Declan Devine hails 'leader in every sense' after winning Glentoran Player of the Year award
Declan Devine has hailed Cameron Palmer as a “leader in every sense” after the midfielder was named Glentoran’s Player of the Year.
Palmer, who was also nominated for the same accolade at Saturday’s NI Football Awards ceremony before losing out to team-mate Pat Hoban, received 71% of the overall vote.
Premiership top-scorer Hoban came second with 20% while Lincoln City loanee MJ Kamson-Kamara finished third after an impressive debut Irish League campaign.
Palmer has been one of the Premiership’s top performers across the current season, playing a key role for Devine’s side as they look to end the club’s 17-year wait for title glory.
The 25-year-old has made 35 league appearances, scoring twice, with Glentoran sitting just three points behind leaders Larne ahead of a crunch meeting at The Oval on Friday night.
Across all competitions, Palmer has played 44 times this term and surpassed 100 club appearances, moving on to 102.
Devine has significantly strengthened his squad this term with a number of high-profile arrivals, but Palmer has remained a constant in midfield and the Glens chief feels he deserves the recognition.
“Cameron has been a key component of our midfield this season and this recognition from the supporters is fully deserved,” said Devine. “His consistency has been exceptional and he’s delivered that level of performance week in, week out in a demanding league.
“He’s a leader in every sense. The way he trains, the way he prepares and the way he performs on matchday sets the standard for everyone around him.
"He brings real control to our play, dictates the tempo of games and has a presence that players respond to.
“For a player to maintain that level across a full season speaks volumes about his character and professionalism, and we’re delighted to see him recognised with this award.”
Former Rangers youngster Palmer joined Glentoran from Linfield in 2023 and admits it’s an honour to win an award which was first handed out in 1958.
“It means a lot to be voted Player of the Year by the supporters,” he said. “This has been a really good season for me personally, but more importantly, there’s still so much for us to play for as a team and we want to keep pushing right until the last game.
“We’ve got a really strong squad here and that competition for places keeps you on your toes every day in training.
"I feel like that’s brought the best out of me this season and it’s something I want to keep building on.
“I want to say a big thank you to the supporters, my teammates and all the staff for their backing throughout the season. The manager has shown a lot of trust in me as well and I’m grateful for that.”