
Andy Carroll has capped a fine season with West Ham United by being named Chairmen's Player of the Year.
David Sullivan and David Gold picked the England centre forward as their standout performer of 2012/13, with the big man receiving his award from sponsors S.14 (2012) Limited director Michael Pryke.
Carroll was naturally happy to receive the accolade and told West Ham TV how much has has enjoyed his first campaign with the Hammers.
"I've certainly never been Chairmen's Player of the Year before," admitted the No8, who celebrated a successful season at the Player Awards at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on Wednesday. "It's a new award here and I didn't know it was going to come along, but obviously I'm over the moon with it.
"Coming down here to London, it's a long way from home but I've enjoyed every minute of it. I knew a few of the lads down here already and all the others have welcomed me into the squad, so it's been great.
"My Mum and Dad also love coming down and staying at mine and coming to the games. I enjoy seeing them too and they're made very welcome. West Ham is a great club."
Carroll has been superb in claret and blue this season, scoring seven goals and creating many more for his team-mates as the Hammers have made a strong start to life back in the Barclays Premier League.
Central to the striker's success has been the faith shown in him by manager Sam Allardyce, who has made it clear that the 24-year-old is his first-choice centre forward.
"Obviously I need to stay fit and show what I can do in training, because it is not in my head that I will start every week if I am fit. If I don't train and play well then I'm not going to be first-choice any more, so I've still got to work my hardest and put myself about in training and see where it takes me."
In recent weeks, Carroll has played some of the best football of his career, scoring regularly and causing untold problems to some of the best defences in English football. At the defensive end, he is also more than willing to help out, whether it be clearing corners and free-kicks or tracking back to assist his team-mates.
"I think I have done well since I came back to fitness in February, not just with the goals that I've scored but I've also created quite a bit as well. I've put myself about as much as I can and that's really what I'm about. As long as I'm in and around the box, I can do things.
"It doesn't really matter what happens, I will work hard for the team I am playing for. This season has been great for me. When I'm fit, I try my hardest and I run about and put myself about and I feel that's what I'm about - if I didn't have that then I would have lost half of my game."
Carroll is approaching the end of a season-long loan spell from Liverpool. Looking back on his nine months in east London, the Gateshead-born player says he has thoroughly enjoyed his time down south.
"It's been unbelievable. The lads in the dressing room and at the training ground and the banter have been unbelievable, as have the fans. With the football, it's been a great season for me.
"There is a lot of talk about me from people who don't know me, who say things about me but have never met me. People have heard stories and I came here and maybe a lot of the lads thought that as well, but I feel now that most, if not all, of them are close friends. I spend every day with them and it's been great.
"I've enjoyed every minute of it."
The next thing they should do is put money where their mouth is. You don't let your player of the year leave just like that!