Football Writers' Association

The Football Writers' Association (FWA) is an association of football journalists and correspondents writing for English newspapers and agencies. It presents the Footballer of the Year Award, the oldest and most distinguished award given in the domestic game. In 2018, recognising the growth of the woman's game, it announced a Woman's Footballer of the Year Award.

History

The choice to create the Football Writers' Association (FWA) was made on 22 September 1947 by journalists, Charles Buchan (News Chronicle), Frank Coles (Daily Telegraph), Roy Peskett (Daily Mail), and Archie Quick while aboard a boat in the middle of the English Channel that was returning from a football match in which England beat Belgium 5-2. Ivan Sharpe of the Sunday Chronicle was appointed chairman a month later, a position he held for the first six years of the FWA's existence and eight times in all in his long career. The men formalized a few of the newborn association's rules and regulations within one month. Some of the rules initially created were that membership to the FWA would be invitation only and that they would exclusively send invitations to “working journalists who are accredited football correspondents for newspapers and agencies.” It was also determined that the Football Writers' Association's headquarters would be in London, England and the membership fee would be five guineas for the first year of membership with a recurring annual payment of two guineas each year after. Furthermore, the men had decided that there would be a vote held annually for all members that would decide the recipient of the prestigious Footballer of the Year Award, which is still today the oldest and most distinguished award given in the domestic game. The award was originally presented at the annual dinner, which was held on the night before the FA Cup Final, but was later changed to the Thursday preceding every FA Cup Final. To mark the FWA's 70th anniversary newly created Life Members of the association will now receive the Ivan Sharpe Life Membership Award, while in 2018, the FWA announced it was awarding a Woman's Footballer of the Year award in recognition of the growth of the woman's game in this country. ed [1]

The Football Writers' Association Today

The FWA has experienced steady growth since its inception in 1947. Membership has grown to about four-hundred members. Changes in modern journalism have welcomed a more diverse range of members. In recent years, the association has modernized itself by changing the voting process for Footballer of the Year by making online voting available to its members as well as incorporating social media into its revamped web site. The Football Writers' Association continues to recruit new members openly in the same manner as was created by its founders in 1947.[1]

The FWA Footballer of the Year Award

Charles Buchan, one of the founding fathers of the FWA, had originally suggested that there be an award presented “to the professional player who by precept and example is considered by a ballot of members to be the footballer of the year." The award is the oldest and is considered to be the most prestigious award in British football. The award is presented annually. The first player to receive the award was Sir Stanley Matthews in 1948.[2]. In 2018 the FWA introduced their award for the Woman Footballer of the Year in recognition of the growth of the woman's game.


Winners

The award has been presented on 71 occasions as of 2018, with 63 different winners. On one occasion two players shared the award for a season (1968–69).[3] The table also indicates where the winning player also won one or more of the other major "player of the year" awards in English football, namely the Professional Footballers' Association's Players' Player of the Year award (PPY),[4][5][6] Fans' Player of the Year award (FPY),[7] and Young Player of the Year award (YPY).[5][6][8]

Neville Southall's 1985 win was the last time a goalkeeper received the award.
Dennis Bergkamp won the award in the 1997–98 season.
Thierry Henry was the first player to win the award in two consecutive seasons.
Cristiano Ronaldo also won the award consecutively, in the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons.
Wayne Rooney gained the award in the 2009–10 season.
Year PlayerClubAlso wonNotes
1947–48EnglandStanley MatthewsBlackpool
1948–49Republic of IrelandJohnny CareyManchester United[9]
1949–50EnglandJoe MercerArsenal
1950–51EnglandHarry JohnstonBlackpool
1951–52EnglandBilly WrightWolverhampton Wanderers
1952–53EnglandNat LofthouseBolton Wanderers
1953–54EnglandTom FinneyPreston North End
1954–55EnglandDon RevieManchester City
1955–56GermanyBert TrautmannManchester City
1956–57EnglandTom FinneyPreston North End[10]
1957–58Northern IrelandDanny BlanchflowerTottenham Hotspur
1958–59EnglandSyd OwenLuton Town
1959–60EnglandBill SlaterWolverhampton Wanderers
1960–61Northern IrelandDanny BlanchflowerTottenham Hotspur
1961–62EnglandJimmy AdamsonBurnley
1962–63EnglandStanley MatthewsStoke City[11]
1963–64EnglandBobby MooreWest Ham United
1964–65ScotlandBobby CollinsLeeds United
1965–66EnglandBobby CharltonManchester United
1966–67EnglandJack CharltonLeeds United
1967–68Northern IrelandGeorge BestManchester United
1968–69EnglandTony Book (joint winner)Manchester City
ScotlandDave Mackay (joint winner)Derby County
1969–70ScotlandBilly BremnerLeeds United
1970–71ScotlandFrank McLintockArsenal
1971–72EnglandGordon BanksStoke City
1972–73Northern IrelandPat JenningsTottenham Hotspur[12]
1973–74EnglandIan CallaghanLiverpool
1974–75EnglandAlan MulleryFulham
1975–76EnglandKevin KeeganLiverpool
1976–77EnglandEmlyn HughesLiverpool
1977–78ScotlandKenny BurnsNottingham Forest
1978–79ScotlandKenny DalglishLiverpool
1979–80EnglandTerry McDermottLiverpoolPPY[13]
1980–81NetherlandsFrans ThijssenIpswich Town
1981–82EnglandSteve PerrymanTottenham Hotspur
1982–83ScotlandKenny DalglishLiverpoolPPY
1983–84WalesIan RushLiverpoolPPY
1984–85WalesNeville SouthallEverton
1985–86EnglandGary LinekerEvertonPPY
1986–87EnglandClive AllenTottenham HotspurPPY
1987–88EnglandJohn BarnesLiverpoolPPY
1988–89ScotlandSteve NicolLiverpool
1989–90EnglandJohn BarnesLiverpool
1990–91ScotlandGordon StrachanLeeds United
1991–92EnglandGary LinekerTottenham Hotspur
1992–93EnglandChris WaddleSheffield Wednesday
1993–94EnglandAlan ShearerBlackburn Rovers
1994–95GermanyJürgen KlinsmannTottenham Hotspur
1995–96FranceEric CantonaManchester United
1996–97ItalyGianfranco ZolaChelsea
1997–98NetherlandsDennis BergkampArsenalPPY
1998–99FranceDavid GinolaTottenham HotspurPPY
1999–00Republic of IrelandRoy KeaneManchester UnitedPPY
2000–01EnglandTeddy SheringhamManchester UnitedPPY
2001–02FranceRobert PirèsArsenal
2002–03FranceThierry HenryArsenalPPY, FPY
2003–04FranceThierry HenryArsenalPPY, FPY[14]
2004–05EnglandFrank LampardChelseaFPY[15]
2005–06FranceThierry HenryArsenal[16]
2006–07PortugalCristiano RonaldoManchester UnitedPPY, FPY, YPY[17]
2007–08PortugalCristiano RonaldoManchester UnitedPPY, FPY
2008–09EnglandSteven GerrardLiverpoolFPY[18]
2009–10EnglandWayne RooneyManchester UnitedPPY[19]
2010–11EnglandScott ParkerWest Ham United[20]
2011–12NetherlandsRobin van PersieArsenalPPY, FPY[21]
2012–13WalesGareth BaleTottenham HotspurPPY, YPY[22]
2013–14UruguayLuis SuárezLiverpoolPPY[23]
2014–15BelgiumEden HazardChelseaPPY[24]
2015–16EnglandJamie VardyLeicester City[25]
2016–17FranceN'Golo KantéChelseaPPY[26]
2017–18 Egypt Mohamed Salah Liverpool PPY [27]

The FWA Women's Footballer of the Year Award

In 2018 the FWA introduced their award for the Woman Footballer of the Year in recognition of the growth of the woman's game.

Inaugural winner Fran Kirby

The award has been presented on one occasion as of 2018, with one winner. The table also indicates where the winning player also won one or more of the other major "player of the year" awards in English football, namely the PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year award (PPY),[28] and the PFA Women's Young Player of the Year award (YPY).[5][6][8]

Year PlayerClubAlso wonNotes
2017–18EnglandFran KirbyChelseaPPYInaugural winner of award[29]

The FWA Tribute Award

The Football Writers' Association Tribute Award is presented annually every January at the Savoy Hotel to the individual that the committee believes to have contributed to the national game in a significant way. The award was first given in 1983 to Ron Greenwood.[2]

Winners

1980s

YearWinner(s)
1983England Ron Greenwood
1984England Bob Paisley
1985England Sir Trevor Brooking
1986Northern Ireland Pat Jennings
1987Scotland Kenny Dalglish
1988England Sir Tom Finney
1989England Sir Bobby Charlton

1990s

YearWinner(s)
1990England Bobby Moore
1991England Peter Shilton
1992England Sir Bobby Robson
1993England Brian Clough
1994Scotland Denis Law
1995England Sir Stanley Matthews
1996Scotland Sir Alex Ferguson
1997England Gary Lineker
1998England Sir Geoff Hurst
1999England Jim Smith

2000s

YearWinner(s)
2000Northern Ireland George Best
2001England Alan Shearer
2002England Graham Taylor
2003England Tony Adams
2004England Jimmy Hill
2005France Arsène Wenger
2006England Bryan Robson
2007Wales Ryan Giggs
2008England David Beckham
2009England Harry Redknapp

2010s

YearWinner(s)
2010England Frank Lampard
2011France Thierry Henry
2012England Gary Neville / England Paul Scholes
2013England Steven Gerrard
2014Portugal José Mourinho
2015Ivory Coast Didier Drogba
2016France Patrick Vieira
2017England Wayne Rooney

See also

References

  1. 1 2 http://www.footballwriters.co.uk/about/
  2. 1 2 http://www.footballwriters.co.uk/awards/
  3. ↑ "England – Players Awards". RSSSF. 4 October 2007. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
  4. ↑ "Only here for the peers". BBC. 20 April 2001. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  5. 1 2 3 "Gerrard named player of the year". BBC. 23 April 2006. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  6. 1 2 3 "Ronaldo secures PFA awards double". BBC. 22 April 2007. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  7. ↑ "PFA's Official Fan's Player of the Year: Previous Winners". The Professional Footballers' Association. Archived from the original on 20 February 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  8. 1 2 Frank Keogh (20 April 2001). "Too much too young?". BBC. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
  9. ↑ First winner of the award from outside the United Kingdom.
  10. ↑ First player to win the award twice.
  11. ↑ First player to win the award with two different clubs.
  12. ↑ Also won the PFA Players' Player of the Year award in 1976 to become the first player to win both awards.
  13. ↑ First player to win both PFA and FWA awards in the same season.
  14. ↑ First player to win the award in two consecutive seasons.
  15. ↑ "Lampard scoops award from writers". BBC. 6 May 2005. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  16. ↑ First player to win the award three times.
  17. ↑ First player to win four awards in the same season.
  18. ↑ "Steven Gerrard wins Footballer of the Year award". The Times. London. 13 May 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  19. ↑ "Wayne Rooney nets writers' player of the year award". BBC. 30 April 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  20. ↑ "West Ham's Scott Parker wins Football Writers' award". BBC. 22 April 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  21. ↑ "Arsenal's Robin van Persie named FWA Footballer of the Year". BBC. 24 April 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  22. ↑ "Bale named FWA Footballer of the Year". Football Writers’ Association. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  23. ↑ "Suarez humbled by FWA accolade". Football Writers’ Association. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  24. ↑ "Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard is the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year 2015". Football Writers’ Association. 12 May 2015. Archived from the original on 15 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  25. ↑ "Jamie Vardy voted FWA Footballer of the Year 2016". Football Writers’ Association. 1 May 2016. Retrieved 15 Jan 2017.
  26. ↑ "N'Golo Kante is Footballer of the Year". Football Writers’ Association. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 11 Jun 2017.
  27. ↑ "BREAKING – MO SALAH IS FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR | Football Writers' Association". footballwriters.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
  28. ↑ "England Player Honours – Professional Footballers' Association Players' Players of the Year". England Football Online. 19 June 2007. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  29. ↑ "Fran Kirby is FWA Women's Footballer of the Year | Football Writers' Association". footballwriters.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
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