Player-of-the-year Cody McDonald (centre) with third placed Adebayo Akinfenwa (left) and young player-of-the-year Jack Payne. Below Cody McDonald with his awards Pictures courtesy of Barry Goodwin

By Luke Cawdell

Cody McDonald swept the board at the end-of-season awards ceremony at Gillingham on Sunday night.

The 26-goal striker walked away with all of the top awards to end a successful one-year loan spell at the Gills on a high.

He was crowned 2010-11 player-of-the-year ahead of Matt Lawrence and strike partner Adebayo Akinfenwa.

Young player-of-the-year went to Jack Payne but the rest of the awards ended up in the hands of Norwich striker McDonald.

He got the sponsor’s award from outgoing club backers Automatic Retailing, the players’ player trophy and the goal-of-the-season award for his strike against Burton Albion.

McDonald said: “It’s a great honour to have won the trophies but it’s not just down to me. It’s about the club and the players who helped me win these trophies which as a player you set out to win.

“The lads have been brilliant this season and I am sure they will move on to much better things.”

The striker may be in demand following his exploits with the Gills and insists a permanent deal at Priestfield is still something he would consider.

“It’s out of my hands,” he said.

“Maybe the chairman and Norwich can sit down and come to some sort of agreement. If not, I’ve had a great time.”

Gillingham also announced their new main sponsors for the next season, which will see the ground name change to the MEMS Priestfield Stadium.

Medway Electrical and Mechanical Services are based in Gillingham and run by long-time supporter Colin Jarvis.

Is Cody McDonald a worthy winner of the player-of-the-year award, or should another Gills player have won? Have your say in our comments section below.