by Staff Writer
Thursday, 29th May 2025
Ever since 1997, when KUMB first appeared on the world wide web, we have conducted an annual poll to celebrate the achievements of the previous season.
With readers voting in several categories this year, including Player of the Year, Goal of the Season and Most Memorable Moment, the KUMB Awards had proven to be a barometer of West Ham's United's annual performances, given that it is voted for by those most knowledgeable about the club - its supporters.
And this year is no different, with ten categories in which you will be able to nominate your favourites from the 2023/24 campaign! They are as follows:
❎Player of the Year
❎Young Player of the Year
❎Best Signing of the Year
❎Most Improved Player
❎Most Memorable Match
❎Most Memorable Moment
❎Goal of the Season
❎KUMB Writer of the Year
❎Most Missed Player
❎Hackett of the Year
Most of the above categories are self-explanatory, although for those of you new to KUMB and our annual awards, one or two may require a little further explanation!
Categories such as the 'Most Missed Player', which recognises the individual who left during the previous season and whose absence was most felt during the 2024/25 campaign; Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd are likely to be front-runners here.
Or the 'Hackett of the Year' category - named after former referee Keith Hackett, who famously dismissed Tony Gale just 22 minutes into the 1991 FA Cup semi final against Nottingham Forest - which is awarded to the individual or group our readers believe most negatively affected West Ham Utd FC during the previous season.
Leading candidates here are likely to be Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, referee Rob Barrott - who officiated West Ham's recent Premier League clash in Stratford with Nottingham Forest - and West Ham CEO Karren Brady who oversaw the removal of concessions for Under 21s and Over 65s at the beginning of the season.
In order to participate in this year's annual survey, simply complete the 28th annual KUMB Awards voting form here. Alternatively, keep an eye out for our individual category polls on our social media platforms (on Twitter and Facebook), which will be available later this week once the front-runners in each category have been determined by those voting via the website.
The previous winners in the KUMB Awards, stretching right back to our first poll in 1997, are as follows. For more details on each annual poll, visit the KUMB Awards home page.
Player of the Year
Vote here: https://www.kumb.com/awards_vote.php
2023/24 Jarrod Bowen; 2022/23 Declan Rice; 2021/22 Declan Rice; 2020/21 Tomas Soucek; 2019/20 Declan Rice; 2018/19 Lukasz Fabianski; 2017/18 Marko Arnautovic; 2016/17 Manuel Lanzini; 2015/16 Dimitri Payet; 2014/15 Aaron Cresswell; 2013/14 Mark Noble; 2012/13 Winston Reid; 2011/12 James Tomkins; 2010/11 Scott Parker; 2009/10 Scott Parker; 2008/09 Scott Parker; 2007/08 Robert Green; 2006/07 Carlos Tevez; 2005/06 Danny Gabbidon; 2004/05 Teddy Sheringham; 2003/04 Matthew Etherington; 2002/03 Joe Cole; 2001/02 Sebastien Schemmel; 2000/01 Stuart Pearce; 1999/2000 Paolo Di Canio; 1998/99 Steve Lomas; 1997/98 John Hartson.
Young Player of the Year
Vote here: https://www.kumb.com/awards_vote.php
2023/24 George Earthy; 2022/23 Ben Johnson; 2021/22 Ben Johnson; 2020/21 Declan Rice; 2019/20 Declan Rice; 2018/19 Declan Rice; 2017/18 Declan Rice; 2016/17 Edimilson Fernandes; 2015/16 Reece Oxford; 2014/15 Reece Burke; 2013/14 Dylan Tombides; 2012/13 Danny Potts; 2011/12 Danny Potts; 2010/11 James Tomkins; 2009/10 Zavon Hines; 2008/09 Jack Collison; 2007/08 Mark Noble; 2006/07 Mark Noble; 2005/06 Nigel Reo-Coker; 2004/05 Mark Noble; 2003/04 Chris Cohen; 2002/03 Glenn Johnson; 2001/02 Jermain Defoe; 2000/01 Michael Carrick; 1999/2000 Michael Carrick; 1998/99 Rio Ferdinand/Frank Lampard; 1997/98 Rio Ferdinand.
Goal of the Season
Vote here: https://www.kumb.com/awards_vote.php
2023/24 Mo Kudus vs Freiburg (h); 2022/23 Jarrod Bowen vs Fiorentina (n); 2021/22 Manuel Lanzini vs Crystal Palace (a); 2020/21 Manuel Lanzini v Tottenham; 2019/20 Declan Rice v Watford; 2018/19 Felipe Anderson v Crsytal Palace; 2017/18 Pedro Obiang v Tottenham; 2016/17 Andy Carroll v Crystal Palace; 2015/16 Dimitri Payet v Crystal Palace; 2014/15 Enner Valencia v Hull City (a); 2013/14 Ravel Morrison v Tottenham (a); 2012/13 Mo Diame v Man Utd (h); 2011/12 Ricardo Vaz Te v Blackpool (n); 2010/11 Scott Parker v Liverpool (h); 2009/10 Scott Parker v Wigan (h); 2008/09 Carlton Cole v Wigan (a); 2007/08 Dean Ashton v Man Utd (a); 2006/07 Mark Noble v Bolton (h); 2005/06 Anton Ferdinand v Fulham (h); 2004/05 Bobby Zamora v Ipswich (a); 2003/04 Jon Harley v Sheffield Utd (a); 2002/03 Paolo Di Canio v Chelsea (h); 2001/02 Trevor Sinclair v Derby (h); 2000/01 Paolo Di Canio v Manchester United (a); 1999/2000 Paolo Di Canio v Wimbledon (h); 1998/99 Stan Lazaridis v Newcastle (a);1997/98 John Hartson v Aston Villa (h).
Most Memorable Match
Vote here: https://www.kumb.com/awards_vote.php
2023/24 Arsenal 0-2 West Ham Utd; 2022/23 West Ham Utd 2-1 Fiorentina; 2021/22 Lyon 0-3 West Ham Utd; 2020/21 Tottenham 3-3 West Ham Utd; 2019/20 West Ham Utd 3-2 Chelsea (h); 2018/19 Tottenham 0-1 West Ham Utd; 2017/18 Tottenham 2-3 West Ham Utd; 2016/17 West Ham Utd 1-0 Tottenham; 2015/16 West Ham Utd 3-2 Manchester Utd (h); 2014/15 West Ham Utd 3-1 Liverpool (h); 2013/14 Tottenham (a) 3-0; 2012/13 Chelsea 3-1 (h); 2011/12 Blackpool 2-1 (n); 2010/11 Man Utd 4-0 (h); 2009/10 Wigan 3-2 (h); 2008/09 Portsmouth 4-1 (a); 2007/08 Man Utd 2-1 (h); 2006/07 Man Utd 1-0 (a); 2005/06 Liverpool/FA Cup Final (n); 2004/05 Ipswich 2-0 (a); 2003/04 Ipswich 2-0 (h); 2002/03 Chelsea 1-0 (h); 2001/02 Man Utd 1-0 (a); 2000/01 Man Utd 1-0 (a); 1999/2000 Arsenal 2-1 (h); 1998/99 Palace 4-1 (h)/Barnsley 6-0 (h); 1997/98 Tottenham 4-3 (h).
Best Signing
Vote here: https://www.kumb.com/awards_vote.php
2023/24 Mo Kudus; 2022/23 Lucas Paqueta; 2021/22 Kurt Zouma; 2020/21 Vladimir Coufal; 2019/20 Tomas Soucek; 2018/19 Lukasz Fabianski; 2017/18 Marko Arnautovic; 2016/17 Edimilson Fernandes; 2015/16 Dimitri Payet; 2014/15 Aaron Cresswell; 2013/14 Adrian San Miguel Del Castillo; 2012/13 Andy Carroll; 2011/12 Ricardo Vaz Te; 2010/11 Demba Ba; 2009/10 Alessandro Diamanti; 2008/09 Valon Behrami; 2007/08 Scott Parker; 2006/07 Carlos Tevez; 2005/06 Yossi Benayoun; 2004/05 Teddy Sheringham; 2003/04 Matthew Etherington; 2002/03 Rufus Brevett; 2001/02 Sebastien Schemmel; 2000/01 Frederic Kanoute; 1999/2000 Igor Stimac; 1998/99 Trevor Sinclair; 1997/98 Eyal Berkovic.
Most Improved Player
Vote here: https://www.kumb.com/awards_vote.php
2023/24 Emerson Palmieri; 2022/23 Lucas Paqueta; 2021/22 Jarrod Bowen; 2020/21 Pablo Fornals; 2019/20 Angelo Ogbonna; 2018/19 Robert Snodgrass; 2017/18 Declan Rice; 2016/17 Pedro Obiang; 2015/16 Michail Antonio; 2014/15 Stewart Downing; 2013/14 Matt Taylor; 2012/13 Winston Reid; 2011/12 Winston Reid; 2010/11 Jonathan Spector; 2009/10 Julien Faubert; 2008/09 Carlton Cole; 2007/08 George McCartney; 2006/07 James Collins; 2005/06 Marlon Harewood; 2004/05 Anton Ferdinand; 2003/04 Stephen Bywater; 2002/03 Glen Johnson; 2001/02 Christian Dailly; 2000/01 Michael Carrick; 1999/2000 Marc-Vivien Foe; 1998/99 Frank Lampard; 1997/98 Frank Lampard.
Most Memorable Moment
Vote here: https://www.kumb.com/awards_vote.php
2023/24 George Earthy scores his first EPL goal; 2022/23 Jarrod Bowen's winning goal in the Conference League Final; 2021/22 Yarmolenko's reaction to scoring the winner v Villa; 2020/21 West Ham qualifying for Europe in the final game of the season; 2019/20 Alvin & David Martin embrace at Chelsea.
Most Missed
Vote here: https://www.kumb.com/awards_vote.php
2023/24 Declan Rice; 2022/23 Craig Dawson; 2021/22 Jesse Lingard; 2020/21 Robert Snodgrass; 2019/20 Marko Arnautovic; 2018/19 James Collins; 2017/18 Diafra Sakho; 2016/17 Dimitri Payet; 2015/16 Carlton Cole; 2014/15 Jack Collison; 2013/14 Dylan Tombides; 2012/13 Wally Downes; 2011/12 Demba Ba; 2010/11 Alessandro Diamanti; 2009/10 Dean Ashton.
Best KUMB Writer
Vote here: https://www.kumb.com/awards_vote.php
2023/24 Paul Walker; 2022/23 Paul Walker; 2021/22 Paul Walker; 2020/21 Gordon Thrower/Preview Percy.
Hackett of the Year
Vote here: https://www.kumb.com/awards_vote.php
2023/24 VAR; 2022/23 The fan who threw a missile at Cristiano Biraghi; 2021/22 Moussa Dembele (Lyon); 2020/21 Mike Dean (referee); 2019/20 VAR; 2018/19 Simon Beck (linesman); 2017/18 Karren Brady; 2016/17 Dimitri Payet; 2015/16 Roy Hodgson (England manager); 2014/15 Ken Brown's thieves; 2013/14 Chico Flores (Swansea); 2012/13 Barry Hearn (Orient chairman); 2011/12 Barry Hearn (Orient chairman); 2010/11 Avram Grant; 2009/10 Eidur Gudjohnsen; 2008/09 Lord Griffiths; 2007/08 Kevin McCabe (Sheff Utd chairman); 2006/07 Dave Whelan (Wigan chairman).
KUMB Award of Distinction
Vote here: https://www.kumb.com/awards_vote.php
2023/24 Billy Bonds; 2022/23 Colin Wells; 2021/22 Mark Noble; 2020/21 David Moyes.
Retired Categories
Worst Player of the Year
2021/22 Alex Kral; 2020/21 Jack Wilshere; 2019/20 Roberto Jiminez Gago; 2018/19 Andy Carroll; 2017/18 Joe Hart; 2016/17 Gokham Tore; 2015/16 Carl Jenkinson; 2014/15 Kevin Nolan; 2013/14 Alou Diarra; 2012/13 Emanuel Pogatetz; 2011/12 John Carew; 2010/11 Matthew Upson; 2009/10 Jonathan Spector; 2008/09 Diego Tristan; 2007/08 Luis Boa Morte; 2006/07 Nigel Quashie; 2005/06 Category suspended; 2004/05 Don Hutchison; 2003/04 Wayne Quinn; 2002/03 Gary Breen; 2001/02 Titi Camara; 2000/01 Titi Camara; 1999/2000 Neil Ruddock; 1998/99 Iain Dowie/Andy Impey; 1997/98 Iain Dowie.
Worst Signing
2021/22 Alex Kral; 2020/21 Category suspended; 2019/20 Roberto Jiminez Gago; 2018/19 Carlos Sanchez; 2017/18 Joe Hart; 2016/17 Simone Zaza; 2015/16 Nikica Jelavic; 2014/15 Mauro Zarate; 2013/14 Mladen Petric; 2012/13 Emanuel Pogatetz; 2011/12 John Carew; 2010/11 Robbie Keane; 2009/10 Benni McCarthy; 2008/09 Diego Tristan; 2007/08 Henri Camara; 2006/07 Matthew Upson; 2005/06 No award; 2004/05 Mauricio Tarrico; 2003/04 Wayne Quinn; 2002/03 Gary Breen; 2001/02 Ragnvald Soma; 2000/01 Titi Camara; 1999/2000 Sasa Ilic; 1998/99 Andy Impey; 1997/98 Ian Pearce.
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