FANS KEANE ON KEITH AS MIDFIELDER SCOOPS AWARD

Hundreds of Luton Town fans have given midfield dynamo Keith Keane the ultimate summer send off, after voting him as their official Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final man-of-the-match.

Ever since the Hatters’ historic win at Wembley on April 5, Johnstone’s have been urging fans to log onto the company’s website to vote for their player of the final.

More than 1,000 fans voted and Johnstone’s can reveal that Keane got the most nominations, polling 43 per cent of the votes, beating skipper Kevin Nicholls (27 per cent) into second place and Asa Hall into third (18 per cent).

Lucky fan Alan Burgess has been picked at random from those who voted and he will now present Keith with his prize at Kenilworth Road on Friday (June 5).

It will be the second time a Burgess has checked into Kenilworth Road, after Luton signed Andy from Rushden & Diamonds recently – the same name as Alan’s son!

Alan wins a magnum of champagne from the final, which was the only bottle not to get sprayed on the pitch after the final.

The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy decided to come up with the fans’ man of the match award in response to Luton’s phenomenal support for their side at the final at Wembley.

The Hatters’ legions of followers smashed a new-Wembley record for the largest contingent to support a single side at the venue.

Johnstone’s took the unprecedented step of allowing supporters to vote on their website for their man-of-the-match in an attempt to let them have their say.

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy brand services manager Tom Newton said: “We were amazed by the number of votes cast on our website. It is the highest amount we have received for any online competition we have launched.

“The whole project told us two things. Firstly, that Luton Town’s fans are some of the most passionate supporters that we have ever come across.

“Secondly, that pretty much every Luton player could have won the award, as every man received a good proportion of the votes.

“Keith Keane came out on top in the end and, for what it is worth, he was our personal choice too.”

After the celebrations had died down at Wembley following Luton’s win over Scunthorpe, Keane said his performance was the best one he had ever had in a Hatters shirt.

Kevin Nicholls scooped the Football League’s man-of-the-match award on the day, for a similarly inspiring performance.

For more information about the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy please click on www.johnstonespainttrophy.com

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About PPG

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Issued on behalf of Johnstone’s by Sarah Allen & Ben Smallman, Connect PR, sarah@connect-group.com or ben@connect-group.com ( 01902 714957)