A-League: English defender Macaulay Gillesphey wins the Gary Wilkins Medal
Macaulay Gillesphey wants to add team silverware to his individual honours after being named Brisbane Roar’s player of the year.
Football
Don't miss out on the headlines from Football. Followed categories will be added to My News.
English defender Macaulay Gillesphey wants to win the A-League title with Brisbane Roar next season after taking home the club’s highest individual honour for the 2019-20 campaign.
Gillesphey, 24, was awarded the Gary Wilkins Medal after being named the club’s player of the year.
Having returned home to the UK at the completion of the Roar’s finals campaign last month, Gillesphey is set to fly back to Brisbane next month to start preparations for the second season of his two-year Roar deal.
“We believe we’ve got something special here and I’m sure we’ll be back competing for trophies next season,” Gillesphey said.
“It’s a great personal honour for me to win this award. We’ve got a team full of quality players who have all had great seasons so this award really means a lot to me.
“I would like to thank everyone who was involved in making my first season in Australia a memorable one – my teammates, the coaching staff and the fans of course.”
In his first season with Brisbane, Gillesphey started in each of the Roar’s 27 games and was part of a defence that only conceded 29 goals, a stark contrast to the season before, in which the three-time A-League champions conceded 71 goals in the same amount of matches.
https://twitter.com/brisbaneroar/status/1306125736156246016
Irish midfielder Jay O’Shea, who played every minute of every Roar match in his first season at the club, won the players’ player of the year award.
Scott McDonald and the departed Roy O’Donovan shared Golden Boot honours with six goals each.
American defender Carson Pickett was named the Roar’s W-League player of the year, while countrywoman Celeste Boureille won the W-League players’ player of the year award.
Other winners were Hayley Raso (W-League Golden Boot), Jordan Courtney-Perkins (A-League breakthrough player of the year), Indiah-Paige Riley (W-League breakthrough player of the year), Rizka Laya (club person of the year), Leanne Haworth (volunteer of the year), and Richard Leworthy (supporter of the year).
“I would like to acknowledge the terrific work and sacrifices made by players, coaches and staff throughout what has been a one-of-a-kind season,” Roar CEO David Pourre said.
“There was plenty to be entertained by on the field from all our Brisbane Roar squads and we’re looking forward to bigger and better things in 2021.”
Originally published as A-League: English defender Macaulay Gillesphey wins the Gary Wilkins Medal