Chelsea FC Women’s Fran Kirby and Niamh Charles have been named Women’s Player of the Year and Women’s Young Player of the Year at the London Football Awards 2021.
The Blues duo were both announced winners at Tuesday evening’s virtual awards ceremony, which is held in association with the Willow Foundation.
Kirby pipped fellow team-mate Pernille Harder and Arsenal trio Vivianne Miedema, Jennifer Beattie and Leah Williamson, to the Player of the Year award, while Charles saw off competition from Tottenham Hotspur's Angela Addison and Arsenal’s Malin Gut, to scoop the Young Player of the Year prize.
Kirby has been in scintillating form for the Blues this season, netting 21 goals in all competitions and upon receiving her award, Kirby said: ‘It’s a real pleasure and honour to win. I know some amazing footballers have won it already.
‘I’m looking forward to the end of the season and hopefully we can add more trophies at Chelsea.’
Charles, who joined the club from Liverpool in the summer, has impressed during her debut season and was recently rewarded for her performances with a first England senior call-up.
‘I’m grateful to have been nominated amongst some other great nominees and I’m really happy to have won it,’ said Charles.
‘Hopefully Chelsea can have a good finish to the season, and we can bring home a few more trophies!’
Chelsea Women’s manager Emma Hayes had been nominated in the Manager of the Year category, while Mason Mount and Reece James were nominated for the Young Player of the Year award.
Edouard Mendy was nominated in the Goalkeeper of the Year category, with Oliver Giroud’s goal against Atletico Madrid also up for Goal of the Season.
Click here to view the full list of winners
Independently judged by leaders from football administration and the football media, the London Football Awards celebrates the very best of London football in the 2020/21 season.
Now in it’s seventh year, the London Football Awards is run in aid of Willow, the national charity set up by former Arsenal and Scotland goalkeeper Bob Wilson and his wife to support seriously ill 16-to-40-year-olds in fulfilling uplifting and unforgettable special days.