the most keenly fought awards of the entire lot, Themed Day pitted Spanish Day up against Fright Night and Blue and White Day with the first come out on top. Hosted in honour of the clubs ever growing Spanish contingent, it naturally meant that Andrea Orlandi and Bruno were both absent from the starting line up. With sombreros, Spain flags and a sea of red and yellow decking out The Amex, it clearly did the trick however as the Albion were inspired to a 3-1 victory that included a remarkable three goals in four second half minutes. And of course an own goal for Spain's David Lopez. Previous Winners: New Category! Sexiest Player of the Season: Andrea Orlandi (54.44%) Andrea Orlandi may have offered a limited role on the pitch this season thanks to injury, but he did more than enough in the eye candy stakes to retain his title of Sexiest Player. In fact, he did it in some style by increasing his share of the vote by 0.25% to show that he will be a figure very much missed for those of us who appreciated a bloody good looking man representing out football team. With Sexy Pete Brezovan also released, we could be looking at one ugly starting eleven when August rolls around for the 2014-15 season. Previous Winners: Andrea Orlandi (2013), Vicente (2012) Receding Hairline of the Season: Bruno (27.33%) Another player to retain the crown he won last season, Bruno remains the undisputed king of the shiny bonces at The Amex despite increased competition this year from the likes of Kemy Agustien and Leroy Lita. While Agustien couples his baldness with a beard to complete the upside down look and Lita has arguably the shiniest head in the world, it is the conventional lack of hair of Bruno that once again came through at the end of the day with his classic Richard O'Brien appearance pleasing the masses, although not as greatly as last season with his share of the vote dropping. Previous Winners: Bruno (2013), Gordon Greer (2012)