Last month on the club website at cambridgeunited.com we invited you to name your Internet Players of the Year, and your Goal of the Season.

Hundreds of votes rolled in at the climax of an exciting season, keeping yours truly busy with all the counting, and in the first two categories it was neck and neck all the way to the end of the voting period.

So without further ado, the Internet Player of the Year, with 41% of the votes, is… (drum roll)... Wayne Hatswell!

The 34-year-old centre half joined the club in January 2008 from Rushden & Diamonds after spells with Forest Green, Oxford, Chester and Kidderminster, and quickly established himself as a key member of the team. Almost ever-present in a miserly defence this season, 'Hats' has also scored some vital goals along the way, including a spectacular strike at Histon to rival last season's 'Goal of the Season'.

Wayne was your choice for the Player of the Year award with 41% of the votes, and the runners-up were Paul Carden in second with 34% and Phil Bolland in third with 10%.

Wayne is pictured right with club website contributor Andrew Bennett

Along with the supporters' votes came many comments of praise for the respective players and I have reproduced just a few of them here:

Chloe Flack describes Wayne as "A rock in defence, he is the best centre back in this league and could do a brilliant job at a higher level. He has been essential in a hard battling, rock solid defence and also chipped in with a few goals - and he doesn't score tap ins! Vital for us this season."

Jamie Cox agrees: "An absolute rock at the back, a real leader who weighs in with some outrageous goals", while Brian Thorby thinks he "never hides from the ball, great attitude and leads by example."

From Doug Shulman came the highest praise: "Reliability personified, and the most accomplished defender we have had in the past 15 or 20 years."

Ed Haygarth was another to describe Hats as "A rock and always dependable." He adds, "It didn't matter whether the team was on form or not, Hatswell was always a sure thing. The model of consistency - just what we needed."

Dean Lomax says, "He's very solid at the back, good distribution, brilliant left foot, good in the air and very organised - all round brilliant", and Lindsay King sums him up as "A solid defender that you can depend on in every match. On top of this; the added excitement that he may score from an amazing free kick at any time, just secures it for me."

Runner-up Paul Carden also attracted many glowing comments, best summed up by Jonathan Pool who says, "Paul is the engine in the midfield and makes the team click with his endless running, closing down and hard tackles."

Terry Stubbings also thinks highly of Cardy, saying, "He has been immense for the U's this season. He should be renamed 'Mr Cambridge United', and David Partridge praises his "excellent quality and consistency all season."

Will Jeans voted for the skipper, calling him "The heartbeat of the team, always in with challenges and feeding the attacking options of the team. He's a massively influential player and his experience is key to our success this season."

"Cambridge United's very own Steven Gerrard," was Anton Thacker's concise description of Cardy, which is sure to please our Liverpool-supporting skipper!

Third-placed Phil Bolland has been "immense this season," according to Barry Backler, while Dave Postlethwaite says, "Awesome reader of the play, brilliant positioning, calm under pressure, huge influence."

The vote for the Internet Young Player of the Year award (for players aged 22 and under) was dominated by two very fine young players, with Chris Holroyd emerging as the eventual winner in his first season at the club.

Chris receives his award from club website contributor Doug Shulman

Chris, who joined from Chester early this season, polled 48% of the votes, while Robbie Willmott was also a popular choice and finished second with 35% and loanee Scott Rendell led the rest with 11%.

Supporters were fulsome in their praise for former Man City, Crewe and Chester prospect Holroyd, who has scored ten goals this season and created many opportunities for others with his pace and hard work.

Henry Milward sums up the thoughts of many when he writes, "Throughout he has been confident, sure of touch, linked play, has run the channels expertly and even begun scoring goals. Inexhaustible, he's vibrant, quick, energetic and we're lucky to have him. An excellent first season."

Liam Fox thinks Chris is "Pacy, hard working and passionate" while Daz Gould praises his "Pace, energy and skill - you always feel something will happen when he gets the ball".

"His great desire to win the ball is outstanding and he has scored some vital goals to help our push for promotion," writes Scott James, while Alex Haygarth sums him up thus: "Works his socks off, great touch, quality finishing."

Conrad Whittle thinks Chris could become a United great, saying, "He has more than a touch of class, his technique is as good as any striker I've seen play for United and there have been some greats in my years of watching the U's - Dion, Shaggy, Claridge, Kitson etc. He has the potential to become a United legend, and if he can shoot us to promotion this season it might be sooner rather than later."

Jon Macartney agrees: "Pace that destroys defensive formations and a work rate to rival legend of old, Paul Wanless. He has all the potential to become a legend himself if he continues in the same way, and has superbly justified GB's faith in unleashing him in the first team for the second half of the season."

Robbie Willmott, who graduated through the club's youth system to earn his professional contract, is hailed by Brian Thorby as "Exciting to watch and an inspiration for youngsters to join Cambridge United's Youth set up."

Brad Jones says Robbie is "A true winger, gets to the byeline and delivers. Has shown everyone what he is capable of", while Gary Stroud is delighted with his progress: "What a fantastic season Robbie has had - he has matured and become the force we all knew he would be. Always look forward to his attacking runs, along with his fighting spirit."

Matthew Faiers feels Robbie has exceeded expectations this season, saying, "He has just got better and better. Looking forward to another season of him doing what he does best - getting the ball, hugging the touchline and making some great full backs look stupid."

Joe White feels third-placed Scott Rendell should stay with Cambridge United: "Superb to see him back, his goal record stands out for me - sign him up!" and John Mynott echoes those thoughts, saying "You can't argue with his goal scoring record."

The final voting category was for 'Goal of the Season' and although thirteen different goals were nominated, the vast majority of the votes were split between two special goals. The eventual winner was also selected as Setanta's 'goal of the month' for February and is your overall favourite goal of this season - Paul Carden's curling strike at home to Oxford United in our televised match at the end of January.

Paul receives his award from club website contributors Henry Milward and Matt Ramsay

That rare gem from Cardy attracted 48% of the votes, while Wayne Hatswell's long-range dipping volley at Histon was the runner-up with 31% and Phil Bolland's vital last minute header at Rushden was the best of the rest with 4%.

Of the winning goal, Barry Benton writes, "An absolute screamer - I stood right behind it! Worthy of drawing any game! The trouble is that was his first for the U's and now he's set his standards. Looking forward to the encore!"

Paul Carden's goal was hailed as "One that not many keepers would have stopped" by David Hollamby, and by Alan Lankester as "A stunning individual goal, rare as hens teeth."

Brad Coote was one of many to nominate: "An exquisite goal which was also very important, picking up valuable points against a major playoff contending team."

David York remembers it thus: "I had a great view of the bend on the ball after he beat his man and put it in the far corner. The fact that it was so richly deserved by a fine player is one reason, but it also broke us out of a slight rut and set us on the way to a great unbeaten run in the League which has put us in the great position we are now in. He has been inspirational and reliable all season long."

Laura Drake writes of Wayne Hatswell's runner-up: "A great goal, made even better as it was against Histon!" and Neeley Spicer thinks: "That strike was as sweet as you would see in any league. Should have won the game and I think everyone was bitterly disappointed it didn't. Easily the goal that stands out this season!"

David Cramp agrees: "He showed great awareness to spot the keeper out of position, and executed his first time shot perfectly. It is just a shame that it wasn't the winner."

Congratulations to everyone mentioned, and sincere thanks to all who voted via the club website at cambridgeunited.com.

Andrea Thrussell
web@cambridge-united.co.uk

*A version of this article was published in the programme for the match against Altrincham on Sunday 26th April, 2009

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