Charlie Austin hails teammates after four-trophy awards night haul

Austin walked away with the Players’ Player of the Year, Player of the Year, Goal of the Season and Top Scorer awards, after a campaign in which he hit 28 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions.

It rankles that he missed the entire month of January with a hamstring injury, before sitting out the last four games of the season after having his appendix out, believing he would have gone on to claim the golden boot.

Glenn Murray scored five more league goals in the fial reckonin.

But the modest former bricklayer wasn’t getting carried away with his success, insisting his goalscoring feats wouldn’t have been possible without assistance: “My team-mates were different class for me.

“I wouldn’t have had 28 goals this season if it wasn’t for them - although I would have had 30-odd if I hadn’t got injured!

“But I’m happy to get the four awards.

“I voted for Dean Marney, I thought he’s been brilliant this year. Granty as well. For me to take all four - to take the players’ player and player of the season, that was massive.

“And goal of the season - I don’t score many outside the box but the one at Charlton was the best of my career so far.”

Kieran Trippier ended with 11 assists for the season - many of which were crosses for Austin’s head, and Austin added: “Me and Tripps have this combination between us, we’re great friends off the pitch as well.

“The first few goals against Sheffield Wednesday showed what we’re about. Tripps set a lot of my goals up, he’s a great player and deserves every success he gets.”

Austin only joined the professional ranks in July 2009, signing for Swindon Town from non-league Poole Town.

And 82 goals in 155 appearances later he said: “It’s been a massive rise. It’s four years now that I’ve been a professional footballer.

“My first season at Swindon I got young player of the year, 20 goals in my first year as a professional; I got 17 then and moved to Burnley - unfortunately I got injured, then I got 17 in my first Championship season, and Jay Rodriguez scored 21.

“Jay went away and I stepped up to the mark and the lads showed a lot of faith in my, set me up a lot and I did the rest, but to be honest I wouldn’t be where I am now without them.

“It’s my best moment.

“What I did at Poole Town was ridiculous but I was non league then. To do it one step below the best league in the world, I can’t explain how I’m feeling now.”

He’s also a record-equalling Burnlet striker, having matched Ray Pointer’s club best of scoring in eight successive games.

And Austin is proud to be part of the fabrice of the club, up there with a player wh helped the Clarets win the Football League title in 1960: “I’m part of the history of Burnley Football Club, scoring in eight consecutive games, sharing with Ryan Pointer, and six or seven home games I think I beat Willie Irvine’s record.

“I wouldn’t lie, I would have been happy to score at Cardiff in October and take the record and that would have been mine, but I’m at the top of that with Ray Pointer and I’m really happy with that.

“When you’re a centre forward and you’re making history, you know the names you’re with. I’m just happy to be a part of it.

“Just like it did 50-60 years ago when Ray Pointer did it, it’s going to take a hell of a beating to get up there with me and Ray Pointer.”

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