At the end of a glorious season at Edgeley Park, our End of Season award winners for 2023/24 were officially announced on Sunday.
This year’s winners were presented with their trophies in front of the County supporters at Edgeley Park, following the club’s open-top bus parade and trophy presentation event.
It capped off an historic season for Stockport County, with the club securing its first EFL title in 57 years to win promotion back to League One for the first time since 2010.
County finished with a club EFL record 92 points to take the title with two games to spare, scoring the most goals in the division as well as keeping the most clean sheets. It’s a year we will never, ever forget.
Everyone deserves recognition for their contribution to the cause this year – but see below who ended up picking those prestigious End of Season Awards:
PFA Community Champion 2023/24 – Ethan Pye:
Given to a player as recognition for their work when representing the club in the community, this season’s Community Champion award went to Ethan Pye.
Ethan has shown great enthusiasm this year when representing the club and our charitable vehicle, the County Community Trust. Most notably, he played a part in the creation of the new County-themed mural on Castle Street, an innovative art project spearheaded by Stockport-based art hub GRIT Studios, local creative group The Writing Squad and the Community Trust.
His attitude throughout has been exemplary, with the Community Trust staff selecting him as this season’s winner. Congratulations, Ethan!
Stockport County Goal of the Season 23/24 – Callum Camps v Forest Green Rovers:
County scored an incredible 108 goals in all competitions this season, 96 of them in League Two, with this season’s Goal of the Season list containing 13 stunning strikes.
In the end though, there was a landslide winner with Callum Camps’ long-range rocket against Forest Green Rovers beating Louie Barry’s Wrexham strike to pick up the award.
With the game locked at 0-0, Campsy picked the ball up 25 yards from goal before unleashing an incredible, dipping strike that sailed into the top corner to give the Hatters the lead. We went on to win the game 3-0 to move a step closer to the title.
George Haigh Young Player of the Season – Ethan Pye:
Ethan Pye picked up his second award of the evening on Sunday, after being voted by supporters as this season’s George Haigh Young Player of the Year winner after an outstanding breakthrough season at Edgeley Park.
Having enjoyed a successful year on loan at Gateshead in the National League, Ethan returned to County in the Summer and quickly became a mainstay in our title-winning defence. The 21-year-old featured 42 times in all competitions, and grabbed his first goal for the club in our 5-2 win away at Notts County – the night we secured the League Two title.
Ethan picked up almost 60% of the vote in the end to secure the trophy, which was presented to him by Head of Professional Player Support, James Jennings.
Stockport County Players’ Player of the Year – Ben Hinchliffe:
There’s no bigger accolade than being recognised by your peers, making this the trophy that every player wants to win at the start of the season. This year’s trophy went to the man in the middle of our goal – our legendary goalkeeper, Ben Hinchliffe.
It’s been another incredible season for our greatest ever goalkeeper, appearing 49 times in all competitions and becoming the first player in Stockport County history to win three promotions with the club. His 17 clean sheets was the most in League Two this season, earning him the League Two Golden Glove award too.
Ben fought off close competition from Fraser Horsfall and Tanto Olaofe to win the award for the second time in the last four seasons.
Stockport County Player of the Season 2023/24 – Ben Hinchliffe:
Ben went on to make it a double shortly after, voted for by the supporters as your Player of the Season for 2023/24. It’s the first time the 36-year-old has picked up the award in his eight seasons at Edgeley Park – deserved recognition for one of our greatest ever servants.
The goalkeeper has made 376 appearances for the club since signing from AFC Fylde in 2016 – only six players in our history have played more games. It’s the fifth time in eight seasons that he has picked up a Golden Glove award, but the first time he’s done so in the Football League.
Fittingly, on the night the club all but wrapped up promotion to League One away at Colchester, the goat produced yet another big moment in goal when saving a penalty in the second half to secure the three points.
He had close competition for the trophy from defender, Fraser Horsfall, but emerged victorious to claim the main award of the night and cap another unforgettable season in between the sticks.
