Player of the Year Awards 2022-2023

This successful League One campaign’s awards

Centenary Club Player of the Year - Kyle Benedictus

Speaking at the Player of the Year Awards Dave Mackay praised the winner of this season`s top award, Kyle Benedictus, calling him outstanding:-

"His performances on the pitch speak for themselves, everybody sees that but what he does off the pitch just to get all the boys together - he is a proper leader and he has been brilliant for myself and James. We just leave him to it and Bene makes sure that all the boys look after themselves and are organised. He is brilliant both on and off pitch, a brilliant role model; for the younger players as well."

The Joe Nelson Young Player of the Year - Matty Todd

Matty Todd has picked up so many awards this season that he is running out of terms to express his pleasure but suffice to say he was "delighted" with them all. He thanked everyone for voting for him.

James McPake recalled his first meeting with Matty when he was training on his own at East End Park in the close season:-

"He didn`t know and I didn`t know until two or three hours earlier that I was going to be the manager, so I don`t think Matty could possibly have known that was going to happen. When you work with him you are not surprised that it was not just a one off, he has worked ever so hard all season.

"Unfortunately his season came to an abrupt end because he has had his appendix out. He has been great all season. He is one who can get better and should get better but I think that will be down to Matty if he wants to put the work in and do that. From what we have seen in the last eight or nine months that is what he is going to do, so we were delighted that a couple of weeks ago he signed a new deal and we are going to get the chance with him."

The Management Team Player of the Year - Deniz Mehmet

Goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet said that the Management Team`s Player of the Year Award was a lovely one to pick up:-

"I have to say a big thank you to all my team mates. They have been absolutely outstanding in front of me all season, a lot of this is down to their hard work. It has been nice to have the backing of the fans. It was a tough season for me last year of course but I have enjoyed this one."

James McPake added:-

"He is a record breaker who deserves a round of applause. It is hard to find a good, reliable goalkeeper but when you are playing in a team where Deniz has not had a lot to do, he pulls off the big saves. Sometimes goalkeepers are judged on that alone but I think he is the first to admit when he is speaking about cleansheets that is down to the team and everything in front of him but Deniz has also to take huge credit for the saves he makes.

"One still in my head was just last week at Airdrie. We could have been 3-0 down again if it wasn`t for Den early on. In the end we got away with a point to keep the unbeaten run going. He thoroughly deserves this award."

The Gary Riddell Players` Player of the Year
- Joe Chalmers and Matty Todd

Given Matty Todd was collecting so many awards, James McPake praised Joe Chalmers for his contribution to the title winning season:-

"Every single game he is excellent. Joe is fantastic to work with. He has a great attitude but even a better player."

On winning this award Joe said he did not expect to be stepping up to lift any awards:-

"It means a lot that the players that I play with and train with every day voted for me. The manager and Dave have been brilliant to turn everything around. We have worked hard all season and enjoyed it. The whole club is pulling in the one direction and it made a big difference."

Matty added:- "We have all trusted each other, every boy has been great throughout the season so to be honest anybody could have won this tonight. I am thankful that they voted for me. I am delighted thanks."

The DAFC Academy Award for Young Player of the Year - Andrew Tod

The award went to 17 year old Andrew Tod an Academy product who has had a couple of chances in the first team and was also out on loan to League Two club Elgin City. He spoke of the award:-

"I am delighted to get the award and being given the chance to go out on loan. It was good experience for me, I have a lot to learn and I didn`t play as much as I wanted to because it still helped me a lot."

James McPake praised Andrew for the way he trains every day in training:-

"I will touch on the loan that he was talking about as well. Me and Dave were actually talking about it with a couple of our coaches. Every loan that you go out on doesn`t need to be successful, they are not. As Andrew says you learn wee bits and pieces but ultimately we want him to play in this team at this club and go and do as well as his dad which comes with a wee bit of pressure for Andrew as well. He has been great and any time that he trains with us, which is every day now, he goes in and you can see that the first team players have taken to him as well. He is now a member of the first team squad. He will come back in after the summer and kick on again."

Goal of the Season - Matty Todd v Clyde - 18th October 2022

Matty Todd recalled his late goal against Clyde that was voted the Goal of the Season:-

"The gaffer said about minutes before `take it to the corner` but I just took an attempt. I`m good with both feet so it just floated into the net."

Dave Mackay highlighted the fact that Matty had scored loads of important goals for Dunfermline this season.

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