Pars star Chris Hamilton's pride at player of the year awards

The Athletic vice-captain picked up a number of prizes at last month's Centenary Club Player of the Year awards bash, held at the Carnegie Conference Centre, in recognition of a fine individual campaign.

Hamilton, 22, made 36 appearances in all competitions across the season, and led the team on several occasions as club skipper, Kyle Benedictus, saw his number of games restricted to just 18 because of injuries.

The boyhood Pars fan's value was recognised by supporters, who voted for him as the DAFC Player of the Year, as well as by his team-mates, who honoured him as the Gary Riddell Players' Player of the Year.

Chris Hamilton, pictured with Pars legend Ian Westwater, was a big winner at the Player of the Year awards. (Image: Craig Brown.)

With fan groups also having the chance to hand out prizes, it proved to be a successful one for Hamilton, who expressed his pride at receiving so many.

"It was a great achievement, a really proud moment for me and my family," he said.

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"It was a great night. I've got a few of the trophies up but I think my girlfriend is already trying to get them in a cupboard somewhere and get them out the way!

"I've got a few up in the house and I'll maybe give a few to my granny and my grandad and things. It means a lot to them.

"I won young player of the year at Arbroath, but that was a squad of an average of about 40, so there was no real competition that year!

"To win that many, and Players Player of the Year, meant a lot.

"There was a few different awards, but for the players to vote for me - it's been a tough season - but to know they've appreciated what I've done for them and what I've done for the team this year was nice.

"The fans, it's been a tough season at times for them as well, but to get their votes and their support has been good. Again, they turned up at Ayr (for the final match of the season), a game that never really meant a lot to both teams in terms of where we could finish in the league, but they came up in their numbers, made noise and showed their support.

"It means a lot, especially after a tough season."

Despite the difficulties faced in their first Championship season after winning League One last term, Dunfermline finished in sixth place, and secured safety on the penultimate weekend.

A nine-game winless run between mid-December and February left Athletic second bottom of the table and in a battle to avoid finishing in the relegation play-off spot.

Vice-captain Hamilton led the team on several occasions during the season. (Image: Craig Brown.)

As their injury problems began to ease, they went on a run of five wins and two draws from their next nine, leaving them in the mix to snatch a promotion play-off place.

They didn't manage it, with a defeat at Airdrieonians, who finished fourth to take that final position, proving critical, but Hamilton believes leading the team during such an up-and-down campaign has benefitted him.

"I think definitely through the time where we struggling, and weren't winning, it was tough," he continued.

"I took a lot of the responsibility on myself, being the captain, having a young team, and coming to talk to the press a lot after bad defeats and bad performances, it was tough.

"I've just tried to learn as much as I can and hopefully it's made me a better player, a better captain, and a better person.

"I think, with the bad times, you have to learn as much as you can and then hopefully use it and make it better."