Lilywhites midfielder John Welsh says he was surprised but honoured to scoop POTY and PPOTY at Sunday’s award ceremony.
The midfielder has been outstanding in the North End engine room this season and after being recognised by his teammates with the Players’ Player of the Year award; Welsh claimed the prestigious double thanks to votes from the PNE fans.
Speaking exclusively to PNE.Com about his achievements, the 29-year-said: “I am very proud of that honour [POTY], a bit shocked really but it is definitely a proud moment in my career and I am delighted.
“It is always nice of the lads to give you credit, I was just as surprised to get that one [PPOTY] as well so it’s brilliant to be honoured like that.
“I was really delighted and just wanted to say thank you to the lads for voting me.
“You look around the dressing room and there is a lot of good players there and lads who have got ability, so it was surprising but I was delighted.
“It has been a pleasure playing with them this season and hopefully we can improve on this season and win promotion next year.”
Welsh has been the heartbeat of the North End team this year with his tough tackling and work ethic epitomising everything about his game that is great and the former Tranmere Rovers man is privileged to pull on the famous Lilywhites’ jersey.
“That’s how I play football, I want to give my all for the lads, for the team, for the club,” added the Liverpudlian.
“I have always said that when I put a Preston shirt on you are not only representing the manager and the players, but the fans and people who work within the club so I always try and give it my all and sometimes I might not have the best of games, but I guarantee that I will be running around and putting tackles in and doing whatever I can to make sure we get three points at the end of the game.
“On a personal note this season has gone ok, I would have liked to have done something this season and won something but obviously it wasn’t to be.
“It’s a great football club for any player to be at and all the lads want to do well for the fans and for the club and get it back to where it should be.”
Welsh singled out two personal highlights of the season but he states that being at such a renowned football club is a highlight in itself.
When asked about the season just gone he said: “I would probably say Sunday night winning Players’ Player and Player of the Year, it was a massive highlight.
“Obviously scoring my first goal was a massive one too, but I am just glad to be at this football club, as I said, it is a great football club and I’m honoured to put a shirt on every week.”
Following a positive end to the season, PNE’s players could be forgiven for wanting the 2013/14 campaign to start tomorrow and Welsh is already looking forward to returning to work once his batteries have been fully recharged.
“Speaking amongst the lads, when we are all together we all speak about how excited we are for next season,” said the North End No.19.
“Obviously we will have a good rest in the summer but I am sure the lads will be training and keeping themselves in good shape which you have got to do anyway at this level.
“Everyone is excited in the camp, even though we have just finished and we can’t wait to get back next season and get kicking back into it.
“When the gaffer come in he wanted to make sure that we finished strong, obviously if we had won every game we could have made it into the Play-Offs but it wasn’t to be, he just wanted to finish strong.
“We wanted to remain unbeaten at home which we did and just put a bit of heart back into the Club and I think we done that.
“I think we finished strong and obviously we want to build that momentum into next year and start well next year.”