Joe Devera, the 21-year-old product of the PROTEC academy who has just completed his second season as a professional, was named Barnet FC Player of the Year on Sunday .... with a second award as the Most Improved Player.

 

In his first season with the club Joe was voted 2007 Young Player of the Year by supporters.

 

Joe made 49 appearances for the Bees last season, more than any other player, 29 of them as right back and 20 as central defender in the absence through injury of skipper Ismail Yakubu and Sagi Burton and the departure of Joe O'Cearuill.

 

Manager Paul Fairclough has a history of successfully converting players to different positions - witness Simon Clist, a midfielder who became a left back, and Simon King, a left back who became a central defender.

 

Devera, who pipped transfer listed Neal Bishop to the Player of the Year title, could establish himself in future in central defence alongside Yakubu.

 

He collected his awards at the Barnet FC Supporters Association presentations in the Durham Suite at Underhill on Sunday.

 

Josh Wright, the England U19 midfielder who played 34 games while on loan from Charlton Athletic, was voted Young Player of the Year. He came to Underhill as a 17-year-old prospect, celebrated his 18th birthday with the Bees and was a big hit with the Underhill crowd.

 

Josh, who scored one goal in his debut season as a Football League player, said that he had enjoyed every minute of his time with the Bees; that enjoyment was certainly reciprocated.

Jason Puncheon - who else? - scored the Goal of the Season, his spectacular effort against Bradford City at home seeing off challenges from Adam Birchall in second place and Anthony Thomas in third.

 

Kenny Gillet, a class act signed this season from French club Caen, was voted Young Player of the Year by Barnet FC young supporters.

 

John Adkins, the club's international liaison officer (who was on a trip to Italian club Ivrea), won the Lester Finch award for his contribution to Barnet FC.

 

Barnet legend Nicky Evans was present to (somewhat belatedly) receive his Player of the Eighties award - and a replica trophy was presented to 1984 Player of the Year Peter Brown, who had the original stolen from his home.

 

Dennis Signy