Ex-Sunderland keeper says player of year treble is special

Trevor Carson with his three Pools trophies. Picture by FRANK REID

The Hartlepool United keeper left the Grand Hotel last night with three trophies following success at the club’s awards night.

Carson collected the two principal prizes – the Players’ Player of the Year and the Fans Player of the Year.

The 28-year-old also received the Community Player of the Year trophy.

“It’s fantastic to get the recognition of the supporters and the award from the lads who I play and train with every day,” he said.

“It’s something special, it really does mean a lot.

“You look at some of the names who have been player of the year over the seasons and some are club heroes.

“Sometime in the future I hope I can be that too.

“For now, I’m buzzing to have won all this.”

He beat Billy Paynter and Matthew Bates to both main awards with the top scorer and centre-half second and third in each category.

Carson was in great form during the seven-match unbeaten run from March into April, a sequence which included four successive clean sheets.

It transformed Pools from third-bottom strugglers to a side which looks set to finish 16th if they can get a result at Plymouth this Saturday.

“My form has gone towards us staying up and finishing in mid-table so I’m proud of that,” he said.

“Me and Nicky Featherstone share a room on away days and we were saying earlier this year that it would go down to the wire.

“But it was great to get to safety the way that we did and I don’t think we are far off [becoming a top team].

“I think getting the supporters award was brilliant, I really appreciate it.

“But to get the award from my fellow players was something else.

“It was nice for them to appreciate what I’ve done but I want to thank them as well.

“It’s a team-game is an old cliche but it’s true, these are a fantastic set of lads and we have a great team spirit.”

It is the second year in a row the Northern Ireland international has taken such an accolade. Carson was voted Cheltenham Town’s Supporters’ Player of the Year for 2014-15. However, this season has at least had a happy ending for the 28-year-old – he could not save Cheltenham from relegation, but his glovework has been key to Pools transforming their fortunes.

“I am not a fake person, so it was hard to be happy about it because of the situation,” he said.

“But I look back now and I am proud to have been Cheltenham’s player of the year.

“It was a tough season, that relegation has tarnished my CV, but I am pleased I was recognised for how I played.

“But this is a different feeling, how I performed has gone towards us staying up.

“We have finished safe and the season could have been a lot worse.”

The Community Player of the Year trophy recognises the work players do locally in their own time, as well as his charity work.

The ex-Sunderland stopper is trying to raise money for his sister-in-law Melanie Harthshorn, who needs life-saving surgery.