KENT captain Matthew Fleming paid tribute to his entire squad last night after becoming the first recipient of the county’s new Colin Cowdrey award for the player of the season. Fleming collected the trophy in front of 11 team-mates, club members, supporters and guests from Chris Cowdrey, son of the former Kent and England captain Lord Cowdrey of Tonbridge, who died almost a year ago.

The county skipper was quick to praise the work of last season’s coaching advisor John Inverarity and the contribution of club coach Chris Stone, but thanked his entire side for their spirit in collecting the Norwich Union Trophy - the club’s first silverware for six years.

“I must pay tribute to John and than Chris for his love, passion, enthusiasm and love for all that is Kent cricket,” said Fleming.

“But Coaches coach, managers manage, but when the bell goes for play the players play and last season they all gave their all and I accept this award on behalf of the whole team.”

As predicted, the two other inaugural awards went to the men chiefly responsible for Kent’s creditable third-place finish in the county championship.

Opening bat David Fulton collected the Mike Denness Award for his contribution of 1,892 first-class runs which was also presented by Chris Cowdrey in the absence of Denness.

Fast bowler Martin Saggers then stepped into the limelight to receive the Derek Underwood Award for the leading wicket-taker.

The former Durham player claimed 64 wickets in the campaign, the second season running he has passed the half-century landmark.

The Canterbury event, which was compared by Bob ‘The Cat’ Bevan, attracted 400 supporters who also paid tribute to the county’s other successful cricketing sides, Kent under-17 girls and Kent over-50s who both won their respective championship titles.