KEITH Branagan ended one of the most painful weeks of his football life today by picking up the BEN-HB Player of the Season award.

The Wanderers' keeper, emotionally shattered by Sunday's relegation heartbreak, underwent surgery on Tuesday to clear up a hernia problem he carried throughout the second half of the battle for Premiership survival.

"It's the first thing I've been able to smile about all week," Branagan said after topping the marks in the Evening News match facts, which has been successfully sponsored by local company HB Electronics (now Eurodis HB) for nine seasons.

It is the second time the popular and long-serving goalkeeper has picked up the award, making him the first double winner and confirming him as one of the mainstays of the revival that has seen Wanderers emerge from lower division obscurity to become a significant force in the game.

And it once again proves what a bargain he was when Bruce Rioch made him his first signing after taking over in June 1992 - taking him on a free transfer from Millwall.

Branagan has since earned Ireland B and full international caps and, despite Wanderers problems in the Premiership, he became one of the most respected keepers in the top flight.

His save from Matt Elliott's close range header in the 2-1 victory over Leicester at the Reebok in March, which stood comparison with Gordon Banks' famous stop from Pele in the 1970 World Cup, was just one of the season's highlights.

Throughout the campaign, Branagan produced a high level of consistency plus with quality displays, noteably against Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle at the Reebok and at Manchester United, Aston Villa and Spurs.

He finished the season with an average mark of 7.5 out of 10, edging Andy Todd, Per Frandsen and Alan Thompson into joint runners-up spot.

Branagan wasted no time in checking in for the hernia operation in order to be fully recovered and ready to resume pre-season training on July 2.

"It's been troubling me since around December," he explained. "I should be fine again in three weeks or so."

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