Wycombe Wanderers receive big Richard Kone boost - Stockport & Charlton should be wary | OneFootball

Wycombe Wanderers star Richard Kone was named League One Young Player of the Season and Player of the Season.

Wycombe Wanderers talisman Richard Kone was named League One Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season at Sunday night’s EFL awards ceremony.

After a disappointing result on Saturday lunchtime, which saw the Chairboys confined to a play-off spot, their Ivorian star lifted the mood by completing a double swoop for both awards, and a place in the League One Team of the Season.

With over 20 goals in all competitions, 18 of which have come in the league, it’s been a wonderful first season in professional football for the former Athletic Newham striker. The non-league club should look at his triumph and take immense credit and satisfaction that they played a huge part in the young man’s career.

However, a slight concern for Wycombe as of late has been the uncharacteristic lack of goals from their star striker. The 21-year-old hasn’t scored since mid-March, with his last goal coming in a 3-2 away win over Rotherham United.

With that in mind, receiving these accolades could be a much-needed confidence boost for Kone, who has struggled to replicate the form he showed in the first half of the season in recent weeks. With the play-offs also around the corner, this could give Wanderers’ potential opponents, Charlton Athletic and Stockport County, plus either Reading FC or Leyton Orient, something to be wary of.

Richard Kone named League One Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season

Benji Walker (@benjiwalkerphoto)

The yearly EFL awards took place on Sunday night as the 2024/25 season nears its conclusion. This is a night that brings all 72 clubs across the three divisions together to celebrate success on the pitch, and contribution off of it. From Apprentice of the Year to Player of the Season, there are plenty of awards up for grabs.

Ahead of the ceremony, nominees are announced for each category, with three picks for each award and only one winner being picked. Wycombe star Kone was nominated for both Young Player of the Season and Player of the Season for League One after a sterling first season in professional football.

Despite going up against some heavy-hitters in both categories, the 21-year-old came away with both awards, much to the delight of everyone connected to the Buckinghamshire club. Not only this, but he also earned a spot in the League One Team of the Season, leaving the capital with three trophies to boot.

After a painful week on the pitch, which saw the Blues miss out on automatic promotion, Kone’s double swoop for these accolades is a massive morale lifter for everyone ahead of a crucial play-off campaign where the Chairboys will look to right the wrongs of the last two games.

Charlton and Stockport will be wary of big Wycombe, Richard Kone boost

As mentioned, Kone has struggled in recent weeks for Wycombe and hasn’t found the back of the net since mid-March. This can be attributed to several factors—his recent injury, adapting to playing a full professional season, and Mike Dodds’ insistence on playing long balls directly into the striker, which evidently doesn’t work or utilise his strengths.

All of these factors have seen the goals dry up at the wrong time for the Ivorian, and he’s been cutting quite a frustrated figure at times, which is understandable considering the high standards he sets himself. Fortunately, the award wins will give him a much-needed boost ahead of the play-off campaign.

The 21-year-old’s story is one that any non-league footballer will look at and want to replicate, going from the Essex Senior League to League One Player of the Season in 18 months. The triumph of gaining his titles will certainly be a massive boost for Kone, and he’ll be firing on all cylinders to help his club get promotion over the line.

With that in mind, the big play-off rivals such as Charlton and Stockport will be wary of this news, as the last thing they will want to see is a potentially rejuvenated Kone heading into the play-offs. The Addicks and the Hatters could both have to face Wycombe in the knockout competition, and both know all too well what this confidence boost could bring back to Wanderers’ attack.