George Dobson spoke of his ‘honour’ at being named 2022 Player of the Year on Sunday.
The midfielder won the award at a canter with 77% of supporters’ votes after an impressive season in the middle of the park after what was a difficult start to life at The Valley for the 24-year old.
And speaking shortly after being handed the trophy at the event in SE7 at the weekend, Dobson spoke candidly about his first season at the club and his determination to continue to represent Charlton with pride.
“I’m delighted,” he said.
“When I came here last summer, it was the opportunity of a lifetime and I’ve just tried to give it everything.
“It didn’t start out as I quite wanted it to, but then the gaffer [Johnnie Jackson] gave me the opportunity to put things right and I just tried to give him and the club everything.
“I haven’t looked back and I’ve loved it. It’s a wonderful football club. I’ve loved every second and it’s a massive honour for me. I just want to give the club everything going forward.”
Dobson found himself out of favour in the early months of the campaign which saw the Addicks struggle under former boss Nigel Adkins, but the Player of the Year thrived once Jonnie Jackson took the helm and never looked back once given the opportunity.
“It wasn’t the start anyone wanted, I was gutted,” he explained.
“Nigel [Adkins] brought me in and it didn’t go as I wanted. I genuinely wanted it to work so much for Nigel and for me and it didn’t quite work – that happens sometimes in football. “But Johnnie gave me an opportunity up at Sunderland and just said to me: ‘this is your opportunity. Just give it your all. It’s up to you whether you want to stake your claim and stay in the team.’
“It was my opportunity. I live an hour away. My family is local, I personally feel like there is no club which is better for me and I wanted to give him, the club, the fans and the player everything. And obviously I’ve stayed in the team since the gaffer got the job which means, in his eyes, I’ve done enough to keep the shirt. So, I’m delighted with that.”
Dobson, who also bagged the Goal of the Season accolade for his winning strike at Rotherham United last month, has been a shining light in what has been an ultimately disappointing campaign for Charlton and he is determined to play his part in what he hopes will be a big season ahead in 2022/23.
“I’m disappointed with how the season has finished, but the start was nowhere near good enough and everyone knows that,” he said.
“We just need to make sure that we start next season in a good fashion and I’m looking forward to it.”
“Player of the season and goal of the season are too massive accolades at this wonderful club and, hopefully, I can keep it up next year,” continued Dobson.
“It’s so early in my Charlton career, I’ve only spent one year here and I love the football club, I love being here and I feel like I’ve tried to play like I want to be here for the long haul. I hope people have appreciated that.
“I’m going to rest up in the summer and hope that next season I can do the same because it’s a wonderful club with wonderful people.”