Carl Rushworth named Swansea City Supporters' Player of the Season at awards dinner
Carl Rushworth has been named Swansea City Supporters’ Men’s Player of the Season for the 2023-24 campaign at the club’s annual awards dinner.
The goalkeeper has enjoyed a superb season on loan from Brighton, keeping 10 clean sheets, making a number of eye-catching stops, and impressing with his distribution.
Among the standout moments were a key double stop in the win at Plymouth, athletic saves home and away against Leicester City, and – most recently – an incredible accurate kick downfield to set in motion the counter-attack for the Swans second goal at Huddersfield.
Rushworth’s exploits saw him come out on top in our supporter vote via the club’s website, while he also took home the Men’s Player’s Player of the Season prize, which was voted for by the senior squad.
Captain Katy Hosford, meanwhile, was voted the Women’s Supporters’ Player of the Season following an excellent campaign that saw the forward score 19 goals from all competitions, with that tally enough to see her secure the Top Goalscorer prize.
The Men’s Top Goalscorer award was shared between Jamal Lowe and Jerry Yates, who have nine goals apiece to their names.
Ellie Lake received the Women’s Players’ Player of the Season award after the defender delivered a series of consistently excellent performances, chipping in with notable goals against Wrexham at home and away, and being handed the armband for the recent Adran Trophy final.
The Best Newcomer of the Season prize went to defender Josh Tymon for his fine performances since joining the Swans from Stoke City last summer.
The left-back has been one of the Swans most-consistent performers, providing defensive solidity while offering a real threat in the final third, as evidenced by the six assists he has racked up.
The Academy Player of the Season went to Aimar Govea, with the 17-year-old winger winning the award after a season where he delivered a series of stand-out displays to help the under-18s reach the Professional Development League Cup final.
He signed his first professional deal with the club recently, and has made a handful of first-team appearances since his debut against Sheffield Wednesday.
Centre-back Filip Lissah picked up the Swansea City Under-21s’ Player of the Season award after showing his class and leadership in skippering the development side to the Nathaniel MG Cup final, before making his senior debut against Bournemouth in January.
Off the field the Swansea City Supporters’ Trust Lifetime Achievement award went to Stuart McDonald.
A former Trust board member, treasurer and supporter director, MacDonald spent 13 years on the board of the fans’ group, continues to be a Trustee of the Swansea City AFC Foundation, and has long been a leading figure with grassroots football through the Swansea leagues.
The Alan Curtis award - given to those who have made an outstanding contribution to the club - went to Mel Nurse.
A crucial figure on and off the pitch on numerous occasions across his life. It is no wonder Nurse is simply known as ‘Mr Swansea City’.
Representing the club as a player, this former defender – who hailed from Alice Street in Cwmbwrla - made over 250 appearances across two spells with the Swans totalling 10 years, and also won 12 caps for Wales between 1960 and 1961.
After hanging up his boots, he would later return to the club as a director and – during great upheaval at the turn of the millennium – he would, not once, but twice, step in to help save the club and safeguard it from financial disaster.
Without his intervention, the near two-decades of success that followed may never have come to pass.
He is, unquestionably, one of the most important figures in the club's history and a true Jack, and his grand-daughter Ffion received a standing ovation from the room when she took to the stage to accept the award on Mel’s behalf.
The evening included a vote to decide the club’s Goal of the Season award.
It was no easy task but, in the end, it was Josh Ginnelly's thunderous strike against Northampton Town that was picked by attendees as the best on the shortlist.
Last, but certainly not least, Maggie’s Swansea were recognised as the club’s Community Champion in recognition of the vital work they do in our community for those impacted by cancer.
The cancer support charity was at the heart of the ‘Tackling Cancer Together’ campaign, and their tireless efforts in delivering a wide range of free services to anyone who has had to deal with the effects of a cancer diagnosis made them thoroughly deserving winners of the award.
Swansea City would like to thank all its sponsors and partners for their support over the course of the season and of tonight’s event.
Full list of winners
Under 21s' Player of the Season (sponsored by Swansea Decorating Service) – Filip Lissah
Academy Player of the Season (sponsored by the Plough & Harrow, Murton) – Aimar Govea
Community Champion award (sponsored by Pure Swansea) - Maggie’s Swansea
Best Newcomer of the Season (sponsored by Ammcom) – Josh Tymon
Swansea City Women Top Goalscorer (sponsored by Peter Lynn & Partners) – Katy Hosford
Swansea City Men’s Top Goalscorer (sponsored by Peter Lynn & Partners) – Jamal Lowe and Jerry Yates
Goal of the season (sponsored by the lcv group) - Josh Ginnelly v Northampton Town
Swansea City Women Players’ Player of the Season (sponsored by Owens) – Ellie Lake
Swansea City Men’s Players’ Player of the Season (Sponsored by Owens) – Carl Rushworth
Swansea City Women Supporters' Player of the Season (sponsored by SA1 Solutions) – Katy Hosford
Swansea City Men’s Supporters’ Player of the season (sponsored by SA1 Solutions) – Carl Rushworth
Lifetime Achievement award (sponsored by Swansea City Supporters’ Trust) – Stuart McDonald
Alan Curtis Award (sponsored by Swansea Building Society) – Mel Nurse