Chelsea’s Sam Kerr takes home PFA Players’ Player award as Man City’s Lauren Hemp makes history

Chelsea’s Sam Kerr has become the first Australian to win the PFA Players’ Player award after receiving the women’s prize following a superb season under Emma Hayes.

Kerr, pipped to the award by team-mate Fran Kirby last year, finished the Women’s Super League season as the top scorer with 20 goals.

It is the latest individual accolade after winning the Football Writer’s award earlier this month.

Manchester City winger Lauren Hemp had also been nominated but did not leave the virtual awards ceremony on Thursday empty-handed after making history as the first four-time winner of the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

Hemp’s team-mate Alex Greenwood, Chelsea forward Pernille Harder and the Arsenal duo of captain Kim Little and Vivianne Miedema were also on the six-player shortlist.

There was controversially no place for Arsenal’s Beth Mead, despite finishing the season with the joint-most assists in the WSL.

‘It’s a massive honour I think, whenever you’re voted by your peers. I think that’s the highest honour as a player so, it’s an amazing feeling,’ said Kerr, a member of the Chelsea team that won their third straight WSL title and second consecutive FA Cup last term.

‘I do a lot as a player, sometimes it comes off and sometimes it doesn’t, but I think you have to see yourself in those moments. I just have belief in myself honestly. 

‘Just lots of confidence that in the 90th minute or whenever it is, that the team will give me the ball and rely on me. Knowing that my team trust me gives me loads of confidence. I love those big moments – that’s what I live for as a footballer.’

In April this year, Hemp became the latest City centurion, reaching the milestone of 100 appearances in a match against Brighton and Hove Albion and went on to score the club’s 100th goal of the season. 

‘It’s an honour to get this again,’ said Hemp. ‘I think especially for it to be voted for by players that I’ve played against and come up against. I mean, I look to many of them as role models as well so it’s an honour to be picked from them.’

Kerr, Hemp, Miedema, Greenwood and Little were also selected on the PFA WSL Team of the Year.

They are joined by Chelsea’s Ann-Katrin Berger, Millie Bright and Guro Reiten, Manchester United’s Ona Batlle, Leah Williamson of Arsenal, and Manchester City’s Caroline Weir.

Hemp took home the PFA Young Player of the Year award ahead of Chelsea’s Lauren James, who was nominated despite making only 12 appearances all season, Arsenal’s Frida Maanum, Jessica Naz of Tottenham, Ella Toone of Manchester United and Maya Le Tissier of Brighton.