Awards night

Ipswich Town award winners for 2025/26 promotion campaign

Christian Walton, Azor Matusiwa and Jack Clarke were among the 2025/26 Ipswich Town award winners. <i>(Image: PA)</i>
Christian Walton, Azor Matusiwa and Jack Clarke were among the 2025/26 Ipswich Town award winners. (Image: PA)
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Ipswich Town's award winners for the 2025/26 promotion campaign were announced at last night's end of season celebratory dinner at Milsoms Kesgrave Hall. Here's who collected gongs.

Player of the Year - Azor Matuswia

After a baptism of fire debut at Birmingham, Matusiwa quickly adjusted to life in the Championship. The £7.8m signing from French club Rennes started all but one league game (3-0 home loss to Charlton) and played through major discomfort during the run-in after suffering a leg injury on Easter Monday. Dutch destroyer scored a sensational winner against Hull and made more interceptions than any midfielder in the division. This is an award chosen by the collective coaching staff. It completes a double for Matusiwa after he was also named Supporters' Player of the Year.

Players’ Player of the Year - Christian Walton

Grabbed his chance with both hands when Alex Palmer was forced off injured in the 3-0 home loss to Charlton last October. The Cornish keeper went on to make several vital saves throughout the season, keeping 16 clean sheets and coming very close to a share of the Golden Glove award. A reward for his loyalty and professionalism during a rollercoaster four-and-a-half years at the club. Understand this was a very tight call, with the players' votes spread across several of their team mates.

Top goalscorer - Jack Clarke

Baggy shorts wing wizard bagged 16 goals - the best return for a non-striker in the division. The feat is even more impressive given he only started 23 games, sharing his minutes with Jaden Philogene. Seven of his goals came as a sub. Six of them were penalties. Six were equalisers and two were winners. Dealt with major pressure to convert from the spot late in games against Derby, Preston and Middlesbrough. Sealed the East Anglian derby home win.

The Philip Hope-Cobbold Award - Dara O'Shea

Signed a new contract after relegation, took on the captain's armband from Sam Morsy and went on to play every minute of every league game. This award is to celebrate the Irishman's work in the community via the club's charitable Foundation arm. The 27-year-old - whose 'our people' speech inspired a long-awaited East Anglian derby win - takes his responsibility as a role model seriously and demands his team-mates do the same.

Goal of the Season - Jaden Philogene

Spun away from his marker and, from distance, sent a rocket of a shot high into the net to quickly restore Town's lead against Norwich at Portman Road last October. It put the Blues on course for their first East Anglian derby win in more than 16 years. What a strike!

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