Cech gets top Chelsea award

Published May. 19, 2011 9:15 p.m. ET

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The Czech Republic international finished top of a poll which saw 28,000 supporters cast their votes. Cech, who turns 29 on Friday, joined Chelsea from Rennes in 2004 and has helped the club challenge Manchester United for top honours. He said on Chelsea TV: "I have been here seven years now and playing with some of the best players in the world doesn't make it easy for a goalkeeper to win an award, but I am really pleased. "I really appreciate it because having played for such a great club with great players, to win player of the year is a great achievement. "There are players here when I joined the club still here, we have had good years, worse years, average years, but they made me feel at home and that's why I look forward to the future. "You always want to win everything but especially the Champions League now, that is the only one missing." Left-back Ashley Cole was named the players' player of the year and insisted Chelsea would be fighting to win next season's Premier League title next season, after losing their crown to long-time rivals United. Cole said: "As a team we never gave up, we always had confidence but we fell short and hopefully next season things will change and we'll get back our title." Josh McEachran collected young player of the year honours.