Southampton's Rickie Lambert is Football League Player of the Year

Rickie Lambert was named Football League Player of the Year at an awards ceremony held in London on Sunday night. The Southampton forward was among several players to receive early recognition for their achievements in the 2011/12 season. Lambert, 30, has scored 25 goals in 39 appearances already this season and looks set to increase that tally with 10 games still to go. The Saints currently sit top of the Championship table and could return to the Premier League for the first time since 2005 if their good form continues. Huddersfield striker Jordan Rhodes won League One Player of the Year as Swindon€™s Matt Richie picked up the same honour for League Two. Brighton manager Gus Poyet collected the award for Outstanding Managerial Achievement, after the Uruguayan turned League One Champions Albion into Premier League promotion chasers in less than a year. Other contenders for the prize included Lee Clark, who was sacked by Huddersfield last month despite an unbeaten run that stretched to 43 games, and Dougie Freedman. The other major awards on offer were Goal of the Year, which went to Peter Whittingham for a stunning 25-yard strike against Burnley in March, and Young Player of the Year picked up by Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace. Zaha, 19, has made 40 appearances in the Eagles€™ first team despite his lack of experience. Championship strugglers Portsmouth were named Family Club of the Year while the title of Best Community Club went to Rotherham. Other Awards: Matchday Programme of the Year - Burnley (Claret and You) Championship Apprentice - Gael Bigirimana (Coventry City) League One Apprentice - Jordan Cousins (Charlton) League Two Apprentice - Nick Powell (Crewe Alexandra) Player in the Community - Tamika Mkandawire (Millwall)