EFL Awards 2026: Daniel Kanu of Walsall wins League Two young-player-of-the-year ahead of Gillingham’s Sam Gale – Bromley’s Andy Woodman takes the manager’s award and Swindon Town’s Aaron Drinan is named star player

Gillingham defender Sam Gale missed out on picking up an award after being nominated for League Two young player-of-the-year.

Central defender Gale, 21, has had another impressive season for the Gills after breaking into the first team halfway through the previous campaign.

There have been few highlights for the Gills this season, but Gale has continued to rack up appearances, after progressing from the club’s youth ranks, with 66 games for the club under his belt.

Gale was one of four players in League 2 to be nominated for the young-player-of-the-year award, along with Salford’s Matty Young, Walsall’s Daniel Kanu and Notts County’s Tom Iorpenda.

It was Kanu who took the award at Sunday’s EFL Award ceremony, which Gale attended.

Kanu recently scored a goal against the Gills in a 2-2 draw at Walsall earlier this month, scoring the equaliser for the hosts to deny Gareth Ainsworth’s side a surprise win against a side who were at the time hoping for a play-off place.

The League 2 player-of-the-season award went to Swindon Town’s Aaron Drinan.

Drinan helped Swindon to a first league double over the Gills in almost a century this season, scoring in both games between the sides.

Drinan has 28 goals to his name this season and netted a 90th minute goal in a 2-0 win for Swindon against the Gills at the County Ground on New Year’s Day.

He then opened the scoring at Priestfield in the return fixture, which ended with the same scoreline, a month ago.

The League 2 manager-of-the-season went to Bromley’s Andy Woodman.

South London side Bromley beat the Gills 4-1 at Priestfield and sit top of the table, with promotion to League 1 already secured.

League 2 team-of-the-season: Mathew Hudson (Oldham Athletic), Kelland Watts (Cambridge