YORK City boss Russ Wilcox believes multiple player of the year Keith Lowe can still improve with age despite turning 30 in September.

Lowe was presented with The Press Player of the Year prize and The Margot Fenton Memorial Trophy, voted for by supporters, at the club’s end-of-season awards night.

He was also the choice of the Harrogate and East Riding Minstermen Supporters’ groups and Wilcox – a former centre-half himself – reckons Lowe has the potential to become an even better player in coming seasons.

The City boss said: “I think he still has more development in him because he’s still a good age for a defender. I know myself you get better at reading the game at the back with experience.”

Wilcox added that the four Player of the Year awards were a just reward for City’s only League Two ever-present in 2014/15.

“Keith deserves the awards for his consistency,” the City boss reasoned. “To play every league game is always an achievement. It shows you are doing things right on and off the pitch. It means you look after yourself, train properly and are a good professional.”

Only strikers Jake Hyde (ten) and Wes Fletcher (seven), meanwhile, netted more times this term than the ex-Cheltenham and Kidderminster defender and, in Wilcox’s opinion, Lowe was unfortunate not to end the campaign with a bigger haul.

“He’s added goals this season and got some important ones among his six,” Wilcox declared.

“For a centre-back, that’s a good return and he was unlucky not to get a few more, including the overhead kick against Portsmouth on Saturday.

“He could have got close to double figures and he’s got a good habit of the ball being attracted to him when it comes into the box and a knack of knowing where it’s going to go.

“It will be great if he can get a few more because we need more goals from all areas of the pitch next season.”

The Minstermen chief also pointed out that Lowe’s versatility had been a key factor in the club’s impressive March switch to 3-5-2.

“He showed in the last nine games, when we played three at the back, that he is better on the ball than he has perhaps been given credit,” Wilcox added.

“He hadn’t played three at the back in the past as much as John McCombe and Dave Winfield, but he just slotted in and proved he is very adaptable.”

Russell Penn, meanwhile, was named Players’ Player of the Year at the York Racecourse event and Wilcox stressed that accolade highlights the respect his skipper commands from his team-mates.

“When you are captain, it’s not just about your ability, it’s about your leadership qualities and, when the going got tough, he was excellent,” Wilcox pointed out. “He’s not a screamer or shouter but he says his piece before games and sets a great example on and off the pitch.

“He’s hardly missed a day’s training all season and he’s another top professional who looks after himself.”

Wilcox went on to describe on-loan Middlesbrough full-back Brad Halliday as a worthy recipient of the Young Player of the Year award.

“All the lads really like Brad and he has been a breath of fresh air since he came into the group,” the City boss stressed. “He has been fully committed and always wants to improve his game.”

Other awards on the night were handed out to Penn (goal of the season v Morecambe), Jake Hyde (top scorer) and Michael Ingham (community award), while the vital 1-0 win over Hartlepool was named the season’s most outstanding moment.