City’s Championship campaign has been one to remember
Oli McBurnie celebrates his big goal against Norwich City(Image: Ashley Allen/Getty Images)
Saturday’s fantastic win over Norwich City means that for the first time in a decade, Hull City will contest the Championship play-offs for a place in the Premier League.
Oli McBurnie’s brace saw City come from a goal down to beat the in-form Canaries and leapfrog Wrexham, who could only draw at home to Middlesbrough.
That result came at the end of a week when the club had opted to cancel the end-of-season awards evening, allowing the players and staff to fully focus on the job in hand.
It’s been a tremendous campaign for City over the 46-game season, and there have been some standout performers throughout the campaign.
Here’s a round-up of who has won what after a memorable campaign and their highest league finish since winning promotion under Steve Bruce.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest Hull City news and analysis on our Hull Live FB page
Player of the Season
Oli McBurnie
“It’s a nice feeling. It’s not one thing that you go into a season thinking ‘I want to win an award at the end of the season’, but to have that recognition and appreciation from the manager, it’s a really nice feeling for me.
“No, it’s not, but it’s been a while (since his last such award at Barnsley), so it’s a nice feeling. I was just saying that it’s one of those things to get recognised for awards like that, which is something that you look back on, and you know it is a nice feeling. It never really comes around too often in a career, so when it does come, it’s a really nice feeling.
“I love working under the boss; I think he’s brilliant. He’s really good at making sure everyone’s involved. There are no spare eggs. Everyone’s involved, whether it’s the injured lads, the boys that aren’t playing as much to keep the mood up in camp, he’s been really good at that.
“The balance that he has with Dean (Holden) and the rest of the staff is a really good mix, so listen, I’ve really enjoyed working under the boss. I feel like he’s given me the freedom to go and play the way that gets the best out of me. The results have spoken for themselves on the pitch. Really grateful to the manager for bringing me in. Really happy that I made the decision to come here in the first place.
“It’s probably just that little cherry on the top. You know yourself if you’ve had a good or a bad season by your own standards and by those things and I’m happy with the season I’ve had. I feel like there’s things I could have done better, but it’s football. That’s me as a person. I’m really happy with the way things have gone, and it’s just time to finish it off now.”
Players’ Player of the Season and Supporters’ Player of the Season
Regan Slater
“Delighted with it.” Slater explained, two years on from his last double. “The awards night was obviously cancelled, so it was quite nice actually, everyone was out on the training pitches when they got presented, and it was nice to receive them in front of everyone who voted.
“It’s real nice. Credit to him (Jakirovic), really, because it’s quite easy when a manager’s not having you, they’re not having you, and you, and you’re brushed aside, whereas, I got another chance and he showed a bit of faith in me, and I took that opportunity when it comes, so it’s, it’s nice that I’ve changed his mind.
“I’ve really enjoyed playing football again, just being a better place to come into day to day. I’ve said that before, but that’s how it’s been. I’ve looked forward to getting out of bed in the morning and driving in, instead of previously not looking forward to it at all.”
Young Player of the Season
Charlie Hughes
“It’s a really proud moment for me, and I’m really grateful for the award,” explained the 22-year-old who won the same crown 12 months ago. “It’s nice to get it back-to-back, it’s very nice. It’s a massive difference, for us last year, where we scraped staying up, and now we’re fighting for the play-offs, it’s a massive difference for us. The impact that the players have had, the staff have all had, this has been a much nicer award to receive.
“Massively (I’ve improved). I think the advice from him and his staff has been there when needed, and I think not just as a player, but also as a character, developing and learning every single day.
“I think it’s more down to the senior players as well, the senior players in the dressing room that lead us day in and day out, and make sure training’s right, but also the advice for the young lads coming up, not just me, but the Cathal McCarthys and the young lads that come and train up from the academy. It’s really nice to see.”
Who gets your vote? There’s still time to have your say…
Who is Hull City’s Player of the Year 2025/26?
The Tigers remain in the play-off chase with one game left to play
WATCH: McBurnie, Slater and Hughes discuss their awards
Here at Hull Live , we are dedicated to bringing you the best Hull City coverage and analysis. Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest City news by joining our free WhatsApp group.
You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.