Chelsea turned the London Football Awards blue last night. Antonio Conte, N’Golo Kante and Frank Lampard gave Chelsea the biggest haul of the evening.
Stop us if you have heard this one before: Chelsea won more trophies than Tottenham and Arsenal. The Blues added three more trophies to their case at the third annual London Football Awards yesterday.
Antonio Conte won for manager of the year, and N’Golo Kante won as Premier League player of the year. The always over-achieving Kante was one of the few attendees wearing a tuxedo, when the night’s dress code merely called for suits.
Frank Lampard followed in John Terry’s footsteps by winning the award for Outstanding Contributions to London Football. The award capped off a week of honours for Lampard, who received a half-time ceremony at Stamford Bridge last Saturday.
The London Football Awards benefit the Willow Foundation, created by Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson in 1999. Wilson’s history as a player and broadcaster enabled him to launch the foundation with the help of his teammates and former rivals across London.
"In all that time, right up to this moment now at the London Football Awards, a huge part of that has been my history with the game and my association with so many players from so many clubs. – Bob Wilson, The Blue Lions"
Wilson recognized Chelsea legend John Hollins for his long-time support of the Willow Foundation and the London Football Awards. Hollins played 12 seasons as a Chelsea midfielder, and then managed the club from 1985-88. Hollins attended the awards last night, an atmosphere Wilson described as “like the Oscars, like the Brit Awards.”
Unlike their competitors in their respective categories, neither Antonio Conte nor N’Golo Kante have actually been part of London football for a full year. Both arrived last summer, and have accomplished enough in those eight months to earn the “of the year” awards.
Next: Inter Milan's interest in Antonio Conte should flatter Chelsea
Their recognition underscores how much the Blues have accomplished this season under Conte. These mid-season markers should motivate the club and the fans for the final run-in to the league title.