Norwich City F.C. Player of the Season
The Norwich City Player of the Season award is voted for annually by Norwich City's supporters, in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season.[1] As a mark of respect, the trophy is named The Barry Butler memorial trophy after the club captain who was killed in a car accident on 9 April 1966.[2]
This is the more prestigious of just two awards made by Norwich City itself each year to its players, the other being the 'Young Player of the Year' accolade.[3] The 2003–04 winner Craig Fleming made clear just how important this award is to Norwich City players, "It is something you dream of winning... it is such a prestigious award".[4] Other awards available are awarded by other bodies, namely the Capital Canaries, Norwich City Independent Supporters Association and the "Ambassador Club".[5]
Since the inaugural award was made to Terry Allcock, eight players have won the award twice and one three times, Grant Holt in 2010, 2011 and 2012.[6] World Cup winner Martin Peters was the first to win the trophy in consecutive seasons, a feat since emulated by strikers Kevin Drinkell and Iwan Roberts, as well as Holt.[7] Just two winners have gone on to manage the club, Dave Stringer,[8] the 1972 winner, and double-winner Bryan Gunn.
Voting mechanism
This award is voted for by the fans of the club. Toward the end of the season, fans are invited to vote, either by submitting a paper slip to the club's Carrow Road offices, or by email or text message, with the winner being the player that polls the most votes.[9] A percentage of the votes from the 'Player of the Month' awards throughout the season also count towards the final votes for Player of the year.[9]
List of winners
Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame inductee[10]
Player name in bold text represents players still on the playing staff of the club
Season | Level/Tier[nb 1] | Name[11] | Position[nb 2] | Nationality | Caps[nb 3] | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1967 | 2 | Allcock, TerryTerry Allcock | Defender[nb 4] | England | Inaugural winner. | |
1968 | 2 | Curran, HughHugh Curran | Striker | Scotland | 5 | |
1969 | 2 | Foggo, KenKen Foggo | Winger | Scotland | ||
1970 | 2 | Forbes, DuncanDuncan Forbes | Defender | Scotland | ||
1971 | 2 | Foggo, KenKen Foggo | Winger | Scotland | Second award. | |
1972 | 2 | Stringer, DaveDave Stringer | Defender | England | Went on to manage the club, 1987–1992.[12] | |
1973 | 1 | Keelan, KevinKevin Keelan | Goalkeeper | England | First goalkeeper to win the award, and retained it the following year. | |
1974 | 1 | Keelan, KevinKevin Keelan | Goalkeeper | England[nb 5] | Second award. | |
1975 | 2 | Suggett, ColinColin Suggett | Midfielder | England | ||
1976 | 1 | Peters, MartinMartin Peters | Midfielder | England | 67 | |
1977 | 1 | Peters, MartinMartin Peters | Midfielder | England | 67 | Second award. |
1978 | 1 | Ryan, JohnJohn Ryan | Winger | England | ||
1979 | 1 | Powell, TonyTony Powell | Defender | England | ||
1980 | 1 | Bond, KevinKevin Bond | Defender | England | No voting for award this year | |
1981 | 1 | Royle, JoeJoe Royle | Striker | England | 6 | |
1982 | 2 | Downs, GregGreg Downs | Defender | England | ||
1983 | 1 | Watson, DaveDave Watson | Defender | England | 12 | |
1984 | 1 | Woods, ChrisChris Woods | Goalkeeper | England | 43 | |
1985 | 1 | Bruce, SteveSteve Bruce | Defender | England | Won the award in his first season with Norwich, who were Football League Cup winners but suffered relegation to the Second Division. | |
1986 | 2 | Drinkell, KevinKevin Drinkell | Striker | England | Won the award in his first season with Norwich, who were promoted back to the First Division as Second Division champions. | |
1987 | 1 | Drinkell, KevinKevin Drinkell | Striker | England | Second award. His goals helped newly promoted Norwich finished fifth in the First Division. | |
1988 | 1 | Gunn, BryanBryan Gunn | Goalkeeper | Scotland | 6 | |
1989 | 1 | Gordon, DaleDale Gordon | Midfielder | England | ||
1990 | 1 | Bowen, MarkMark Bowen | Defender | Wales | 35 | |
1991 | 1 | Culverhouse, IanIan Culverhouse | Defender | England | ||
1992 | 1 | Fleck, RobertRobert Fleck | Striker | Scotland | 4 | |
1993 | 1 | Gunn, BryanBryan Gunn | Goalkeeper | Scotland | 6 | Second award. |
1994 | 1 | Sutton, ChrisChris Sutton | Striker[nb 6] | England | 1 | |
1995 | 1 | Newsome, JonJon Newsome | Defender | England | ||
1996 | 2 | Prior, SpencerSpencer Prior | Defender | England | ||
1997 | 2 | Eadie, DarrenDarren Eadie | Winger | England | ||
1998 | 2 | Jackson, MattMatt Jackson | Defender | England | ||
1999 | 2 | Roberts, IwanIwan Roberts | Striker | Wales | 15 | |
2000 | 2 | Roberts, IwanIwan Roberts | Striker | Wales | 15 | Second award. Consecutive wins for first time since 1987. |
2001 | 2 | Marshall, AndyAndy Marshall | Goalkeeper | England | ||
2002 | 2 | Holt, GaryGary Holt | Midfielder | Scotland | 10 | |
2003 | 2 | Drury, AdamAdam Drury | Defender | England | ||
2004 | 2 | Fleming, CraigCraig Fleming | Defender | England | ||
2005 | 1 | Huckerby, DarrenDarren Huckerby | Striker / Winger | England | ||
2006 | 2 | Doherty, GaryGary Doherty | Defender[nb 7] | Ireland | 34 | First non–British winner. |
2007 | 2 | Huckerby, DarrenDarren Huckerby | Striker / Winger | England | Second award. | |
2008 | 2 | Dublin, DionDion Dublin | Striker / Defender | England | 4 | The oldest winner at the age of 39; retired at end of season.[13] |
2009 | 2 | Croft, LeeLee Croft | Midfielder / Winger | England | ||
2010 | 3 | Holt, GrantGrant Holt | Striker | England | Won the award in his first season with Norwich, who sealed promotion to the Championship as League One champions. | |
2011 | 2 | Holt, GrantGrant Holt | Striker | England | Second award for the player, whose goals helped Norwich reach the Premier League with a second successive promotion as Championship runners–up. | |
2012 | 1 | Holt, GrantGrant Holt | Striker | England | Third Award for the player, whose goals helped Norwich reach their best league finish for over 10 years. | |
2013 | 1 | Bassong, SébastienSébastien Bassong | Defender | Cameroon | 15 | First African/ Non European to win the award[14] |
2014 | 1 | Snodgrass, RobertRobert Snodgrass | Winger | Scotland | 15 | Reserve goalkeeper Carlo Nash had actually led the poll due to a Facebook page campaign accompanied by a fan protest.[15] |
2015 | 2 | Johnson, BradleyBradley Johnson | Midfielder | England | 0 | |
2016 | 1 | Howson, JonnyJonny Howson | Midfielder | England | 0 |
Summary of wins by playing position
Position[nb 8] | Number of winners[nb 9] |
---|---|
Goalkeeper | 6 |
Defender | 17 |
Midfielder | 8 |
Forward[nb 10] | 14 |
Summary of wins by country
country | Number of winners[nb 9] |
---|---|
England | 33 |
Republic of Ireland | 1 |
Scotland | 8 |
Wales | 3 |
Cameroon | 1 |
Footnotes
- ↑ The official "Level" of competition in the structure of the English league system.
- ↑ For a full description of positions see Football Positions.
- ↑ If blank, uncapped at full international level.
- ↑ By this point in his career, the former forward was playing at "half-back".
- ↑ Keelan was born in India, of English parents.
- ↑ Played some games in defence, but scored 28 goals in all competitions and was then sold to Blackburn Rovers for a then national record fee of £5million.
- ↑ Also played some games as a striker.
- ↑ Doherty has been classed as a defender, Sutton as a striker, Allcock as a defender.
- 1 2 Multiple winners are counted multiple times.
- ↑ Includes strikers and wingers.
References
- ↑ "Player of the Year". canaries.co.uk. 27 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
- ↑ Eastwood, John; Mike Davage (1986). Canary Citizens. Almeida Books. p. 107. ISBN 0-7117-2020-7.
As a mark of permanent respect...
- ↑ "Roll up for the end of the year show". The Pink 'Un. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
Top honour, of course, was the Barry Butler Memorial Trophy for player of the year.
- ↑ "FLEMING HONOURED TO WIN AWARD". canaries.co.uk. 7 November 2004. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
- ↑ "HUCKS ON A HAT-TRICK". canaries.co.uk. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
- ↑ Grant Holt – My Norwich City achievements will take some time to sink in, Eastern Daily Press, 2012-05-14. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
- ↑ "Player of the Season – The Barry Butler Memorial Trophy". On The Ball, City. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
- ↑ "Dave Stringer's managerial career". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
- 1 2 "Race is on for Barry Butler trophy". The Pink 'Un. 16 March 2006. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
- ↑ "Canary stats – Norwich City Hall of Fame". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
- ↑ "Player of the Season 1967–2007". canaries.co.uk. Retrieved 2007-10-12.
- ↑ "Dave Stringer's managerial career". soccerbase.com. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
- ↑ "Tearful Dublin in Carrow farewell". BBC Online. 2008-04-28. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ↑ "Bassong Named Player of the Season". Norwich City FC. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
- ↑ "Carlo Nash favourite to be Norwich City's Player of the Season (despite not playing a game) as fans hijack voting system". Daily Mail. Retrieved 13 May 2014.