Colchester United youngster Noah Chilvers wins three awards

The 20-year-old midfielder landed the U's Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season and Goal of the Season accolades, to cap an outstanding campaign for the club.

Chilvers, who is the youngest player to ever collect the U's Player of the Season award, saw off competition from runner-up Brendan Wiredu and third-placed Shamal George to land the trophy.

It was a similar scenario for the Young Player of the Season award, with Chilvers winning it ahead of runner-up George and third-placed Wiredu.

The three awards won by Chilvers were voted for by U's supporters.

Chilvers said: “I’m buzzing – it’s an honour to win all three of these awards.

“It means a lot when it comes from the fans who have watched the games throughout the season.

“Especially in my first season, I couldn’t have really asked for more.

“I was thinking I might be in with a shot for the Young Player of the Year so to have won both is a real honour.

“I’m buzzing with the Goal of the Season award as well.

“I thought Cal Harriott’s goal against Crawley was really good as well but I couldn’t have really asked for a better first professional goal."

Chilvers has enjoyed an outstanding campaign for Colchester and was one of the shining lights, in what was otherwise a disappointing season for the club.

The former U's academy product made his first-ever league start in Colchester's goal-less opening-day draw at Bradford City, last September.

And he did not look back after that, starting 36 of the club's 46 league games and making 49 league and cup appearances, in total, scoring three times.

Chilvers also secured the Goal of the Season award for his magnificent strike in Colchester's 1-1 draw at Barrow, last September.

The ex-Bath City loanee netted with a superb long-range effort against the Bluebirds, at Holker Street, his first professional goal.

Ryan Clampin's effort against Walsall was second, while Callum Harriott's thunderbolt against Crawley Town was third.

“It’s quite mad when you think that it was only a matter of months since my first league start for the club," said Chilvers.

“I couldn’t really have dreamt of it going so well, playing the number of games that I have and having as much influence.

“I’ll always back my own ability to do that but it’s down to the coaching as well, because they’ve put a lot of faith in me maybe at times when other clubs wouldn’t, especially with the results and where we’ve been at times in the league.

“I have to say thanks to all of the coaches and all of the managers we’ve had – Bally, Browny and Hayden – who have all really helped me.

“It’s good that we’ve managed to stay up and managed to get it done.

“There were a lot of big performances from players over the final eight games since Hayden came in and we all pulled together.

“I think that will really stand us in good stead for next year when we all come back and we’ll know what we need to do a bit more."

Chilvers signed a new contract with Colchester until the summer of 2023, last October.

He rose through the U's academy, having been at the club since he was nine years old.

Chilvers made his first senior Colchester appearance in March 2019, when he appeared as a substitute in a League Two match against Newport County.

Last season, he made a positive impression on loan at National League South side Bath City, before their season ended prematurely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Prior to joining Bath, the midfielder had featured for the U's first team on three occasions last season, including their memorable Carabao Cup win at Crystal Palace last August where he struck the dramatic all-important winning spot-kick in the shoot-out.

Colchester United's Players’ Player of the Season is winger Callum Harriott.

The experienced attacker, who was one of 11 first-team players to be released by the U's earlier this month, finished the season as their top scorer with nine goals.

Harriott, 27, made 38 league and cup appearances for Colchester in the 2020-21 season.

Clampin was runner-up, while Wiredu finished third.

The Colchester United Supporters Association Player of the Year award went to Tom Eastman for the second successive season, while midfielder Harry Pell landed the Hospital Radio Player of the Season accolade.