Burnley's Andre Gray has been named the Sky Bet Championship player of the year at the Football League Awards in Manchester on Sunday night.
The 24-year-old, the Clarets' £6 million record signing last summer, has scored 24 goals combined this season for Brentford and his current club to spearhead Burnley's title charge.
Gray was named on a shortlist alongside Fulham's Ross McCormack and ex-Bees teammate Alan Judge for an award that is voted for by other Championship bosses.
"It was an honour to get nominated; to win the award is great as well." said Gray.
Just two years ago the striker was playing non-league football with Luton but has enjoyed a rise similar to that of former non-league stars like Premier League trio Jamie Vardy, Charlie Austin and Danny Ings.
And it was the career trajectories of Austin and Ings, ex-Burnley strikers themselves, in particular that convinced him to move to Turf Moor last summer.
"That was a big reason why I joined Burnley, you look at the likes of Charlie Austin and Danny Ings and what they've gone on to do," Gray added. "To see what Jamie Vardy has done is a massive inspiration and it shows that anything is possible."
Gillingham's Bradley Dack won the League One gong and Oxford's Kemar Roofe scooped the League Two award while Leeds' Lewis Cook was named the young player of the year.
The 19-year-old midfielder succeeded the likes of 2015 winner Dele Alli, Gareth Bale and Nathaniel Clyne in winning that accolade.
"The people that have won previously have been outstanding and gone on to have fantastic careers," Cook added. "Dele's flown by in a year and I want to try and replicate that."
Gray, Dack, Roofe and Judge were all named in the team of the season, alongside Northampton's Adam Smith, Brighton's Bruno, Middlesbrough duo Daniel Ayala and George Friend, Wigan's Craig Morgan, Burnley's Joey Barton and Swindon's Nicky Ajose.
The Sir Tom Finney Award, which reflects an outstanding career throughout the divisions, was given to ex-Bolton and Preston striker Kevin Davies, who made over 800 appearances in 22 seasons as a player.
"I'm very proud. It's nice to be recognised by the Football League for what I've achieved in those 22 years," he told Press Association Sport
"It started in the Football League and it ended there with Preston. With it being Sir Tom Finney, and finishing my career with Preston, it's fitting."