Eight players walked away with prizes from Rovers’ end of season awards ceremony.

Jan Paul van Hecke collected his player of the year prize at the event, staged at Ewood Park, after an impressive loan season-long loan spell from Brighton & Hove Albion.

The award had been announced, as ever, prior to the final home game of the season, with van Hecke having won the supporters’ vote.

He was officially presented with his award at the ceremony, and in doing so became the first loanee to collect the prize.

Fellow Brighton loanee Reda Khadra is back with the Seagulls, after injury cut short his season, and completed a loan double as he was confirmed as the winner of the Peter White Memorial Trophy for goal of the season ahead of the weekend’s game with Bournemouth.

Khadra won the award for his free kick against QPR in February, with Tyrhys Dolan’s strike against Reading finishing second, while Sam Gallagher’s long-ranger against Middlesbrough in August finished in third place.

John Buckley’s breakthrough season, in which he has featured in 41 of the 45 Championship matches so far, saw him named as the club’s young player of the year.

Scott Wharton, who finished third in the player of the year vote, did receive an award on the night.

He walked away with the unsung hero prize after playing every match since returning from 11 months out with a ruptured Achilles.

In all, there were awards for four of the club’s homegrown stars.

With Buckley and Wharton already on the honours list, there were also awards for Lewis Travis and Darragh Lenihan.

Appearing in all but one match this season, and for his wholehearted displays, midfielder Travis won the team contribution award.

Captain Lenihan, whose leadership on the pitch has been widely praised throughout the season, won the special club award for his efforts.

Top scorer Ben Brereton missed out on the player of the year prize, finishing as runner-up to van Hecke, but the Chilean striker still picked up two prizes on the night.

Brereton won the players’ player of the year, and junior Rovers player of the year, after a fine season infront of goal in which he has scored 21 times.

Sam Gallagher also walked away with the prize for the most man of the match awards throughout the season.

Khadra sent a video message thanking supporters for their votes due to not being present at the awards.

The 20-year-old has enjoyed an impressive season at Ewood Park after signing on loan from Brighton where he has now returned due to the calf injury sustained in the defeat at Reading prior to the March international break.

Alongside his video message, Khadra also sent a social media message to supporters with his time at the club now at an end.

He wrote: “Dear Rovers, my loan is coming to an end. I am happy to have made the right decision on my loan, going to such a great and historic club where I was welcomed from day one and able to grow.

“Thank you to the whole team, my team-mates, the gaffer and the whole coaching team that I was allowed to grow with you.

“And of course special thanks to the Rovers fans. You have always treated me well.

“See you soon and I wish you all the best for the future.”

The other award on the night saw Blackburn Rovers Community Trust’s neighbourhood youth offer win the community initiative of the year, presented to Rowena Hayhurst.

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