Liverpool Ladies goalkeeper Danielle Gibbons scoops award

Liverpool Ladies goalkeeper Danielle Gibbons has dedicated her end-of-season Special Recognition Award to everyone at the club after making a successful return following surgery to remove a brain tumour.

Gibbons was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma a year ago but had to wait until the mid-season break to have the non-cancerous tumour removed after a scan prior to Liverpool's game at Birmingham revealed it had grown.

"I was made up to receive something that highlights the hard work that not just myself but the medical team have put in to get me back and playing, so it was a very proud moment," Gibbons said at the Player of the Year awards dinner held at Anfield's Champions Suite.

"The thought of being back with them [my team-mates] on the pitch got me through a lot of the times, especially when coming back and playing again seemed so far away."

The 23-year-old returned to first-team action in Liverpool's final league game of the season against Bristol Academy last month, capping a year that the stopper admits she'll never forget.

"It was the most nervous I'd ever been in my life," she said.

"I was incredibly nervous and it was a real mix of emotions. I was nervous about the game in general and ecstatic to be back playing football again. It was the end of a journey for the whole tumour process really. It was nerve-racking and emotional."

Gibbons wore Petr Cech-style headgear for the game against Bristol but says she now plans to ditch the protective helmet in order to allow her to fully complete the healing process.

"I played a game for the development team the other day and I didn't wear it," she said.

"It was mainly for my parents so they could sleep at night. It's because I have a hole in my skull which they plugged with fat and muscle. It was also to try and make it easier psychologically to get back into it.

"But I think I've decided not to wear it now because I want to forget about the things that were holding me back. Having that sometimes made me more aware of what had happened, so now it's gone. It's about forgetting about it and moving on and dealing with every training session and every game."

Reds defender and 2013 PFA Women's Young Player of the Year Martha Harris was named Players' Player of the Year, while there was double joy for Natasha Dowie, who heads to Australia for a two-month loan with Melbourne victory.  

The England striker was named Standard Chartered Supporters' Player of the Year following an online vote and also scooped the Goal of the Season award after her stunning chip away to Sunderland.

Veteran defender Becky Easton was also a winner on the night, claiming the Vitality Player of the Year award, which takes into consideration an individual's high fitness levels, staying active inside and outside of football, as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Liverpool Ladies Manager Scott Rogers added: "Tonight was a brilliant evening and was a great way to thank the players and staff associated with Liverpool Ladies FC for their hard work over the course of the season.

"I would also like to thank Vitality for sponsoring tonight's proceedings as they made it a special occasion for all those in attendance at Anfield."