Sam Wedgbury says his double award after the final day of the campaign provided him with a welcome boost at the end of a long, hard season.

The former Sheffield United star clocked up 100 appearances in Macclesfield colours in the game against?Cambridge United on Saturday.

And after the victory that gave the club an 11th-place finish he was voted as the club’s top performer with fans and fellow players alike.

‘Wedge’ headed back to his home in the Midlands clutching two player-of-the-season prizes on Saturday evening but, despite his obvious popularity at the Moss Rose, he says the double reward came as a huge surprise.

“I’d never say I expected that at all, one prize is not something anyone could expect, so to get two is very humbling,” he said.

“It’s nice that the fans recognise your efforts. The game’s all about opinions, and I’ve been told it was unanimous, so I’m very happy and thankful.

“The players’ award is one of ther best prizes you can get, for the people that you work with day in, day out to vote for you is an honour.

“I’ve thanked each of them because you can’t do this on your own, you need good players around you. I’ve seen the likes of Keiran (Murtagh) and JP?(Kissock) and the passes they can pick out, while there are more class players like Waide Fairhurst and Pablo Mills who help you out – we’ve all played a part.”

After a spell in Hungary with  Ferencváros Wedgbury first came to the club three years ago on a 12-month contract.

Apparently built without an ‘off’ switch or any gear other than full throttle, his willingness, coupled with bags of ability in the midfield has made him one of the most popular Silkmen and with Gary?Simpson at the helm he signed a two-year extension that took him to this summer.

And with the close-season contract offers kept under wraps by the powers that be, 24-year-old Wedgbury hints only that he still has unfinished business with Macc Town.

“You play football in the public eye and it’s a job where your efforts are mostly recognised and rewarded,” he said. “We don’t do a nine-to-five week but giving your all is our job, it’s a responsibility.

“People pay their money to come and watch us and at least no one can say I don’t do my best.

“You might say I’m not very good but I’ll never let anyone say I?don’t work hard!

“I’m a worker, I come from a working-class family and it’s how I was brought up – to graft.

“My mum’s the manager at a care home and my dad’s a self-employed builder. I’d probably be doing that too if I hadn’t been playing football, so I’m obviously happy to be doing this instead.

“Obviously I want to play in the Football League again – every player wants to play at the highest level that they possibly can.

“At this time of year all the lads who are out of contract are just waiting to see what offers they get.

“There are always rumours going around about who’s come in for who but I never believe them. Right now I’m just looking forward to a couple of holidays – I’ve got one booked with my partner and another with my mates, so I’ll enjoy that and keep an eye on what happens here.”

Macc fans will be hoping he commits to another Moss Rose term this summer and Wedgbury won’t dismiss the idea, especially with what he feels is the basis of a promotion-winning squad already in place.

“I’ve been with the club three years now and it’s possible for things to go stale for a player after a few years but it’s got better for me in that time,” he added.

“It’s obviously disappointing how the season turned out; our organisation could perhaps have been better, but there’s certainly enough talent in the squad to get back to the Football League, there’s no real reason why we can’t go up, we just need the right manager.

“I’ve not heard anything about who’ll be taking the manager’s position, it’s all up in the air still, so I hope it gets sorted soon so the club can start building for the future.”