George Johnston believes that Bolton Wanderers are only one way and that's upwards after a strong end to the season as he clinched the club's young player of the year award.
Wanderers' End of Seasons Awards took place last night at the University of Bolton Stadium, with the 23-year-old being named as Bolton's young player of the past season.
Johnston joined the club last summer from Feyenoord, putting pen to paper on a three-year deal and has just completed his first full season of men's first team football.
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Johnston ended up playing 48 games in all competitions and scoring twice as he cemented himself in the first team under Ian Evatt in a successful campaign on a personal note and a collective one as Wanderers secured a ninth place finish in League One.
And the central defender is pleased with his campaign at Wanderers and believes the club is heading in an upwards trajectory heading into next season.
He said: “It’s been a really good first season, one that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. Lots of ups and downs but obviously at the end of the day, I think the positives outweighed the negatives and just really enjoyed it.
"Especially from January and how we’ve kicked on since then, there’s only one way we’re going really and that’s upwards, so our aim was to finish as strong as possible when we learnt we couldn’t reach the play-offs and continue that into next season hopefully.
“I didn’t really know how this season was going to pan out at the start. Getting promoted last season, it’s difficult to try and get into a team, but I thought I started this season well and just kicked on from there and played a lot of games now.”
Amadou Bakayoko won the BWiTC community champions award from within the playing squad after his fantastic contribution to events and initiatives organised by the club's community arm.
And it is something the attacker is pleased to be associated with, adding that it helps him out on the pitch too.
He said: "I really appreciate this type of award. Having the community around and coming from another city, fitting in and also building my confidence up.
"Living locally, having a good feel around the community is always important. And it helps on the pitch as well, it definitely helps."
