It’s a Dewsbury-Haul as Sluga grabs top gong in supporters’ trust awards bash

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scooped four gongs, while goalkeeper Simon Sluga claimed the Player of the Season award at the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust virtual awards bash last night.

The loan midfielder, who has returned to parent club Leicester City after three goals and six assists among 41 classy and consistent performances, was handed awards for Players’ Player of the Season, the Junior Supporters’ Player of the Season, Internet Player of the Season and the Ian Pearce Memorial Trophy, lifted by the player with the most man of the match awards in the campaign.

Tweeting afterwards, Dewsbury-Hall posted: ‘A BIG thank you to all of my teammates and of course the @LutonTown fans for these awards and the incredible support. Really tops of a memorable season for me. Now to rest and recover for the next seasons challenges.’ [sic]

But after 12 clean sheets (13 overall) to help the Hatters to a 12th placed Championship finish, it was Croatian sensation Sluga claimed the top prize and also the Bobbers Travel Club Away Player of the Season.

“The feeling is unreal. It’s unbelievable,” said Sluga of his Player of the Season award, adding: “I want to thank you all. I know it wasn’t easy to vote for me, especially after last season and after what you maybe have thought about me. So, it has a massive, massive impact on me, this award, and really I wanted to thank you. 

“Now, in this last year-and-a-half, we are in the situation where there are no fans in the stands and life changed all around. We are now even more aware of what the supporters mean to us. Just a big thank you for everything, for every game, for the award, of course, and to support our great club.”

Also on the winner’s list was Kazenga LuaLua, who will leave Luton when his contract ends next month, but departs with a Goal of the Season gong for his stunning strike at Wycombe Wanderers.

The Young Player of the Season was Aidan Frances-Clarke, while the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust Kevin Catlin Outstanding Contribution Award went to Thommie Lundquist of the Scandinavian Hatters, for his dedication to establishing, maintaining and strengthening that supporters’ group and continually raising the profile of Luton across Sweden and Norway.