Reading FC held their End of Season awards at a special 150th anniversary gala meal at the SCL Stadium.
10 awards were given out on the night spread across the men's first team, women's first team, men's academy and club saff.
Midfield maestro John Swift almost completed a clean sweep for the men, winning two of the awards, whileย Amalie Eikeland won both of the women's awards.
The winners were as follows:
ย
Goal of the Season: Josh Laurent v Blackburn Rovers
First award of the night... the @SC_Leasing ๐๐จ๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง!
โ Reading FC (@ReadingFC) May 4, 2022
We gave our fans 13 brilliant strikes to vote from... and this match-winning peach ๐ from @JoshLaurent28 has come out on top! Congratulations, Josh! ๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/bzJ9NLV8FN
Fan favourite Laurent won the opening award of the night with his long-range stunner against Blackburn in March.
With the clock ticking down in a tense affair, Swift played the ball back to the former Shrewsbury Town star who cut in and side-footed the ball into the top corner to secure three valuable points.
ย
Women's Players Player of the Year:ย Amalie Eikeland
The @BDBpitmans ๐ฃ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐โ ๐ฃ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ป!
โ Reading FC Women (@ReadingFCWomen) May 4, 2022
๐๐บ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ has been voted for by her teammates as their player of the season.
Eikelandโs versatility has meant sheโs covered every blade of grass, tallying up 2102 minutes ๐งฎ pic.twitter.com/XwalPzUfdr
A big award to win as it shows you are well-respected by your peers, the Norway international has been instrumental for the women's side since arriving in 2019.
She has played every minute of Kelly Chambers' side's season so far.
ย
Men's Players Player of the Year: John Swift
The @Rapidz_io ๐๐๐ง'๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐๐ซ๐ฌ' ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง - the award where the squad nominate their teammates...
โ Reading FC (@ReadingFC) May 4, 2022
The winner: @JohnSwift8!
In no small part due to the number of ๐ ฐ๏ธ's he's delivered for his teammates this season! Congratulations, Swifty! pic.twitter.com/BO5HV0tg7q
One of the least surprising awards, Swift has scored 11 goals and assisted 13 in a stellar individual season for the Royals.
Keeping the side up almost on his own at times, the former Chelsea man will be difficult to replace next season if he decides to move on.
ย
Vice Presidents Player of the Season: John Swift
Up next: ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ' ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง - some of the club's longest-established patrons, who've seen all of our ups and downs, cast a vote.
โ Reading FC (@ReadingFC) May 4, 2022
The VPs selection for 2021-22: @JohnSwift8!
A double award-winner... congratulations Swifty! ๐ ๐ pic.twitter.com/lPmeT1S9Dt
Another award for Swift, this time from those esteemed VPs.
There is nothing that can be added when discussing the 26-year-old, a joy to watch at times this campaign.
ย
Men's Player of the Season: Andy Yiadom
The big one. ๐๐๐ง'๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง.
โ Reading FC (@ReadingFC) May 4, 2022
Votes compiled in person by @STARReading and online...
We're delighted to announce @AndyYids as this year's Player of the Season! ๐
Tap below for more info... and a huge congratulations to Andy Yiadom! ๐
With Swift winning the two previous awards, many were expecting to see the midfielder pick up a hattrick of awards at the event.
However, supporters voted in their thousands for popular full-back Yiadom.
Almost ever-presentย this year, it caps off an eventful campagin for the poular Ghana international.
ย
Women's Player of the Season:ย Amalie Eikeland
๐๐บ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ makes it two!
โ Reading FC Women (@ReadingFCWomen) May 4, 2022
As chosen by Kelly Chambers, itโs our Player of the Seasonโฆan ever-present player who has consistently impressed throughout the season. Congratulations, Amalie ๐ pic.twitter.com/vxKoK1mq3x
Highly-regarded by both peers and supporters, the 26-year-old completed a clean sweep for the women's award.
Coming to the end of her third season in Berkshire, she isย a mainstay in Chambers' side and her national team.
ย
Academy Player of the Year: Abraham Kanu
The @RFCAcademy ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง is next - the standout youngster this year...
โ Reading FC (@ReadingFC) May 4, 2022
Congratulations to our winner: Abraham Kanu.
An Under-16 defender who has been playing two years up all season with the U18s, as well as starting for #RFCU23 once this year. ๐ช pic.twitter.com/gjrZjCealW
Always a popular award at Reading, and poignantly presented by the family of the late Eamonn Dolan, Under-16s defender Kanu was a worthy winner.
Regularly playing two years above for the Under-18s, he has even made his debut for the Under-23s.
Watch this space, it surely won't be long before he's on the cusp of the first team.
ย
Staff Member of the Season: Steve Cottrell
The ๐๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง: a Royal who has been put forward by their coworkers...
โ Reading FC (@ReadingFC) May 4, 2022
Congratulations to Steve Cottrell, Head of @RFCAcademy Sports Science & Medicine, who went well above and beyond during the challenging covid and 'red zone' periods. ๐ pic.twitter.com/LOm0nTV27v
A lovely award to win as it is voted by peers, Cottrell is the Head of Academy Sports Science and Medicine.
With the difficult period of Covid-19 to deal with, Cottrell went above and beyond to keep the lads safe.
ย
Community Impact Award: Give Back FC
Nominated by Reading FC in the Community, Give Back FC was founded during the Covid-19 lockdown and used football as a way to support members in the local community.
๐ฅ A little showcase of just some of the ways that Give Back FC have been working with @RFCCommunity - a project that is making a massive impact in our area, and a deserving winner of the Community Impact Award at the Gala Dinner! pic.twitter.com/L1W6yBZkl2
โ Reading FC (@ReadingFC) May 5, 2022
ย
Outstanding Contribtuion to Reading Football Club: Colin and Mel Bishop
For the love of the club, @STARReading volunteers Colin and Mel Bishop dedicate countless hours each year to running coach travel to our away games... fans who were in Fulham, Cardiff, Birmingham, Preston, Swansea and Sheffield have your gratitude!
โ Reading FC (@ReadingFC) May 5, 2022
Hear more about their award ๐ pic.twitter.com/yQvecHuYoJ
Perfectly summed up by the great Sir John Madejski, "if you cut these two in half they bleed blue and white."
The husband and wife team have been involved with the club for over 50 years, from changing the floodlights at Elm Park to transporting away supportewrs on the STAR coaches.
All for no payment and solely the love of the club, everyone who has travelled the country following the Royals will be indebtedย to the hard-work that the Bishops have put in down the years.
ย
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here