Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Danielle Buet was delighted to be named the Women’s Player of the Season at the Awards Dinner on Thursday evening.
Having made the move to the south-coast before the start of the current campaign, the former Chelsea and Arsenal player admitted that the accolade was made more special for the fact that she’d been nominated by her fellow professionals.
She said, “It’s something I’m very proud of because the manager and all the coaching staff voted for me.
"It’s my first season here and it’s nice to feel appreciated, this football club are fantastic with the team.
“We get treated equally to the men’s side and I can’t speak highly enough of that – they’ve showed great ambition with us to get the FA WSL 1 application through, and it shows the direction the club wants to go.
“It’s been a breath of fresh air coming to this club and it’s lovely for women’s football.”
With women's football very much on the up, and Albion set to ply their trade in the top tier next season, Buet spoke highly of the progress that the game is making and singled Albion out for special praise.
“It’s an exciting time to be a part of the sport because so much is happening – I’ve been at many clubs where it hasn’t been professional – to have opportunities like this shows how it is going in this country.
“This club have backed us right from the start from when I first came in, they want to play against the best sides in the country and then think about Europe.
“The sport is on the rise and it’s exciting for our generation because we’re the next stepping stone – to be able to do that for the club as well is something we’re all looking forward to.”
Buet, who has played under Hope Powell at international level for England, also spoke glowingly about the side’s manager – insisting that the backroom staff have had a positive impact on the team.
“Having Hope Powell at the head of the side has meant we’ve all stepped up another level. I was lucky enough to have played under her before, so I know the qualities she has as a manager.
“She’s the ultimate professional and has the likes of Amy [Merricks] alongside her who’s just as fantastic, they both work really well together and we’re a very lucky group of players.
“The little things they do make a real difference and the girls’ game understanding has gone up a level since she’s been here.”