Flynn Downes named Southern Daily Echo Player of the Year 2023/24

THEY say never fall in love with a loan player - it continues to be proven that that is not always possible.

Midfielder Flynn Downes has been voted the Southern Daily Echo Player of the Year for the 2023/24 campaign.

In votes cast over the last two weeks, the West Ham United loanee pipped second-place Adam Armstrong to the award.

Readers also regularly nominated Kyle Walker-Peters, who made the EFL team of the season, Stuart Armstrong and Taylor Harwood-Bellis

Downes has made 35 league appearances at the base of midfield since signing last summer, consistently proving his importance to the team.

He picked up just under 40 per cent of the vote, while the club's number nine picked up around 20 per cent and Walker-Peters 18 per cent.

Saints supporters hope Flynn Downes remains at the club next season

Downes will hope to help Saints back into the Premier League at the first time of asking when they face Leeds United at Wembley on Sunday.

The award has been handed out to Saints players since 1973, with James Ward-Prowse, Rickie Lambert, James Beattie, José Fonte, Matt Le Tissier - a three-time winner - Tim Flowers, and Peter Shilton having all won the prize on more than one occasion.

Southern Daily Echo Player of the Year roll of honour: 

73–74 Mick Channon, 74–75 Mel Blyth, 75–76 David Peach, 76–77 Steve Williams, 77–78 Alan Ball, 78–79 Malcolm Waldron, 79–80 Phil Boyer, 80–81 Ivan Golac, 81–82 Kevin Keegan, 82–83 Mark Wright, 83–84 David Armstrong, 84–85 Peter Shilton, 85–86 Peter Shilton, 86–87 Glenn Cockerill, 87–88 Derek Statham, 88–89 Jimmy Case, 89–90 Matthew Le Tissier, 90–91 Alan Shearer, 91–92 Tim Flowers, 92–93 Tim Flowers, 93–94 Matthew Le Tissier, 94–95 Matthew Le Tissier, 95–96 Dave Beasant, 96–97 Egil Østenstad, 97–98 Paul Jones, 98–99 James Beattie, 99–00 Dean Richards, 00–01 Wayne Bridge, 01–02 Chris Marsden, 02–03 James Beattie, 03–04 Antti Niemi, 04–05 Peter Crouch, 05–06 Claus Lundekvam, 06–07 Chris Baird, 07–08 Andrew Davies, 08–09 Kelvin Davis, 09–10 Rickie Lambert, 10–11 José Fonte, 11–12 Rickie Lambert, 12–13 Morgan Schneiderlin, 13–14 Adam Lallana, 14–15 José Fonte, 15-16 Shane Long, 16-17 Oriol Romeu, 17-18 Alex McCarthy, 18-19 Nathan Redmond, 19-20 Danny Ings, 20-21 James Ward-Prowse, 21-22 James Ward-Prowse, 22-23 Romeo Lavia, 23-24 Flynn Downes.