Author Archives: FWA News Editor

Thierry Henry is first back-to-back Footballer of the Year

Posted on by

THIERRY HENRY has made history by becoming the first player to win the Football Writers’ Association’s prestigious Footballer of the Year award for the second year running, and the Arsenal striker won by the largest margin for 34 years.

Henry won football’s oldest individual award for the first time last year when he pipped Ruud Van Nistelrooy to the post by a narrow margin.

But there was virtually no contest this year and when voting closed at noon on Sunday (9th) Henry was the runaway winner, with almost 90 per cent of the total vote, ahead of team-mate Patrick Vieira in third and Chelsea’s Frank Lampard, who was runner-up.

Since the award was introduced in 1947-48, no-one had previously won it in successive seasons and only six other players have won it twice – Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Tom Finney, Danny Blanchflower, Kenny Dalglish, John Barnes and Gary Lineker.

Henry said: “It’s a real honour to receive this award for the second year running, but as I always say it would not have been possible without my team-mates and of course the manager.

“When I collected this award last season I would have swapped it for a team award, but thankfully this year we won the Barclaycard Premiership title so I can really enjoy it this time around.

“You know we have a special group of players here at Arsenal and an amazing team spirit. I love being part of this team and really believe we have a big future.”

Gerry Cox, Chairman of the Football Writers’ Association, said: “Last year it was a close contest and a somewhat controversial outcome, but this time Thierry Henry has been the runaway winner.

“His skill, athleticism, teamwork and goals have set new standards in the Barclaycard Premiership, but above all that it is about the way he plays the game that has captivated people throughout the country. While it bodes well for Arsenal’s future, one can only fear for England’s defenders in Euro 2004.”

Billy Bremner won by the largest margin when he polled 95 per cent of the votes in 1970.

Click below to see Thierry Henry collecting his award from FWA Chairman Gerry Cox:

broadband users click here || dialup users click here

FWA Tribute to Jimmy Hill

Posted on by

Jimmy Hill OBE became the latest recipient of the FWA’s tribute award when he was honoured at the Savoy in a star-studded evening in January 2004.

Few people can have had more impact on football at so many levels of the game – as a player, manager, chairman, PFA executive, television figure and visionary.

It was Jimmy who helped end the maximum wage for players, introduced the now universally concept of three points for a win, built the country’s first all-seated stadium and even wrote the lyrics for Coventry City and Arsenal songs.

A gala evening saw Alan Hansen speak about his early years in television with Jimmy, who received a cut-glass trophy from FWA Chairman Gerry Cox and then spoke movingly about his all-encompassing career.

FWA Tribute to Tony Adams a Success

Posted on by

Tony Adams became the latest recipient of the Football Writers’ Association’s Tribute award during a star-spangled dinner at The Savoy on January 19th. Adams, the former Arsenal and England skipper, was presented with a special writing set and honoured for his contribution to English football over the past two decades.

In what was another very enjoyable evening at the Savoy, around 450 guests from the world of football and the media heard a number of speakers pay tribute to the Arsenal stalwart.

Terry Burton, now Watford’s assistant manager, was Tony’s first youth coach at Arsenal and told how he spotted the youngster’s leadership and playing qualities from an early age.

Chairman Gerry Cox praised Tony’s battle with his personal problems and introduced a video compilation of Tony’s career put together by the BBC, as well as thanking Ken Montgomery, FWA secretary, for his part in organising another first-class evening.

Tony accepted the award with grace and humility and spoke movingly about his life and times, thanking some of the assembled guests and apologising to others for some of his past behaviour.

Finally Alan Davies, the comedy actor and passionate Arsenal supporter, recounted the time he saw Tony make his debut, as well as other tales of life from the North Bank, during a highly entertaining speech.

Barclaycard, the FWA’s sponsors, were represented on the top table by Gary Hoffman, chief executive and his partner Nicola, and Sven Goran Eriksson was among the honoured guests.

The evening finished with dancing to the house band into the small hours.

Pires Crowned Footballer of the Year 2002

Posted on by

Robert Pires has been named the Footballer Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year in one of the tightest votes ever.

A record number of votes were received with Pires edging out Ruud Van Nistelrooy by just five votes. In total, 13 players received votes with David Beckham coming third followed by Thierry Henry and Sammi Hyypia.

It’s a triumph for the French winger and will help ease the pain of missing the rest of the season and the World Cup with a cruciate ligament injury.

Speaking from Strasbourg where he is undergoing further test on his knee before deciding on a date for surgery, Pires said : “I’m delighted to be given this honour. Obviously it’s a very difficult time for me but winning this award has given me something to smile about.

“I would like to thank the Football Writers’ Association for the honour and also my team-mates at Arsenal because I could not have achieved anything without them. There is a magnificent team spirit at Highbury and this is an award for us all, not just me.”

Arsene Wenger added: “I’m delighted for Robert because he is a wonderful person, not just a fantastic footballer. He has played a major part in our success this season and to be voted Footballer of the Year is a real recognition of his talents.

“Everybody at the club is happy for Robert because obviously he was very down after being injured. Now we just hope to have him back and fully fit before too long.”

FWA Chairman, Paul McCarthy, said: “It’s been an amazing season and the fact only a handful of votes separated the top three is an indication of the depth of quality in the Premiership. Robert is an outstanding player, he has provided the fantasy in Arsenal’s play and richly deserves the recognition.”

Pires Image Copyright Getty Images

History of the Football Writers’ Association Football of the Year Award

Posted on by
Reply

No history of the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year award would be complete without first understanding what the FWA is.

The FWA was formed in September 1947 by a group of English journalists with the following aims:

– To maintain the prestige of football writers.

– To obtain higher standards of facilities.

– To maintain a friendly liaison with all football associations, leagues and clubs, as well as FIFA.

– To welcome and entertain overseas football writers carrying out their duties in this country.

– To be a medium for all grievances in London and provinces.

– To promote social intercourse.

Throughout its history the FWA has maintained these standards and evolved from its four founder members to an association of over 500, including broadcast media and supporting student journalists.

The aims have grown to include naming both a men’s and women’s Footballer of the Year and to act as the representative body for those involved in the football media industry.

The start of the FWA

The FWA was founded on board a ship returning from an England fixture in Belgium. Frank Coles, Roy Peskett, Archie Quick and Charles Buchan were the founding writers’ and the minutes record that it was Buchan who suggested an award “to the professional player who by precept and example is considered by a ballot of members to be the footballer of the year.”

Membership was invitation only to begin with and Ivan Sharpe was nominated as the first of the to date 38 Chairs of the association.

Nowadays membership is open to anyone aged 18 or over who “is employed in the football media industry as a journalist, broadcaster, blogger or is a student studying football or sports journalism.”

The first Footballer of the Year was voted on by 42 members and was awarded to Sir Stanley Matthews at the Hungaria restaurant, London.

The past winners make up one of the most impressive lists of who’s who in the English game, with the list of notable players who never won the award testament to the prestige of the award.

Up until the mid 1990s the award was dominated by English, Scottish and Irish recipients. However, with the introduction of the Premier League and the migration of world class talent to England, the past 25 years have had a more global feel to the award.

The FWA Footballer of the Year award is the oldest and most prestigious award in the men’s domestic game.

In 2018 the FWA added a women’s award to honour the best female player for each season, with Chelsea’s Fran Kirby the inaugural recipient.

From Stan to Fran the FWA continues to recognise as Charles Buchan wished “the professional player who by precept and example is considered by a ballot of members to be the Footballer of the Year.”

Footballer of the Year 1948 & 1963: Stanley Matthews, Blackpool and Stoke City

Posted on by
Reply

One of the greatest footballers England has ever produced, and arguably the greatest. In 1948, at 33, Matthews was remarkably only approaching the midway point of his career.

Matthews began his incredible career at Stoke City, making his debut as a 17 year-old and was an England international at 19. Between 1933 and 1957 Matthews represented England 54 times despite losing six of his peak years as a 24 to 30 year-old to the Second World War.

Upon the resumption of his career post-war Matthews transferred from Stoke City to Blackpool. He represented the Seasiders more than 400 times over the course of 15 seasons, with his most famous game the victorious 1953 FA Cup final, one that has since been christened the ‘Matthews Final.’

This was to be Matthews’ only top flight honour in the game, although he did win two Second Division titles with Stoke 30 years apart in 1933 and 1963.

The latter of which saw Matthews impress to such an extent that despite playing in the second tier and aged 48 he was named Footballer of the Year for the second time.

Matthews’ reputation in the world game was as high as it was in England and in 1956 he was voted the first winner of the prestigious Ballon d’Or.

Sir Stanley Matthews, The Wizard of the Dribble, professional footballer from the age of 17 to 50, a truly remarkable man and deserved recipient of the inaugural trophy.

What Stan said:

“Winning the Footballer of the Year award for the second time at the age of 48 was a big moment for me, but could not match my first win in 1948.

“To be the first winner was marvellous and still to be around and invited to the 1997 dinner as guest of honour to mark the 50th anniversary underlines what I mean about the significance of that award to me.

“When I look back over my career, those two Footballer of the Year awards mean so much to me. They represent what I achieved over a long period, and I am very, very proud of them.”

 

What the Writers said:

Footballer of the Year 1956: Bert Trautmann, Manchester City

Posted on by
Reply

Bert Trautmann has one of the most unique stories in English football history.

The German was transported to the UK during the Second World War as a prisoner-of-war after being captured on the Western Front.

Upon his release from the POW camp in Lancashire, Trautmann refused the offer of repatriation to Germany and settled in England. He played one season in goal for Liverpool County Combination club St Helens Town, before a move to First Division Manchester City.

Anti-German sentiment was rife at the time and a crowd of up to 25,000 turned out to demonstrate against a former-Luftwaffe paratrooper representing City.

Over time Trautmann won the fans around through his heroic goalkeeping performances, one in particular away to Fulham leading to a standing ovation from home and away supporters alike.

The goalkeepers most famous game was, of course, the 1956 FA Cup final, just two days after becoming the first non-British or Irish player to receive the FWA award.

With 17 minutes left to play Trautmann dived at the feet of Birmingham City forward Peter Murphy and suffered a broken neck from the collision. He was later told that ‘according to all medical know-how he should have been dead’, as it was Trautmann was revived with smelling salts, played out the remainder of the game and even enjoyed the victors banquet before finally going to hospital.

Trautmann played more than 500 games for City establishing himself as a club legend and was admired throughout the country going on to be awarded an honorary OBE in 2004 for his work in Anglo-German relations.

Trautmann received an Iron Cross in Germany during the Second World War for bravery on the Eastern Front and in later life an Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

It is highly likely Trautmann is the only man to have ever been awarded both a British OBE and a German Iron Cross, a truly unique man beloved in his native Germany and adopted England.

What Bert said:

“It was my great honour to be the first foreign player to be elected Footballer of the Year. How could I forget it? Just two days after receiving the award I broke my neck in the FA Cup final at Wembley!

“I played for the rest of the game in a daze, with my head tilted to one side to try to ease the pain. Of course, I had no idea then just how serious the injury was.

“I returned to action halfway through the next season and continued to play for City for another eight years.

“I had watched the Hungarians beat England 6-3 in 1953 along with several of my city team-mates, and we decided we should try the Hidegkuti style, of a deep lying centre-forward. Don Revie played the role to perfection, and we reached two successive FA Cup finals and I followed Don as Footballer of the Year.”

What the writers said:

 

Footballer of the Year 1968: George Best, Manchester United

Posted on by
Reply

George Best was so much more than a footballer. His talent on the field, good looks and lifestyle earned him the nickname the ‘fifth Beatle’. At his peak, Best was a sensational player, spending ten seasons at Manchester United for whom he lifted two First Division trophies and the 1968 European Cup.

1968 was the height of Best’s career. Not only was he the youngest winner of the FWA award at 21, but he scored in the European Cup final and was named the European Footballer of the Year.

Best is widely regarded as the greatest Irishman to have played the game. He only turned out 37 times for Northern Ireland, but when he graced the pitch of Windsor Park the whole country stood still to watch.

Best made 466 appearances for Manchester United, scoring 178 goals, and was thought of as the outstanding British talent of his generation and one of the greatest players to have ever played the game.

His dribbling skills were second to none with Sir Alex Ferguson describing him as “naturally athletic, tough, confident and blessed with genius, his career was one of the brightest stars of its generation. His gifts were legendary.”

Off the pitch, Best lived the life more of a pop star than a footballer, often described as the first ‘celebrity footballer’, with his every action scrutinised by the media.

During the latter part of his career Best’s dedication to football often came below drink, sex and gambling and it was his alcoholism that caused him so many issues in later life before his death aged just 59.

Best had his problems off the pitch but on it there was no disputing his genius, as Sir Matt Busby said: “George had more ways of beating a player than anyone I’ve ever seen. He was unique in his gifts.”

(George Best at Old Trafford 1968 – PA Archive)

What George said:

“The month of May 1968 was, to say the least, pretty special for me. I collected my Footballer of the Year award two days before the FA Cup final, helped Manchester United beat Real Madrid in the European Cup semi-final the following week and, on 29 May, played in the European Cup Final against Benfica at Wembley.

“That was the match of a lifetime, and our victory after extra time meant so much to everybody because we knew it was the one thing that the boss, Matt Busby, wanted above all else.

“It was during that season of 1967-68 that I played what was probably my finest game for Northern Ireland. We beat a very good Scotland side 1-0 at Windsor Park and everybody was telling me afterwards that it was the greatest individual display they had ever seen. I think that must have played a big part in getting me the vote of the football writers in a year when there were a lot of outstanding candidates.”

What the writers said:

Footballer of the Year 1973: Pat Jennings, Tottenham Hotspur

Posted on by
Reply
(Pat Jennings with the 1973 Footballer of the Year trophy – PA Archive)

Jennings is a rare breed in that he is idolised by supporters of both Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, a legend in goal for both clubs.

The Northern Irishman played just shy of 600 matches for Spurs and 327 for the Gunners on his way to becoming the first British man to play 1,000 games.

He even registered a goal in the 1967 FA Charity Shield as his clearance bounced over Manchester United goalkeeper Alex Stepney and into the back of the net.

Jennings’s Northern Ireland career stretched 22 years, with his final professional match coming in the 1986 World Cup when aged 41 he stepped onto the pitch for the 119th and final time. He is currently still the record cap holder for his country.

(Cyril Knowles (left) and Pat Jennings carry the FA cup, after Tottenham Hotspurs 1967 victory over Chelsea at Wembley – PA Archive)

Described by the great Gordon Banks as “the perfect goalkeeper: safe hands, razor sharp reflexes, an acute understanding of angles and positioning, brave without being foolish and a master of intelligent distribution. Above all he had a marvellous temperament. No matter how great the pressure, he was always calm and in control.”

During his 13 seasons at Tottenham, Jennings won the FA Cup, two League Cups and a UEFA Cup. However, despite reaching four cup finals with Arsenal, he only managed one FA Cup triumph with the Gunners.

Post his playing career, Jennings spent 25 years on the coaching team at Spurs and is still a regular at Tottenham Hotspur matches more than 50 years on from joining the club.

What Pat said:

“The FWA announcement of my award as Footballer of the Year in 1972-3 cited my ‘many years of consistency at club and international level’. “The highlight of my season came on the morning of the Grand National when I saved two penalties at Anfield against Liverpool, who later went on to win the Championship. When I collected my statuette I said : ‘How could I avoid the award playing behind our defence?’

“That year Spurs won the League Cup with a Wembley victory against Norwich and became the first team to have their name on the trophy for a second time.

“But for me and the side it was another statistic in a remarkable cup record, the ninth senior final and the ninth win, the sixth under manager Bill Nicholson. Following the League Cup triumph in 1971 and the UEFA Cup in 1972 – we beat Wolves 3-2 on aggregate – it brought Spurs a remarkable hat-trick.”

What the writers said:

Footballer of the Year 1988 & 90: John Barnes, Liverpool

Posted on by
Reply
(John Barnes with his second Footballer of the Year trophy for the 1989-90 season – PA Archive)

Barnes was elected the Footballer of the Year at the end of his first season with Liverpool on the way to collecting the first major honour of his career, the First Division title.

At Liverpool, Barnes first excelled from the left-wing, adding creativity to the already dominant side of the decade. Both his Footballer of the Year awards came from that position, however, later in his career Barnes would move into midfield and become the orchestrator of the side.

In the 1987-88 season Barnes scored 14 goals as Liverpool romped to the League title and were only denied a double after their surprise loss to Wimbledon in the FA Cup final.

(John Barnes in action for England against Argentina in 1991 – Neal Simpson/EMPICS Sport)

He would go on to win the FA Cup the following season and again three years later, Barnes also lifted a further League title in 1990 and the League Cup in 1995.

Barnes collected 79 caps for England having chosen to represent the country he grew up in from the age of 12 rather than Jamaica the country of his birth.

He scored 11 goals for England and none more memorable than his first, an incredible mazy dribble taking on half the Brazil team, before rounding the goalkeeper and slotting in. Manager Bobby Robson said of it: “Nobody who was in the Maracana Stadium when John scored his wonder goal for England will ever forget it.“

Barnes won all his major honours as a Liverpool player, but he is fondly remembered by fans of his first club Watford, for whom he made more than 200 league appearances. He also represented Newcastle United and Charlton Athletic in his later career, before spells as manager of Celtic, Jamaica and Tranmere Rovers.

What John said:

“I reckon that any three or four of the Liverpool side in 1987-88 could have won the Footballer of the Year award. Kenny Dalglish had taken over from Joe Fagan as manager in 1985 and, when I signed from Watford, I thought we were set for a transitional period that clubs go through when new signings arrive. But we all clicked right from the first kick.

“Perhaps I earned the votes ahead of the others because I was more flamboyant than some of my team-mates and caught the eye more, but I honestly feel I collected the trophy for being part of a superb team performance.

“Liverpool were runners-up in the League championship when I won again in 1990 and I remember being linked with those all-time greats Stanley Matthews and Tom Finney as the third of three wingers among the select band of players who have won the trophy for a second time. I never had the pleasure of seeing Tom Finney play, but I was flattered when he commented that I was bringing wing skills back into the game.”

What the writers said: