KUMB Awards

In this year's KUMB Awards, our 28th annual poll..!

...our readers - both here on KUMB.com and our social media channels on twitter/X and Facebook - were asked to provided their nominations in 10 categories.

And an additional 11th category - the Award of Distinction, recognising an individual's outstanding service to West Ham United FC - was once again selected by members of the KUMB team.

The full list of winners was as follows. You may view any of our previous annual polls via the side menu.


KUMB PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2024/25



1. JARROD BOWEN (51.6%)
2. Aaron Wan-Bissaka (45.3%)
3. Tomas Soucek (2.5%)

It's congratulations to Jarrod Bowen for consecutive wins in the Player of the Year category, having won it for the first time last season. Bowen enjoyed a productive season during which he managed 15 goals for club and country, with his strike in the 5-0 win over Ireland earning him his first international goal. However it was a close-run affair this year with Aaron Wan-Bissaka - the club's choice for Player of the Year - being narrowly beaten into second place by his skipper. The ever-reliable Tomas Soucek, while not picking up anywhere near as many votes as our top top, picked up enough to grab the bronze medal slot.

Previous winners: 2023/24 Jarrod Bowen; 2022/23 Declan Rice; 2021/22 Declan Rice; 2020/21 Tomas Soucek; 2019/20 Declan Rice; 2018/19 Lukasz Fabianski; 2017/18 Marko Arnautovic; 2016/17 Manuel Lanzini; 2015/16 Dimitri Payet; 2014/15 Aaron Cresswell; 2013/14 Mark Noble; 2012/13 Winston Reid; 2011/12 James Tomkins; 2010/11 Scott Parker; 2009/10 Scott Parker; 2008/09 Scott Parker; 2007/08 Robert Green; 2006/07 Carlos Tevez; 2005/06 Danny Gabbidon; 2004/05 Teddy Sheringham; 2003/04 Matthew Etherington; 2002/03 Joe Cole; 2001/02 Sebastien Schemmel; 2000/01 Stuart Pearce; 1999/2000 Paolo Di Canio; 1998/99 Steve Lomas; 1997/98 John Hartson.


YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR



1. OLI SCARLES (85%)
2. George Earthy (Bristol City) (7%)
3. Freddie Potts (Portsmouth) (6%)

Although he made a handful fleeting appearances under David Moyes, who gave him his professional debut, this season has been the undoubted breakthrough year for Oli Scarles who made an impressive 16 first team appearances under Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter during the 2024/25 campaign. With Scarles taking 17 in every 20 votes cast the remainder were left picking up scraps; last year's winner in this category George Earthy spent the season on loan at Bristol City where he was named their Player of the Year, which was good enough for him to earn enough votes with which to land the runners-up berth. Narrowly behind was Freddie Potts in third, who also won his loan club's (Portsmouth) Player of the Season award while on loan at Fratton Park.

Previous winners: 2023/24 George Earthy; 2022/23 Ben Johnson; 2021/22 Ben Johnson; 2020/21 Declan Rice; 2019/20 Declan Rice; 2018/19 Declan Rice; 2017/18 Declan Rice; 2016/17 Edimilson Fernandes; 2015/16 Reece Oxford; 2014/15 Reece Burke; 2013/14 Dylan Tombides; 2012/13 Danny Potts; 2011/12 Danny Potts; 2010/11 James Tomkins; 2009/10 Zavon Hines; 2008/09 Jack Collison; 2007/08 Mark Noble; 2006/07 Mark Noble; 2005/06 Nigel Reo-Coker; 2004/05 Mark Noble; 2003/04 Chris Cohen; 2002/03 Glenn Johnson; 2001/02 Jermain Defoe; 2000/01 Michael Carrick; 1999/2000 Michael Carrick; 1998/99 Rio Ferdinand/Frank Lampard; 1997/98 Rio Ferdinand.


GOAL OF THE SEASON



1. JARROD BOWEN v NOTTINGHAM FOREST (1-2) (52.9%)
2. Jarrod Bowen v Arsenal (1-0) (19.2%)
3. Emerson v Arsenal (2-5) (15.8%)

Not for the first time in this year's KUMB Awards our results differ to those of West Ham United's. Jarrod Bowen's brilliant strike in the final home game of the campaign against Nottingham Forest came too late for the club's premature selection, but took more than half of the votes in KUMB's survey. And it was Bowen who took second place too, thanks to his header at The Emirates which secured a vital win for the Hammers against the north London side. Wrapping up your top three this year was Emerson's brilliant free kick against the same opponent.

Previous winners: 2023/24: Mohammed Kudus vs Freiburg (h); 2022/23 Jarrod Bowen vs Fiorentina (n); 2021/22 Manuel Lanzini vs Crystal Palace (a); 2020/21 Manuel Lanzini v Tottenham; 2019/20 Declan Rice v Watford; 2018/19 Felipe Anderson v Crsytal Palace; 2017/18 Pedro Obiang v Tottenham; 2016/17 Andy Carroll v Crystal Palace; 2015/16 Dimitri Payet v Crystal Palace; 2014/15 Enner Valencia v Hull City (a); 2013/14 Ravel Morrison v Tottenham (a); 2012/13 Mo Diame v Man Utd (h); 2011/12 Ricardo Vaz Te v Blackpool (n); 2010/11 Scott Parker v Liverpool (h); 2009/10 Scott Parker v Wigan (h); 2008/09 Carlton Cole v Wigan (a); 2007/08 Dean Ashton v Man Utd (a); 2006/07 Mark Noble v Bolton (h); 2005/06 Anton Ferdinand v Fulham (h); 2004/05 Bobby Zamora v Ipswich (a); 2003/04 Jon Harley v Sheffield Utd (a); 2002/03 Paolo Di Canio v Chelsea (h); 2001/02 Trevor Sinclair v Derby (h); 2000/01 Paolo Di Canio v Manchester United (a); 1999/2000 Paolo Di Canio v Wimbledon (h); 1998/99 Stan Lazaridis v Newcastle (a);1997/98 John Hartson v Aston Villa (h).


MOST MEMORABLE MATCH



1. ARSENAL 0-1 WEST HAM UTD (72%)
2. Newcastle United 0-2 West Ham Utd (Premier League) (13%)
3. Man Utd 0-2 West Ham Utd (Premier League) (11%)

A retrospective review suggests this defeat went some way to costing Arsenal a genuine crack at the title, and leaves former Hammer Declan Rice still waiting to lift a major trophy at The Emirates. The goal, a Bowen header arrived relatively early meaning the Hammers had to fight tooth and nail to hang on to their lead, even though the hosts ended the game with 10 men. Some distance behind in second place was the excellent win at Newcastle - also secured during Julen Lopetegui's brief tenure - while the late season win at Old Trafford pulled enough votes to take third spot this season.

Previous winners: 2023/24 Arsenal 0-2 West Ham Utd; 2022/23 West Ham Utd 2-1 Fiorentina; 2021/22 Lyon 0-3 West Ham Utd; 2020/21 Tottenham 3-3 West Ham Utd; 2019/20 West Ham Utd 3-2 Chelsea (h); 2018/19 Tottenham 0-1 West Ham Utd; 2017/18 Tottenham 2-3 West Ham Utd; 2016/17 West Ham Utd 1-0 Tottenham; 2015/16 West Ham Utd 3-2 Manchester Utd (h); 2014/15 West Ham Utd 3-1 Liverpool (h); 2013/14 Tottenham (a) 3-0; 2012/13 Chelsea 3-1 (h); 2011/12 Blackpool 2-1 (n); 2010/11 Man Utd 4-0 (h); 2009/10 Wigan 3-2 (h); 2008/09 Portsmouth 4-1 (a); 2007/08 Man Utd 2-1 (h); 2006/07 Man Utd 1-0 (a); 2005/06 Liverpool/FA Cup Final (n); 2004/05 Ipswich 2-0 (a); 2003/04 Ipswich 2-0 (h); 2002/03 Chelsea 1-0 (h); 2001/02 Man Utd 1-0 (a); 2000/01 Man Utd 1-0 (a); 1999/2000 Arsenal 2-1 (h); 1998/99 Palace 4-1 (h)/Barnsley 6-0 (h); 1997/98 Tottenham 4-3 (h).


BEST SIGNING



1. AARON WAN-BISSAKA (98%)
2. Max Kilman (1%)
3. Jean-Clair Todibo (1%)

The clearest winner in any category this year, he wins it by a country mile - step forward Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Dismissed by Manchester United and bought for a steal last summer at just £13million, the right back's 98% vote share also happens to be the biggest ever witnessed in a KUMB poll in the 28 years they've been running. The scraps were picked up by Max Kilman (second place) and Jean-Clair Tobido (third) - neither of whom could really claim to have enjoyed a successful first season at the club.

Previous winners: 2023/24 Mohammed Kudus; 2022/23 Lucas Paqueta; 2021/22 Kurt Zouma; 2020/21 Vladimir Coufal; 2019/20 Tomas Soucek; 2018/19 Lukasz Fabianski; 2017/18 Marko Arnautovic; 2016/17 Edimilson Fernandes; 2015/16 Dimitri Payet; 2014/15 Aaron Cresswell; 2013/14 Adrian San Miguel Del Castillo; 2012/13 Andy Carroll; 2011/12 Ricardo Vaz Te; 2010/11 Demba Ba; 2009/10 Alessandro Diamanti; 2008/09 Valon Behrami; 2007/08 Scott Parker; 2006/07 Carlos Tevez; 2005/06 Yossi Benayoun; 2004/05 Teddy Sheringham; 2003/04 Matthew Etherington; 2002/03 Rufus Brevett; 2001/02 Sebastien Schemmel; 2000/01 Frederic Kanoute; 1999/2000 Igor Stimac; 1998/99 Trevor Sinclair; 1997/98 Eyal Berkovic.


MOST IMPROVED PLAYER



1. OLI SCARLES (62%)
2. Aaron Wan-Bissaka (32%)
3. Tomas Soucek (4%)

It's perhaps no surprise that in his breakthrough season, Oli Scarles was your overwhelming choice for this year's Most Improved category having made the steep step up from the Under 21s - the teenage full-back adding to his win in the Young Player category. New signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka went from an outcast at Old Trafford to one of West Ham United's first names on the team sheet, while the ever-reliable Tomas Soucek was perhaps a surprise inclusion in third spot, having secured a handful moire votes than his closest rivals for the bronze medal.

Previous winners: 2023/24 Emerson Palmieri; 2022/23 Lucas Paqueta; 2021/22 Jarrod Bowen; 2020/21 Pablo Fornals; 2019/20 Angelo Ogbonna; 2018/19 Robert Snodgrass; 2017/18 Declan Rice; 2016/17 Pedro Obiang; 2015/16 Michail Antonio; 2014/15 Stewart Downing; 2013/14 Matt Taylor; 2012/13 Winston Reid; 2011/12 Winston Reid; 2010/11 Jonathan Spector; 2009/10 Julien Faubert; 2008/09 Carlton Cole; 2007/08 George McCartney; 2006/07 James Collins; 2005/06 Marlon Harewood; 2004/05 Anton Ferdinand; 2003/04 Stephen Bywater; 2002/03 Glen Johnson; 2001/02 Christian Dailly; 2000/01 Michael Carrick; 1999/2000 Marc-Vivien Foe; 1998/99 Frank Lampard; 1997/98 Frank Lampard.


MOST MISSED



1. ANGELO OGBONNA (65%)
2. David Moyes MBE (27%)
3. Nayef Aguerd (5%)

The hugely-popular Italian defender bade farewell to east London last summer after eight glorious seasons as a Hammer - and it was his absence this year that, according to tour readers, was most keenly felt by the team during the 2024/25 campaign. The manager who earned the club its first silverware of note since 1980 - David Moyes - was the choice of just over one in four of voters, while another central defender - Nayef Aguerd, who spent his season on loan in Spain's La Liga - polled enough votes to sneak into this season's top three.

Previous winners: 2023/24 Declan Rice; 2022/23 Craig Dawson; 2021/22 Jesse Lingard; 2020/21 Robert Snodgrass; 2019/20 Marko Arnautovic; 2018/19 James Collins; 2017/18 Diafra Sakho; 2016/17 Dimitri Payet; 2015/16 Carlton Cole; 2014/15 Jack Collison; 2013/14 Dylan Tombides; 2012/13 Wally Downes; 2011/12 Demba Ba; 2010/11 Alessandro Diamanti; 2009/10 Dean Ashton.


MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT



1. NICLAS FULLKRUG'S POST-SOUTHAMPTON RANT (65.9%)
2. WHUFC reinstate concessions (14.9%)
3. Tomas Soucek saves a ball boy at Selhurst Park (11%)

It was as unexpected as it was probably needed, but Niclas Fullkrug's post-match rant in the wake of West Ham's inability to beat one of the worst teams ever to feature in the Premier League, Southampton, stuck longest in the collective memory of KUMB readers this season. Some way behind was the fanbase's win over concession price-hikes, while Tomas Soucek's quick-thinking that saved a ball boy from being crushed by an advertising board drew enough votes to take third spot in this year's poll.

Previous winners: 2023/24 George Earthy scores his first pro goal; 2022/23 Jarrod Bowen's winning goal in the Conference League Final; 2021/22 Andriy Yarmolenko's reaction to scoring the winner v Villa; 2020/21 West Ham qualifying for Europe in the final game of the season; 2019/20 Alvin & David Martin embrace at Chelsea.


KUMB WRITER OF THE YEAR



1. PAUL WALKER (48.1%)
2. Preview Percy (32.9%)
3. Chris Wilkerson (14%)

Previous winners: 2023/24 Paul Walker; 2022/23 Paul Walker; 2021/22 Paul Walker; 2020/21 Gordon Thrower/Preview Percy.

It's four wins in a row now for KUMB's elder stateman and former doyen of Fleet Street, Paul Walker, who deservedly lands his latest KUMB Writer of the Year award despite increasingly stiff competition. Our very first ever winner of this category back in 2020/21, Gordon Thrower, takes second once again for his musings as alter-ego Preview Percy while Chris Wilkerson, KUMB's erstwhile match reporter, deservedly earns a spot on the writers' podium.


HACKETT OF THE YEAR



1. The FA (HANDLING OF PAQUETA CASE) 145 (75%)
2. David Sullivan (WHUFC Chair) (21%)
3.Mikel Arteta (3%)

It's more than a year now since Lucas Paqueta was officially charged by the FA with multiple counts of misconduct, following a lengthy investigation into betting irregularities - and disappointingly still there seems to be no end in sight for the player, who remains uncharged. West Ham cannot sell the player since the whole messy case remains unresolved while the FA appear to be in no hurry to resolve the situation. Some way behind in second place this year comes West Ham chair David Sullivan, who took one in every four of your votes, while Arsenal's irascible manager Mikel Arteta suitable wound enough of you up to take third spot in this cast of wrong-uns.

And in case anyone's wondering why VAR wasn't involved in this year's award - it rolled in fourth!

Previous winners: 2023/24 VAR; 2022/23 The fan who threw a missile at Cristiano Biraghi; 2021/22 Moussa Dembele (Lyon); 2020/21 Mike Dean (referee); 2019/20 VAR; 2018/19 Simon Beck (linesman); 2017/18 Karren Brady; 2016/17 Dimitri Payet; 2015/16 Roy Hodgson (England manager); 2014/15 Ken Brown's thieves; 2013/14 Chico Flores (Swansea); 2012/13 Barry Hearn (Orient chairman); 2011/12 Barry Hearn (Orient chairman); 2010/11 Avram Grant; 2009/10 Eidur Gudjohnsen; 2008/09 Lord Griffiths; 2007/08 Kevin McCabe (Sheff Utd chairman); 2006/07 Dave Whelan (Wigan chairman).


KUMB AWARD OF DISTINCTION



LUDO MIKLOSKO (West Ham United FC legend)

This year's KUMB.com Award of Distinction goes to former goalkeeper Ludo Miklosko, who spent eight years at West Ham United as first choice goalkeeper between 1990-98 before later becoming a goalkeeping coach at the club, a role he remained in until 2010.

Signed from Banik Ostrava - for whom he'd already made in excess of 200 first team appearances - by Lou Macari for just under £300,000 in February 1990, 'Ludo' - as he soon became affectionately known by the Boleyn Ground faithful - replaced the legendary Phil Parkes for his debut at Swindon that same month.

From then on he was a staple between the sticks for Macari plus his successors Billy Bonds and Harry Redknapp for eight solid seasons, during which his song - 'My name is Ludo Miklosko' - began to ring out around the East End. (Regardless of its geographical inaccuracies - his home town of Prostejov, Czechia actually being approximately 1,080 miles from Moscow!)

That the same song is still regularly sung by the club's away fans, more than 30 years later, is a sign of the huge affection which Hammers fans reserve for Miklosko, who announced last Christmas that he was battling stomach cancer. And there is no doubt that he rightfully deserves a place alongside the club's most luminary figures.

Previous winners: 2023/24 Billy Bonds; 2022/23 Colin Wells; 2021/22 Mark Noble; 2020/21 David Moyes.