The season is over (well, the main event) and we’re feeling generous. So, pray silence and bow down before the winners of the BoroGuide Awards 2024-5. The awards aren’t actually anything new. We once got a letter from Yeovil Town Football Club after awarding them an accolade for best away day experience. Or something. And we gave Dannie Bulman a little something as our 2004-5 Player of the Year. So, yeah, 20 years old.
It’s just that we’ve been letting the awards sleep for a while.
Now, we thought we could do with some fresh content. So, here you go. We hope all of the winners meet with your approval. If not, please… don’t call us, we’ll call you.
BoroGuide Awards 2024-5
Boro’ player of the year
In a funny ol’ season, a few candidates stand above the rest. But our pick for this season is the highly uncontroversial Dan Kemp; stepping up from League Two for a second spell with us. And ending the campaign as our top scorer. Even if it seemed like he only spent half of the season playing in his best/preferred position.
Boro’ result of the year
We had a very good end to January 2025; a last-gasp winner at Barnsley on the 25th putting us in a nice place. Even so, not sure if anyone thought we’d go to Wrexham three days later and take all three points. Given we were up against a side that only Birmingham City could probably out-finance, we literally stunned them; a sensational 3-2 win in North Wales.
League One player of the year
It’s the kind of signing that smaller clubs (like us) dream of making in order to make a dent in the bookmakers’ predictions. Richard Kone arrived at Wycombe last summer having zero professional experience on his CV. His impact for the Chairboys is little short of superb; one of the division’s top marksmen and putting the Bucks side in with a shout of promotion.
League One team of the year
It’s looking like a clean sweep in our League One plaudits for these guys, but we cannot see past Wycombe Wanderers. The predictable nature of football means that one of the top two will get this award from other places. But the Chairboys pushed above their weight (well, in financial terms at least) to compete for automatic promotion. Close contender: Stockport.
The ‘Maamria-Sampson-Westley-Revell’ League One manager of the year
A hattrick of gongs from us to the lads across the county border. Mind you, Matt Bloomfield might be a contentious choice given he departed Wycombe in January. Our rationale is that he put the Chairboys in a corker of a position, which earned him a move to Luton Town. Yet, that could still backfire as he may be back in League One next year if the Hatters drop down.
Special award for services to our own amusement
We literally couldn’t separate these two – but we have been greatly enthused by Cambridge United and Carlisle United this season. The folks from over the way are no longer with us in League One, while the Cumbrian side have now secured a hilarious double relegation – and will line up in the Conference next season. Small club near Barrow…
The ‘we’ll never play you again’ award
The caveat here is that we may well play them again. With their well-deployed wealth, they ought to be dandy on their return to the Championship. But it’s foolish to claim you’ll never play a club again full stop, let alone if you’re only one division above. It may be one season, it may be a million seasons. We still think there’s a good chance we’ll meet again.
If Walsall fail to get promoted, it also means that we’ll not have a trip to Britain’s second city next season. And that’s absolutely fine with us…
The ‘you couldn’t script it, except you could’ award
A fairytale we think not. Look, we’re not fussed about the Red Dragons’ profound wealth so much. They have smart owners and incredible revenues, so can therefore spunk the money as they have done. But that wealth has been a huge enabler in their rise to the second tier (while inflating the going rate at our level, which will have long-term repercussions). So, it’s not so much a fairytale – more the expected outcome of using their cash wisely.
Unfortunate stadium name of the year
These days, plenty of grounds have unfortunate names thanks to commercial endorsement. One of our personal faves is Accrington Stanley‘s Wham Stadium – if only in the hope they’ll renamed the club bar ‘Club Tropicana’ too. But we digress – our pick for this season’s award is Bolton Wanderers. If you’re a Trotters fan and you don’t like that… ToughSheet.
The ‘how on earth did you end up here’ award
Cardiff City.
‘Tottenham Hotspur’ of the year – the Spursy award
Extra credit this season too.
The ‘are they still going?’ award
It’s been a cracking run for the long-time holders of this year; every year since ’99, the winner of this award has been Woking.
And, yes – they’re still going.
… and that’s a wrap
The season is over, our awards concluded. We can’t be arsed to think up more categories if your favourite didn’t win. Congrats to our winners. Comiserations to our critics. If you have been affected by any issues raised in these awards, please do tell… someone. And if you’ve any complaints you’d like to raise, write to your local MP or councillor. We reserve the right to have our own opinions and the right to occasionally share them with you.
For now, see you on the other side of the summer.
1999? Makes you think of the proportion of Boro’ fans who’ve never had the privilege of going to Kingfield