Norwich City F.C. Player of the Season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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]

Five men standing on a grass football pitch, wearing yellow shirts, green shorts and yellow socks.
Iwan Roberts, who won the award twice.

This is the more prestigious of two official Norwich City awards, 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 in 1967, ten players have won the award twice, and one, Grant Holt, has won the award three times, in 2010, 2011 and 2012.[6] Kevin Keelan was the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons, a feat since emulated by Martin Peters, Kevin Drinkell, Iwan Roberts, and Grant Holt.[7] 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 currently on the playing staff of the club

More information Season, Level/Tier ...
SeasonLevel/Tier[nb 1]Name[11]Position[nb 2]NationalityCaps[nb 3]Notes
19672Terry AllcockDefender[nb 4] EnglandInaugural winner.
19682Hugh CurranStriker Scotland5
19692Ken FoggoWinger Scotland
19702Duncan ForbesDefender Scotland
19712Ken FoggoWinger ScotlandSecond award.
19722Dave StringerDefender EnglandWent on to manage the club, 1987–1992.[12]
19731Kevin KeelanGoalkeeper EnglandFirst goalkeeper to win the award, and retained it the following year.
19741Kevin KeelanGoalkeeper England[nb 5]Second award.
19752Colin SuggettMidfielder England
19761Martin PetersMidfielder England67
19771Martin PetersMidfielder England67Second award.
19781John RyanWinger England
19791Tony PowellDefender England
19801Kevin BondDefender EnglandNo voting for award this year
19811Joe RoyleStriker England6
19822Greg DownsDefender England
19831Dave WatsonDefender England12
19841Chris WoodsGoalkeeper England43
19851Steve BruceDefender EnglandWon the award in his first season with Norwich, who were Football League Cup winners but suffered relegation to the Second Division.
19862Kevin DrinkellStriker EnglandWon the award in his first season with Norwich, who were promoted back to the First Division as Second Division champions.
19871Kevin DrinkellStriker EnglandSecond award. His goals helped newly promoted Norwich finished fifth in the First Division.
19881Bryan GunnGoalkeeper Scotland6
19891Dale GordonMidfielder England
19901Mark BowenDefender Wales35
19911Ian CulverhouseDefender England
19921Robert FleckStriker Scotland4
19931Bryan GunnGoalkeeper Scotland6Second award.
19941Chris SuttonStriker[nb 6] England1
19951Jon NewsomeDefender England
19962Spencer PriorDefender England
19972Darren EadieWinger England
19982Matt JacksonDefender England
19992Iwan RobertsStriker Wales15
20002Iwan RobertsStriker Wales15Second award.
Consecutive wins for first time since 1987.
20012Andy MarshallGoalkeeper England
20022Gary HoltMidfielder Scotland10
20032Adam DruryDefender England
20042Craig FlemingDefender England
20051Darren HuckerbyStriker / Winger England
20062Gary DohertyDefender[nb 7] Republic of Ireland34First non–British winner.
20072Darren HuckerbyStriker / Winger EnglandSecond award.
20082Dion DublinStriker / Defender England4The oldest winner at the age of 39; retired at end of season.[13]
20092Lee CroftMidfielder / Winger England
20103Grant HoltStriker EnglandWon the award in his first season with Norwich, who sealed promotion to the Championship as League One champions.
20112Grant HoltStriker EnglandSecond award for the player, whose goals helped Norwich reach the Premier League with a second successive promotion as Championship runners–up.
20121Grant HoltStriker EnglandFirst player to win the award 3 times. His goals helped Norwich reach their highest league finish for 18 years.
20131Sébastien BassongDefender Cameroon15First African/ Non European to win the award[14]
20141Robert SnodgrassWinger Scotland15Reserve goalkeeper Carlo Nash actually led the fan poll due to a protest vote.[15]
20152Bradley JohnsonMidfielder England
20161Jonny HowsonMidfielder England
20172Wes HoolahanMidfielder Republic of Ireland37
20182James MaddisonMidfielder England
20192Teemu PukkiStriker Finland102First winner from continental Europe
20201Tim KrulGoalkeeper Netherlands15
20212Emiliano BuendíaMidfielder / Winger Argentina1First winner from South America
20221Teemu PukkiStriker Finland102Second award[16]
20232Gabriel SaraMidfielder Brazil
20242Kenny McLean†Midfielder Scotland36
20252Josh SargentStriker United States28First winner from North America
2026 2 Kenny McLean† Midfielder  Scotland 56 Second award.
Close

Summary of wins by playing position

A man wearing a suit and a man wearing a shirt, tie and trousers, jointly holding a trophy.
Gary Holt's achievements from midfield in 2001–02 were also recognised with the Capital Canaries Player of the Season award
More information Position, Number of winners ...
Position[nb 8]Number of winners[nb 9]
Goalkeeper7
Defender17
Midfielder12
Forward[nb 10]17
Close

Summary of wins by country

More information Country, Number of winners ...
CountryNumber of winners[nb 9]
 England37
 Scotland11
 Wales3
 Republic of Ireland2
 Finland2
 Argentina1
 Brazil1
 Cameroon1
 Netherlands1
 United States1
Close

Footnotes

  1. [1]
    The official "Level" of competition in the structure of the English league system.
  2. [2]
    For a full description of positions see Football Positions.
  3. [3]
    If blank, uncapped at full international level.
  4. [4]
    By this point in his career, the former forward was playing at "half-back".
  5. [5]
    Keelan was born in India, to English parents.
  6. [6]
    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.
  7. [7]
    Also played some games as a striker.
  8. [8]
    Doherty has been classed as a defender, Sutton as a striker, Allcock as a defender.
  9. [9]
    Multiple winners are counted multiple times.
  10. [10]
    Includes strikers and wingers.

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI