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]

For a list of all Norwich City players with a Wikipedia article, see Category:Norwich City F.C. players. For the current Norwich City first-team squad, see Norwich City F.C. § First-team squad.
Iwan Roberts, who won the award twice.

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 currently on the playing staff of the club

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] 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 EnglandThird Award for the player, whose 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 Ireland37
20182James MaddisonMidfielder England
20192Teemu PukkiStriker Finland72First winner from continental Europe

Summary of wins by playing position
Holt's achievements from midfield in 2001–2 were also recognised with the Capital Canaries Player of the Season award
Position[nb 8]Number of winners[nb 9]
Goalkeeper6
Defender17
Midfielder9
Forward[nb 10]15

Summary of wins by country
countryNumber of winners[nb 9]
England33
Republic of Ireland2
Scotland8
Wales3
Cameroon1
Finland1

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

References
  1. "Player of the Year". canaries.co.uk. 27 April 2007. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2007.
  2. Eastwood, John; Mike Davage (1986). Canary Citizens. Almeida Books. p. 107. ISBN 0-7117-2020-7. As a mark of permanent respect...
  3. "Roll up for the end of the year show". The Pink 'Un. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 3 October 2007. Top honour, of course, was the Barry Butler Memorial Trophy for player of the year.
  4. "FLEMING HONOURED TO WIN AWARD". canaries.co.uk. 7 November 2004. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2007.
  5. "HUCKS ON A HAT-TRICK". canaries.co.uk. 4 May 2007. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2007.
  6. Grant Holt – My Norwich City achievements will take some time to sink in, Eastern Daily Press, 14 May 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  7. "Player of the Season – The Barry Butler Memorial Trophy". On The Ball, City. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
  8. "Dave Stringer's managerial career". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 2 January 2005. Retrieved 15 October 2007.
  9. "Race is on for Barry Butler trophy". The Pink 'Un. 16 March 2006. Retrieved 3 October 2007.
  10. "Canary stats – Norwich City Hall of Fame". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
  11. "Player of the Season 1967–2007". canaries.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
  12. "Dave Stringer's managerial career". soccerbase.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2005. Retrieved 15 October 2007.
  13. "Tearful Dublin in Carrow farewell". BBC Online. 28 April 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  14. "Bassong Named Player of the Season". Norwich City FC. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  15. "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.

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