DAVID Wheater scooped the League One Player of the Year prize at the Leesa North West Football Awards last night.

The defender was rewarded for a fine campaign, where he helped Phil Parkinson’s side to promotion with 49 appearances and nine goals – including one in each of the last two games against Port Vale and Peterborough United.

Wheater swept the board at Wanderers during the off-season but had one more trophy to add to the mantelpiece at a gala dinner staged at Lancashire Cricket Club, beating Fleetwood’s Cian Bolger, Rochdale’s Callum Camps and Oldham’s Peter Clarke.

“It’s very much deserved,” said manager Phil Parkinson. “David had a terrific season for us last year.

“He’s a great character, kind of an old school character but very well respected by the staff, the players and the supporters so I’m pleased he got the award.”

Parkinson said bringing Wheater back to the club in July – a month after he had been officially released at the Macron – was a defining point in his recruitment last season.

“He’d been released – in fact almost every player had been released who’s out of contract – but he came back in pre-season and we quickly identified his qualities,” he said.

“We get on well with him, work well with him and continue to look forward to doing so.”

Parkinson was pipped to the manager of the year prize by Blackpool’s Garry Bowyer.

But there was success for the Bolton Wanderers Community Trust, who won the Community Initiative of the Year prize for their Positive Chances scheme.