Mikael Forssell 4 Rest Of The Squad 3

Last updated : 07 May 2004 By Richard Barker

The Finnish star, who last week agreed to remain at St Andrews for another season, scooped four official club awards, not to mention the coveted 'Singing The Blues Player Of The Season' - though this presentation didn't quite make it on to the main stage.

STB Match Reporter Richard Barker Hands Over Our
Player Of The Season Award To Mikael Forssell

The majority of the first team squad were in attendance, with Martin Grainger and Nico Vaesen (still at Crystal Palace) excused, but interestingly no mention and no sighting of Aliou Cisse. For those who concern themselves with such matters, most of the players dressed conservatively, except for two. Now, if I tell you that one of these two wasn't Clinton Morrison, you are left with only two candidates - Robbie Savage and David Dunn. Indeed, it was these two who decided to draw attention to themselves (Savage? Are you sure?). Savage wore a white pin-striped suit, with Dunn in what looked to be a brown corduroy outfit.

In fairness to the club, these events never fail to impress. This was no exception. The Kings Suite at the Hilton Metropole Hotel looked superb. For the first time, the stage was in the centre of the room, with huge plasma screens scattered around to show highlights of the season, nominees for awards and the like. The tables were decked out magnificently in blue and white, and as much criticism as people like to level at the club, they do put on a good night.

Once the first lovestruck teenager had approached Savage for a photograph, that was it - two hours of queues at each of the tables that had a player sat at it. Savage, Dunn and Matthew Upson were particularly swamped, whilst Stern John just got on with his meal. There was entertainment from a group called 'The Ratpack', who were disappointingly neither the original ensemble, or the Old Skool combo whose popularity peaked during the 90's.

Throughout the night, there was an auction going on, with your usual signed shirts, golf days with the Gold brothers, etc. One prize though, was the opportunity to use the St Andrews pitch (one imagines to play football upon it) on one occasion next season. This went for £13,000. If whoever bought this is reading, exactly how much had you had to drink?

So, to the awards themselves. Carl Motteram won Young Player Of The Season ahead of Andrew Barrowman and Marcus Painter. Ian Bennett was Clubman Of The Year, with Dunn and Kenny Cunningham behind (if I remember correctly) whilst Stan Lazaridis won goal of the season for his strike against Everton. There were some other good contenders for this (Savage's free-kick against Middlesbrough at home), some less spectacular but more meaningful contenders (Stern John at Villa Park) and then the embarassment of Morrison's header from 3 yards out at Charlton three weeks ago. Why? Why?! If it was some desperate attempt to nominate Morrison for something, then at least his goal at Leicester was a good move! Baffling...

And, of course, there was the Mikael Forssell show. He won the main Player Of The Season award, as well as the Player's Player Of The Season and the Junior Blues Player Of The Season. In addition, he edged out some fierce competition from his colleagues to scoop the Top Goalscorer accolade. By all accounts the mathematicians had been sat down for days calculating that one.

So, that was that, really. There were words from David Sullivan, praising the Academy (the young football school, not the gig venue in Dale End), from David Gold, praising the supporters, and from Steve Bruce, who stated that 'if I was a Blues fan, and I am a Blues fan, I'd be excited about this summer, and that's not bulls**t... you know me, I don't do bulls**t'.

An excellent evening to cap off what, despite the dip at the end, has been an excellent season. Who knows, if Steve Bruce is true to his word, next year's event may be even more of a celebration.