Castro claims Perth Glory's top awards

Perth Glory’s Spanish marquee Diego Castro has taken out a host of awards at the club’s QBE Most Glorious Player awards ceremony on Saturday night.

After being named the Johnny Warren medallist, the highest individual honour in the Hyundai A-League, Castro scooped an unprecedented five club awards at the gala event, including:

QBE Most Glorious Player
Golden Boot (13-goals)
Players’ Player of the Year
Volunteers’ Player of the Year
QBE Supporters’ Man of the Match

It rounds out an incredible first year in the Hyundai A-League for the 33-year old winger who arrived from La Liga club Getafe 10 months ago.

“It’s been a wonderful experience for me and my family and I am truly humbled” Castro said.

“Tony Sage, the players, staff and all the members have been exceptional and very hospitable since I first arrived” he said.

“It’s a season that will always be a highlight for me and an experience I will never forget”.

The talented Spaniard arrived at Perth after signing for one season. Negotiations between the club and the player’s management for next season are ongoing.

Meantime US import Vanessa DiBernardo, who top scored for Glory Women with six goals, also took out the club’s W-League player of the season award after only arriving in mid-November.

The 23-year old had already won the Westfield W-League “Goal of the Year” for a sensational lob against Brisbane on debut.

“I am honoured to be the Perth Glory Women’s MGP and I really enjoyed my time in Perth and getting to know the Australian culture” she said.

DiBernardo, who turns 24 this month, is currently playing for the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League and hinted she’d like to return ‘Down Under’ and hoped to be back in Perth soon.

Bunbury born Socceroo Josh Risdon was named “Best Clubman” and “Young Player of the Year”.

Risdon, who lifted the MGP trophy in 2011-12, had a stellar season, flying the flag for WA and Perth Glory after playing in two World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh and Jordan.

“I’d like to thank my teammates, coaches and staff for voting for me. It’s always an honour to be valued by your colleagues” he said.

After re-signing for a further year in March, Risdon remains in Socceroos contention for the upcoming friendlies against England at the end of May and the two-game series against Greece in Sydney and Melbourne next month.

Young goalkeeper Jordan Thurtell was crowned “National Youth League (NYL) MGP”.

The 19-year old Queenslander who has been mentored by youth coach John Gibson and former Glory goalkeeper Danny Milosevic has been given the captain’s armband for the National Premier League team which currently competes against other state league clubs.

“It’s a massive honour to be named MGP” the former Young Socceroos goalkeeper said.

“The players coming through the ranks is a testament to the development and coaching at the club and it’s a privilege to be rubbing shoulders with some of the country’s best players” he said.

In what was his first Hyundai A-League goal, West Australian youngster Mitch Oxborrow won “Goal of the Year” for his stunning free-kick against Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 11.

The Glory youngster produced an absolute jaffa of a free-kick to help his side to a share of the points against the Wanderers in the west. Standing over a free-kick just over 30 yards from goal, Oxborrow wasn’t daunted and tried his luck, curling a powerful left-footed shot past a flat-footed Redmayne into the roof of the net, much to the delight of the vociferous Perth crowd.