Category Archives: Events

Hat-trick Henry The Greatest

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THIERRY HENRY is the greatest player in the history of English football awards after being voted Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association for the third time in four years.

The Arsenal and France striker was confirmed a clear winner ahead of runner-up John Terry of Chelsea and Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, who finished third. Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard, the PFAs Player of the Year, finished fourth ahead of Joe Cole and last year’s winner Frank Lampard.

Henry was voted Footballer of the Year in 2003 and 2004, the first ever back-to-back winner, and the first overseas player to win the award twice. Now he has gone one better after shooting Arsenal into the Champions League final.

Paul Hetherington, Chairman of the FWA, said: “Henry is a deserving winner in a season when there have been several outstanding candidates, such as Terry, Rooney and Gerrard.

“Henry’s achievement ranks him up there as the greatest player in the 59-year history of the award.”

A delighted Henry said: “As I always say in football it is all about the team and without my team-mates I would not have won this award.

“What I am especially proud of, though, is that I am the first person to win the Footballer of the Year trophy three times.

“It’s always pleasing to be the first to achieve something – it’s a little piece of history.

“My hope now is that the team goes on to create history of their own by becoming the first ever Arsenal side to win the win the Champions League.

“I would like to thank all of the Football Writers’ Association members who voted for me. It’s a wonderful honour and I feel very privileged.”

Frank Lampard Sweeps to Footballer of the Year Award

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FRANK LAMPARD has beaten off the challenge of his Chelsea team-mate John Terry to win the Football Writers’ Association vote as Footballer of the Year.

The Chelsea and England midfielder becomes only the second Englishman since Alan Shearer in 1994 to win football’s oldest and most prestigious individual award – Teddy Sheringham was the other in 2001.

Lampard and Terry polled more than 90 per cent of the votes, with Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher finishing a distant third.

Gerry Cox, Chairman of the FWA, said: “It was a close-run thing between the two Chelsea team-mates until a fortnight ago, but Frank Lampard ended up winning by a substantial margin.

“John Terry has been a huge player for Chelsea in what has been a fantastic season for the Blues, but Lampard has clearly convinced our members that he is the best player in the country and right up there with the world’s leading players.

“His all-round game is superb, his fitness phenomenal and the fact that he has weighed in with 19 goals this season makes him something special for any team.”

Lampard was runner-up to Thierry Henry in last year’s Footballer of the year award, as well as coming second for two years running in the PFA’s Player of the Year, which was won by Terry last month.

He becomes only the second Chelsea player to win Footballer of the Year, after Gianfranco Zola in 1997.

FWA Tribute to Jimmy Hill

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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

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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

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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.”

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