Jimmy Bullard has been named Ipswich Town’s Player Of The Year for 2010/11 at the annual Supporters’ Club Player Awards ceremony on Saturday evening.
Bullard, who only arrived on loan from Hull City in January, has proven a firm favourite with the fans at Portman Road with consistently impressive displays in the Blues midfield. The 32-year-old, who previously played under Town boss Paul Jewell during their days at Wigan Athletic, has also weighed in with 5 superb goals in 16 Championship appearances, playing a major part in the club’s upturn in fortunes since the start of the year.
The prize was presented to Bullard at the annual ceremony at Gresham Sports and Social Club, with his fellow first team players, manager Jewell and the club staff in attendance. Second place went to last year’s winner Gareth McAuley, who had previously looked the firm favourite to claim the prize again, with 18-year-old striker Connor Wickham taking third place. Meanwhile Josh Carson was named Academy Player of the Year after exploding onto the scene in the last couple of months, whilst McAuley picked up the Away Match Passport Holders’ Player of the Year award.
The result differs somewhat from that of the recent Vital Ipswich ‘Player of the Season’ poll, for which McAuley was the most popular choice. Bullard meanwhile had been named joint-third by Vital readers alongside captain David Norris, with Wickham in second.
The award caps off an excellent loan spell for Bullard, who last week reiterated his interest in remaining with the Blues beyond the end of his loan deal this summer.
‘I have never been on loan before, even at 32, but coming here has been the best thing I have done in my whole career,’ Bullard told the Club’s Official Website. ‘I’m not sure where I will be next year but put it this way though, I wouldn’t be disappointed if it was here.’
Many fans will be hoping that Ipswich can retain the services of the former Fulham midfielder, who could prove key to the Blues’ ambitions of launching a promotion campaign next season. However, with two years still left on his £45,000-a-week deal at Hull and newly-promoted QPR reportedly interested in securing his signature this summer, a permanent deal still remains a long shot for Town.
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