Coventry Telegraph

Ben is the Sheaf winner at City’s awards evening

- By ANDY TURNER

COVENTRY City’s Ben Sheaf took the top honours in the club’s end of season presentati­on evening at the CBS Arena.

The Sky Blues star midfielder not only won the most prestigiou­s award of the night, the 2023/24 Player of the Season as voted for by the fans, but also took home the Players’ Player of the Year award.

“It’s an honour to receive this award from the best fans,” said the 26-year-old, when receiving his award from compere and former City player Harry Roberts.

The former Arsenal prospect with two years left on his current contract – who has already been the subject of summer speculatio­n linking him with interest from Fulham and newly-promoted Ipswich Town to add to interest from Luton Town – was also awarded the Community Player of the Year.

This year’s Golden Boot for the top scorer of the season was shared by Ellis Simms and Haji Wright after both bagged 19 goals each in all competitio­ns in their first season with the Championsh­ip club, with Simms scoring 13 in the league and six in the FA Cup, and the USA star 16 in the league and three in the cup. And Wright’s sensationa­l lastminute stoppage-time winner against Wolves in the quarter-final of the FA Cup won Goal of the Season. Striker Simms was also voted the Junior Sky Blues Player of the Season, as voted for by the younger fans of the club.

In a new award, City’s FA Cup semi-final tie at Wembley in front of 38,000 of the Sky Blue Army, and in which Mark Robins’ men battled back from 3-0 down to 3-3 against Manchester United before having a last-minute winner ruled out by VAR and then losing in a cruel penalty shoot-out, was named ‘Game of the Season.’

There was no Young Player of the Year award this season.

Elsewhere, Bedworth and Nuneaton Supporters’ Club Player of the Season went to Jake Bidwell, while Milan van Ewijk is this year’s London Supporters’ Club Player of the Season, pipping Sheaf and Bobby Thomas in a close run vote in the 46th year of the prestigiou­s award.

The winner of the second LSC Eric Whiting Young Player of the Season of the Award 2023/2024 was Bobby Simms was the runner-up.

 ?? ?? City’s Ben Sheaf, right, receives the Community Player of the Season award
City’s Ben Sheaf, right, receives the Community Player of the Season award

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