FAITHFUL KEV SET TO BAG SIR TOM HONOUR
the previous season.
His final manager at Brentford, Mark Warburton, had nothing but praise for his former captain.
“Kevin was a pleasure to work with,” said the current Nottingham Forest boss. “His honesty, integrity and commitment to the cause was always there. He was a very talented footballer and he had a thirst for knowledge.
“He will go on to be an outstanding coach. Kevin is a true one-club man, he loves Brentford and the fans love his commitment and devotion to the cause.”
The Sir Tom Finney Award is presented to a player who has had an exceptional career in the EFL. In recent years, strikers Kevin Phillips and Kevin Davies have won the award, which was renamed in 2014 to permanently honour the Preston and England legend.
The EFL Awards take place tonight at the London Hilton on Park Lane when winners will be crowned for achievements on and off the pitch, including awards for the best player in each division of the EFL. BRENTFORD legend Kevin O’Connor will receive the prestigious Sir Tom Finney Award at the 2017 EFL Awards tonight.
A one club man, O’Connor, who is now Brentford’s B team head coach, is in his third decade at Griffin Park after progressing through the Bees’ youth system.
The 35-year-old signed professional terms in 1999 and went on to make 501 first team appearances in 16 years, putting him fourth on the club’s all-time appearance list.
Brentford chairman Cliff Crown said: “Kevin has always performed to the best of his ability and shown great leadership throughout his time at Brentford.
“There are very few players that can say they have played for a club more than 500 times in 15 years.”
O’Connor retired in 2015 after helping Brentford win promotion to the Championship