Vote for your Cobblers player of the year

Picking a player of the season is rarely a taxing task, but in a season which has thrown up so many stellar performances and eye-catching moments, there's a whole host of candidates for Cobblers fans to pick from this time around.
KEY PLAYERS - Marc Richards, Nicky Adams and Ricky Holmes have all enjoyed good seasons for the CobblersKEY PLAYERS - Marc Richards, Nicky Adams and Ricky Holmes have all enjoyed good seasons for the Cobblers
KEY PLAYERS - Marc Richards, Nicky Adams and Ricky Holmes have all enjoyed good seasons for the Cobblers

You could make a case for virtually every player that’s donned the famous claret shirt during this promotion-winning and surely title-winning campaign as all have, at some point, staked a claim during the course of a record-breaking nine months.

From gritty, backs-to-the-wall performances to more free-flowing, free-scoring attacking ones, Northampton’s success has been built on having a squad that blends natural talent with steely determination.

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Besides from the fact he’s been number one throughout the campaign, it’s appropriate to start with the man between the sticks.

Adam Smith, who arrived as something of an unknown quantity in the summer, was selected ahead of the experienced Ryan Clarke and quickly established himself as Chris Wilder’s number one with a string of heroic shot-stopping displays in goal in the early weeks of the season, barely giving Clarke a sniff of a chance.

Brendan Moloney didn’t feature until November, but made up for lost time with a succession of marauding, steady displays at right-back, while the reliable Zander Diamond formed and developed a formidable partnership at the heart of defence with one of the finds of the season in the assured Rod McDonald.

With those two laying the foundations, left-back David Buchanan - who has started every Cobblers game this season - has been the very definition of consistency in his first season at Sixfields, having gone about his business in quiet yet extremely effective fashion week in, week out.

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The same can be said of the metronomic Joel Byrom in central midfield who has often kept things ticking over next to the rejuvenated and reborn John-Joe O’Toole.

The enigmatic midfielder went from being transfer-listed to first-team regular in double quick time, and with 11 goals next to his name so far this campaign, he’s now one of the first names on the team sheet.

Ricky Holmes was another who had to bide his time due to injury but his explosive impact once he got back into action in December made it more than worth the wait.

With screamer after screamer, Holmes quickly went about making up for lost time as he proved himself as a reliable match-winner time and time again.

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On the other side of midfield, Nicky Adams’ season has almost mirrored that of Holmes’, only the other way around.

The former Bury man began the season like a train and despite tailing off towards the end of the campaign, remains second on the list of league two’s leading creators.

Top scorer Marc Richards has seen his bid to reach 20 goals for the season rudely cut short by his troublesome Achilles, but with 18 goals in 18 different games, no one can play down the skipper’s influence both on and off the pitch.

Ultimately, though, it’s down to you guys, the fans, who have watched on week in, week out to decide which Northampton player has shined brightest in this dazzling season.

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To vote, simply email your choice to [email protected]

Please title your email, ‘Cobblers player of the year’. Voting is restricted to one per person, and the closing date is 6pm on Sunday, April 24.

THE Chronicle & Echo Northampton Town Supporters’ Player Of The Year award will this year be presented at the club’s awards dinner.

In the past, the award has traditionally been presented to the winning player on the Sixfields pitch prior to the final home game of the season.

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But this time around, the winner will pick up their prize at the Northampton Town End of Season Awards Dinner, which is sponsored by Grosvenor Casinos.

The dinner is being staged at Northamptonshire County Cricket Club on Sunday, May 1.

To cast your vote for your winner couldn’t be easier.

All you need to do is email us your choice for the player of the year, and the player with the most votes wins.

The register your vote, please title your email ‘Cobblers player of the year’ and send it to [email protected]

Voting is restricted to one per person, and the closing date is 6pm on Sunday, April 24. Get voting to do your bit to make your choice the player of the year for 2015/16.