Last night's Star and Green'Un football awards dinner marked another momentous year in South Yorkshire's footballing history – and gave our readers chance to have their say on the season.

James Beattie, Mark Beevers, Jack Lester, Stephen Foster, Richie Wellens and Andy Warrington picked up best player trophies for their respective teams and Sheffield United's Jordan Robertson was crowned young player of the year.

Doncaster chairman John Ryan won a special award and his manager Sean O'Driscoll was boss of the year.

Team of the year was Barnsley's magnificent FA Cup side and referee's chief Keith Hackett was a popular recipient of a lifetime achievement award.

But it was a lady in the crowd at the Royal Victoria hotel who stole the show with a £4,000 bid to clinch a thrilling auction for framed autographs of all 11 of the England World Cup winning squad of 1966 – plus manager Alf Ramsey and 'they think it's all over' commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme.

A 1950s replica Sheffield Wednesday shirt signed by Derek Dooley fetched £500 and signed shirts worn by PFA player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo, Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and Chelsea's Frank Lampard all went for three-figure sums.

The highlight of the night – apart from MC Malcolm Lord's Beattie-sharp commentary on the evening – was a finale sing-along on stage by our clubs' managers in honour of the late Derek Dooley to whom special and heartfelt tribute was paid.

Star and Green'Un readers voted James Beattie Sheffield United player of the year after a season of contrast at Bramall Lane that may yet end in a promotion play-off place.

Beattie has been superb all term. Signed for a club record £4 million fee last summer, United's most prolific marksman has proved worth every penny.

He said: "It's always an honour to receive an award, especially when it's voted for by the supporters.

"But you can never win these without the help of your team-mates, so as well as saying thank you to the fans I say thank you to the team as well. Now we are trying to make sure we give something back to the fans on Sunday."

Owls' rising star Mark Beevers claimed his fourth award just this season.

He won the Championship Apprentice of the Year title at the annual Football League awards in London, made his England Under 19 debut and last week won the Owls' Player of the Year trophy – but this remarkable 20-year-old only got into Brian Laws' side at Christmas and some of football's best judges tipping the lad from Barnsley to go right to the top of the game.

After picking up his award he said: "The other nominees – Tommy Spurr and Lee Grant – have had good seasons and had just as much chance of winning this award as I did.

"It's a great honour to have won four awards and it's nice to be noticed by Star and Green'Un readers and the Wednesday fans."

For Barnsley and their fans the FA Cup was little short of fantastic and they were crowned Team Of The Year.

A breathtaking 2-1 win at Euro giants Liverpool's Anfield home was followed by a dazzling victory over Premier League title chasers Chelsea in front of a sell-out Oakwell crowd.

The amazing adventure ended at Wembley with manager Simon Davey's team just pipped by Cardiff in a close encounter semi final.

Barnsley picked themselves to make their Championship place safe with Saturday's 3-0 defeat of Charlton.

Player of the year Stephen Foster said: "I'm very flattered particularly as there are other players who have done so well this season.

"It's an honour to receive this especially after the really memorable season we've had." Foster pipped Barnsley skipper and top scorer Brian Howard in our readers' poll for the prize.

Young player of the year, Sheffield United's Jordan Robertson is yet to make his mark in this country, but his efforts on loan at Dundee United captured the imagination of the region's football fans.

A superb spell quickly saw him labelled as one of the most exciting prospects in the SPL by the Scottish press. The next step will be to repeat those feats at Bramall Lane.

Golden Boot and Chesterfield player of the year went to much-travelled striker Jack Lester.

The former Blades man exploded onto the Spireite scene with two goals at Bramall Lane in the Carling Cup and he become the fastest Spireite to reach 20 goals since the second World War and capped his season with a 30-minute hat-trick against Lincoln.

Rotherham's Andy Warrington's consistent displays in goal have earned him the respect of the Rotherham United followers and they made him their player of the year.

He joined the club last summer and immediately brought a presence and an authority to the Millers defence and proved particularly adept in one-v-one situations against opposing strikers.

A former favourite at Doncaster Rovers the giant goalkeeper has endeared himself to all at Millmoor with his displays and has sat out just one game all season.

Warrington said: "I'm delighted to win this award, particularly beating two teammates who have been outstanding this season, and to all those people who voted for me, my grateful thanks."

Had businessman John Ryan not purchased struggling Doncaster Rovers along with Peter Wetzel almost a decade ago he would probably be around £8m richer today.

But the millionaire will regard it as money well spent were his beloved Rovers to be promoted to the Championship this season and dynamic midfielder Richie Wellens was the deserved winner of the Doncaster Rovers Star Readers Player of the Season award.

What do you think? Post your comments below.

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