REECE Lyon says that ending his time at Kelty with a player of the year award from his team-mates will always hold a special place in his heart.

The 24-year-old Greenock footballing ace scooped up the gong at his now former side's player of the year awards last month and he believes it's the biggest accolade he has had.

As he gets ready to go back into full-time football at Queen of the South he expressed his delight at being able to repay the faith shown in him by Kelty chief and former Ton favourite Michael Tidser.

Tidser handed the midfielder the captain's armband during the season and the campaign brought out the best in him.

Recalling his successful season in Fife, Lyon told the Tele: "It's probably one of the most important awards you can get in your career, because it is from the guys you train and play alongside every day.

"They've put their confidence in me to vote for me for that award and I really am grateful to them for that.

"I'm glad to have been able to repay the faith that Michael Tidser put in me as well, because he gave me the armband when Tam O'Ware left the club.

"I loved going out onto the pitch wearing it every week, it felt really good. Nothing really changed in the changing room though, it was more about leading the team, which was a real honour.

"I'm still quite young and I was still going out there and giving it my all every week.

"Michael has given me a huge chance and been a huge influence on me, which I'll always be grateful for."

Lyon feels he's making the switch to Palmerston off the back of the best season of his career.

It left him beaming after joining a side that had been written off by many before a ball was kicked.

Despite missing out on the League One play-offs with the Fifers, Lyon insists they had plenty to be proud about.

He added: "Kelty as a club had been written off after the change of ownership.

"The gaffer managed to put a decent team together and we did quite well, there was a bit of a sticky patch midway through the season where we struggled to put results together and I think that's ultimately what cost us a place in the play offs.

"But our start and end to the season were really strong. Just to be able to say that we could've been in those play offs is a big achievement in what was such a competitive league."