Watford FC celebrated a successful promotion-winning 2020/21 campaign tonight with the End Of Season Awards Show on Hive Live.
Read below for a full round-up of the winners, including the Graham Taylor Player of the Season, Goal of the Season and Individual Performance of the Season prizes, which were all voted for by supporters...
Graham Taylor Player of the Season: Ismaïla Sarr
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Ismaïla Sarr picked up the top prize in recognition of his stunning performances throughout the 2020/21 campaign, which transcended his figures for goals scored and created.
The Senegal international netted 13 times and registered a further five assists, not including penalties won, yet it was his constant threat on the wing which provided an outlet for Watford throughout the season and terrorised Championship defences.
The fact Sarr was fouled more than any other player in the league proved just how difficult it was for opposition teams to deal with the 23-year-old.
Honorary Life-President Sir Elton John CBE presented Sarr with the award, while Kiko FemenÃa (second place) and Francisco Sierralta (third place) were the runners up.
Goal of the Season: Nathaniel Chalobah (Cardiff City 1-2 Watford)
Nathaniel Chalobah won this award for an exceptional strike at Cardiff City, when the central midfielder was captaining the side and truly leading by example.
Shifting the ball quickly from his right foot onto his left and back again before rifling a low effort past goalkeeper Dillon Phillips, the central midfielder demonstrated wonderful technique and finesse to score while under pressure from three opponents.
As well as being a quality strike, the timing of this goal was vital at such a pivotal moment in the season, as Chalobah levelled the scores in South Wales fewer than two minutes after the hosts had taken the lead and Watford went on to secure another important three points.
The 26-year-old was presented with this award by Sporting Director Cristiano Giaretta.
Players’ Player of the Season: Ismaïla Sarr
The Hornets squad agreed with the voting supporters, also choosing Ismaïla Sarr as their Player of the Season for 2020/21.
Throughout this campaign Sarr’s teammates have sung the praises of Watford’s record signing, who has played more minutes than anyone in the squad yet never seemed to burn out, so it is no surprise his clear talent has also been recognised with this victory.
Sarr was presented with the prize by club captain Troy Deeney, who twice won the award himself in 2014 and 2015.
Young Player of the Season: João Pedro
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The Boy from Brazil won Watford’s Young Player of the Year award for 2020/21, having really come of age in the Championship this campaign.
The 19-year-old, who arrived at the club in January 2020, made 38 appearances this season, most often leading the line but also taking up positions on the wing and even in central midfield.
João Pedro scored nine goals, including a sensational winner at Derby County, and made two assists.
The youngster was also presented with this award by Sporting Director Cristiano Giaretta.
Individual Performance of the Season: Tom Cleverley (Norwich City 0-1 Watford)
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Tom Cleverley was colossal at Norwich City during Watford’s mammoth victory in April, which moved the Golden Boys to within one win of securing promotion.
Cleverley was captaining the side, as he has done 20 times this season in Troy Deeney’s absence, and it was another proper leader’s performance from the central midfielder, whose heat map proved how much of the pitch he covered.
The 31-year-old, whose Watford career began in the Championship on loan from Manchester United 11 seasons ago, was regularly involved in creating chances during the Hornets’ rampant first half but also never failed to get back and defend, winning four tackles and three interceptions.
Cleverley also had the most touches of any Watford player (67), despite being substituted in the 82nd minute, demonstrating how much he was at the heart of the action.
Community Ambassador of the Season: Christian Kabasele
Local man Christian Kabasele lives in Watford and is always at the forefront of giving back to the community in the town and beyond.
Kabasele played a key role in contacting supporters through Watford’s Hornets at Home scheme during the coronavirus pandemic and has regularly supported the club’s Community Sports & Education Trust, just last week giving away a customised training shirt on Instagram and donating to the Trust for every entry.
The defender also took part in Show Racism the Red Card sessions for local schools and has been a strong voice for change in terms of anti-racism and discrimination.
Community Director Rob Smith presented Kabasele with this award.
Academy Player of the Season: Bosun Lawal
Bosun Lawal picked up the Academy Player of the Season award after an impressive campaign for the 17-year-old.
Lawal was a regular in Simon Clark’s Under-18s from the beginning of the season and also captained the young Hornets to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup, beating Colchester United and Lincoln City before eventually falling to Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
The defender or midfielder, signed from St Kevin’s Boys in Dublin in 2019, also showed himself as comfortable playing above his age group and ended the campaign with three consecutive starts for Omer Riza’s Under-23s.
Lawal was presented with his award by Head of Academy Barry Quin.
Supporter of the Season: Colin Payne
Colin Payne was named Supporter of the Season for 2020/21 for his exceptional work in supporter-led media, helping fans feel connected to the club throughout these difficult times.
Colin has been at the forefront of fan-produced media for more than 30 years, having contributed to fanzine ‘Mud, Sweat and Beers’ in the late 1980s before starting his own, ‘The Yellow Experience’, in 1991. Colin was also part of a team which went on to produce ‘There’s Only One Graham Taylor’, a celebration of the legendary manager’s career released on his retirement in 2001.
That led to a merger with ‘Clap Your Hands, Stamp Your Feet’ to create ‘Look at the Stars’, and a further collaborative release of a book titled ‘You Are My Watford’, which featured more than 200 fan stories and raised funds for the Watford Supporters Trust.
Following a break, Colin combined his keen interest in the club’s history with producing and editing fanzines and together with a small team of like-minded supporters, he first produced ‘The Watford Treasury’ in 2018.
During lockdown, with his wish to move more current publications back to the fore, Colin produced ‘Home Tied’ and its post-lockdown follow-up ‘Yellow, Black and Red’, providing entertainment and a sense of community for fans while matches were suspended and then played behind closed doors.
A regular face in Vicarage Road on normal matchdays, standing in all weathers selling each of the titles mentioned, Colin’s efforts to entertain and delight his fellow supporters during this most unusual of seasons is totally befitting of winning this prestigious award, which was presented by Head Coach Xisco Muñoz.
Hall of Fame Inductee: Keith Eddy
Keith Eddy captained Watford to the club’s first ever Football League title, earning the Division Three crown in 1968/69 as the Golden Boys reached the second tier for the first time.
Eddy signed from his hometown club Barrow-in-Furness as a 21-year-old in 1966 and was capable in the centre of defence or midfield, ending up with 274 appearances and 31 goals from six seasons in Hertfordshire.
Eddy is often regarded as Watford’s greatest ever captain and he only reluctantly departed Vicarage Road for Sheffield United in 1972, unable to turn down the opportunity of playing in the First Division. His career would later take him to the United States and New York Cosmos, captaining the likes of Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer before retiring from playing in 1977.
Eddy was named a Hornets Ambassador earlier this season and is now the latest member of the club’s exclusive Hall of Fame. You can read his full profile HERE and listen to his interview on our official club podcast HERE.
