A reminder that voting closes at midnight tonight (April 30) for the Footballer of the Year, so if you have yet to cast your vote, make sure you do so today.  Mohammed Salah and Kevin de Bruyne are among the front-runners, but you are, of course, free to vote for whichever player you consider, by precept and example, to be the Footballer of the Year.  Last year’s winner was N’Golo Kante, who finished ajhead of Chelsea team-mate Eden Hazard and Tottenham’s Dele Alli.

The winner will be announced tomorrow (Tuesday May 1) at 10am, and will be honoured at the Footballer of the Year dinner on May 10th at the Landmark Hotel.

All FWA members can vote via the link on this website, or by email or phone to FWA Executive Secretary Paul McCarthy

Fran Kirby, the Chelsea Ladies and England striker, is the first winner of the Footballer Writers’ Association’s Women’s Footballer of the Year award.

Kirby, 24, has scored 22 goals this season for Chelsea who lead the FA Women’s Super League, have reached the final of the Women’s FA Cup and the semi-finals of the Uefa Women’s Champions League. She also starred for England as they reached the semi-finals of Euro 2017.

Kirby was the overwhelming choice of the 22-strong panel of expert members of the FWA. Having led the preliminary vote from which a shortlist was drawn up she scooped more than 50 per cent of the final tally. Jodie Taylor, who won the Golden Boot at Euro 2017, and is now at Seattle Reign having also played for Arsenal and Melbourne Victory during the last 12 months, came second.

Lucy Bronze (Lyon), Izzy Christiansen (Manchester City) and Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal) made up the rest of the short-list.

Patrick Barclay, FWA Chairman, said: “Congratulations to Fran Kirby on being such a worthy winner of this historic vote by an expert panel of FWA members.

“I can’t help thinking of our first Footballer Of The Year vote back in 1947, when the winner was one of England’s most admired players of all time, Sir Stanley Matthews. Now, after Stan, comes Fran – she’ll always be first in what will become a long list of Women’s Footballers Of The Year.

“It was a great achievement to emerge from such a strong short list and let’s hope Fran can take inspiration as Chelsea prepare for a tough second leg in Germany.”

Kirby will be presented with her award, alongside the Footballer of the Year, at the FWA’s annual awards dinner on May 10 at the Landmark Hotel in London.

Fran Kirby

FWA Members scooped some of the top prizes once again at the Sports Journalists’ Association’s annual awards ceremony at the Park Plaza Westminster on Monday February 26.

Danny Taylor of the Guardian led the way with the most prestigious prize, as Sportswriter of the Year, as well as being voted Football writer of the Year.

Danny’s predecessor as Sportswriter of the Year for the past two years, Paul Hayward, won the Columnist of the Year category this time, while his Telegraph colleague Jeremy Wilson was voted Investigative Sports Reporter of the Year for his groundbreaking work highlighting the links between football and dementia.

The Mail’s Matt Lawton won Sports News Reporter for a remarkable fourth successive time, while the Regional Journalist award went to Chris Wathan who has just joined the BBC from Media Wales.

And there was a special award for David Walker, the outgoing Mirror sports editor, who won the Doug Gardner award for services to sports journalism.

Numerous FWA members were also shortlisted and commended in many categories. You can see a full list of the prize-winners at the SJA website here:

 https://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/awards-news/the-guardians-taylor-takes-top-sja-honour/

Danny Taylor receives his Sportswriter of the Year award from FWA Life Member and SJA President Pat Collins

A SPECIAL TROPHY FOR A SPECIAL FOOTBALLER

The friendship between former Sunderland striker, Jermain Defoe, and young cancer patient, Bradley Lowery, touched everyone who saw the pair together.

Bradley, from Blackhall Colliery, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at only 18-months-old and last year his mum, Gemma, shared the devastating news that the cancer was terminal. He passed away in July aged just six.

Jermain’s compassion towards his young friend, and his help raising awareness of neuroblastoma, will be recognised at the North East Football Writers’ Association’s Awards later this month (Sunday 25th February) where he will be named the North East Personality of the Year.

The prestigious award is given in association with the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and recognises someone who uses their position in football to benefit the wider community, and a special trophy has been created by Kalki Mansel, a hot glass artist and designer at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland.

Bradley’s Mum, Gemma, was proud to personally add the finishing touches to it by blowing the glass.

Gemma said: “It was fantastic that Jermain became such a friend to Bradley and his continued friendship to us now means a lot.

“He had so much to do with us all in the final weeks of Bradley’s life and he hasn’t just left things there. Jermain is a Patron of the Bradley Lowery Foundation and he wants to be involved because that’s where his heart is.

“This award is something to be grateful for and it’s nice that Jermain is receiving recognition, although he said he doesn’t need that. Everything he has done came from his kindness and the goodness of his heart.

“Sadly, Bradley’s not here to help but I hope I’m the next best thing and I enjoyed helping make the award. I’m sure Jermain will love it.”

Jermain first met Bradley when he was a mascot for Sunderland AFC in 2016 and a very special bond grew between them.

Now a player for Bournemouth, Jermain returned to the North East to spend time with Bradley at his County Durham home just before he died. A week later, he returned again, this time to attend Bradley’s funeral. Jermain wore his England shirt in honour of his young friend.

Lady Elsie says: “This award is very important to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and we can’t think of anyone more appropriate to receive it than Jermain. It’s been absolutely fascinating to see the award being made and a great pleasure to meet Gemma. She’s an extraordinary woman and I admire her positivity and strength during such a difficult time.”

Held annually at Ramside Hall Hotel in Durham, the North East Football Writers’ Association Awards night, sponsored by William Hill, raises funds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, which helps find more effective ways to detect and treat cancer.

The charity recently made a £1million contribution to fund clinical research and nursing posts at the new Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre at Newcastle University.

Colin Young, secretary of the North East Football Writers’ Association, adds: “Our awards night is a chance to celebrate all that’s good about football in this area. Joining with the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation to honour Jermain highlights the positive things football can do.

“Very sadly, Colin Verne-Jones from Durham Trophies, who supplied our awards for many years, died suddenly from cancer within weeks of last year’s event.

“We had to think of a new approach to the trophies for this year and wanted to make them very special and from this region. Commissioning trophies from the National Glass Centre seemed the ideal choice. And Jermain’s is all the more perfect because of Gemma’s input into it. We’re glad that Jermain will have a lasting reminder of his time in the North East with him when he leaves our awards event.”

The North East Football Writers’ Association Awards will be held on Sunday 25th February at Ramside Hall Hotel.  Other recipients of awards include Men’s Players of the Year, Jamaal Lascelles and Matt Ritchie, Young Player of the Year, Jordan Pickford, and Womens’ Player of the Year, Victoria Williams.

There will also be special presentations to Newcastle United manager, Rafa Benitez, and non-league clubs Blyth Spartans, Spennymoor Town and South Shields.

Tickets to the black tie event are available now at £58 per person, which includes a four course meal and entertainment.  Please call Claire Stephen on 0191 375 3080 or email claire.stephen@ramsidehallhotel.co.uk for more information or to book tickets.

Below are pictures of Gemma Lowery, Bradley’s Mum, and one with the glass designer Kalki Mansel alongside Lady Elsie Robson, Colin Young and Gemma Lowery.

For more, please visit: https://bradleyloweryfoundation.com

And also http://sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.org.uk/