List of Norwich City F.C. Players of the Year

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.
Five men standing on a grass football pitch, wearing yellow shirts, green shorts and yellow socks.
Iwan Roberts, the most recent player to win the award in consecutive seasons

The Norwich City player of the year 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, seven players have won the award twice, most recently Darren Huckerby in 2005 and 2007.[5] 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.[6] Just one winner has gone on to manage the club, Dave Stringer,[7] the 1972 winner, although Joe Royle went on to manage arch-rivals Ipswich Town.[8]

Contents

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

SeasonLevel[nb 1]Name[11]Position[nb 2]NationalityCaps[nb 3]Notes
19672Allcock, TerryTerry AllcockDefender[nb 4] EnglandInaugural winner.
19682Curran, HughHugh CurranStriker Scotland5
19692Foggo, KenKen FoggoWinger Scotland
19702Forbes, DuncanDuncan ForbesDefender Scotland
19712Foggo, KenKen FoggoWinger ScotlandSecond award.
19722Stringer, DaveDave StringerDefender EnglandWent on to manage the club, 1987-1992.[12]
19731Keelan, KevinKevin KeelanGoalkeeper England
19741Keelan, KevinKevin KeelanGoalkeeper England[nb 5]Second award.
19752Suggett, ColinColin SuggettMidfielder England
19761Peters, MartinMartin PetersMidfielder England67
19771Peters, MartinMartin PetersMidfielder England67Second award.
19781Ryan, JohnJohn RyanWinger England
19791Powell, TonyTony PowellDefender England
19801Bond, KevinKevin BondDefender England
19811Royle, JoeJoe RoyleStriker England6
19822Downs, GregGreg DownsDefender England
19831Watson, DaveDave WatsonDefender England12
19841Woods, ChrisChris WoodsGoalkeeper England43
19851Bruce, SteveSteve BruceDefender EnglandWon the award in his first season with Norwich.
19862Drinkell, KevinKevin DrinkellStriker EnglandWon the award in his first season with Norwich.
19871Drinkell, KevinKevin DrinkellStriker EnglandSecond award.
19881Gunn, BryanBryan GunnGoalkeeper Scotland6
19891Gordon, DaleDale GordonMidfielder England
19901Bowen, MarkMark BowenDefender Wales35
19911Culverhouse, IanIan CulverhouseDefender England
19921Fleck, RobertRobert FleckStriker Scotland4
19931Gunn, BryanBryan Gunn[nb 6]Goalkeeper Scotland6Second award.
19941Sutton, ChrisChris SuttonStriker[nb 7] England1
19952Newsome, JonJon NewsomeDefender England
19962Prior, SpencerSpencer PriorDefender England
19972Eadie, DarrenDarren EadieWinger England
19982Jackson, MattMatt JacksonDefender England
19992Roberts, IwanIwan RobertsStriker Wales15
20002Roberts, IwanIwan RobertsStriker Wales15Second award.
Consecutive wins for first time since 1987.
20012Marshall, AndyAndy MarshallGoalkeeper England
20022Holt, GaryGary HoltMidfielder Scotland10
20032Drury, AdamAdam DruryDefender EnglandLongest-standing award winner still with club.
20042Fleming, CraigCraig FlemingDefender England
20051Huckerby, DarrenDarren HuckerbyStriker / Winger England
20062Doherty, GaryGary DohertyDefender[nb 8] Ireland34First non-British winner.
20072Huckerby, DarrenDarren HuckerbyStriker / Winger EnglandSecond award.
20082Dublin, DionDion DublinStriker / Defender England4In last season as a player (aged 39).[13]
20092Croft, LeeLee CroftMidfielder / Winger England

Summary of wins by playing position

A man wearing a suit and a man wearing a shirt, tie and trousers, jointly holding a trophy.
Holt's achievements from midfield in 2001–2 were also recognised with the Capital Canaries Player of the Season award
Position[nb 9]Number of winners[nb 10]
Goalkeeper6
Defender16
Midfielder7
Forward[nb 11]12

Summary of wins by nationality

NationalityNumber of winners[nb 10]
English29
Irish1
Scottish8
Welsh3

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. ^ Still technically with the club, although in a non-playing capacity.
  7. ^ Played some games in defence.
  8. ^ Also played some games as a striker.
  9. ^ Doherty has been classed as a defender, Sutton as a striker, Allcock as a defender.
  10. ^ a b Multiple winners are counted multiple times.
  11. ^ Includes strikers and wingers.

References

  1. ^ "PLAYER OF THE YEAR". canaries.co.uk. 27 April 2007. http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetails/0,,10355~1017653,00.html. Retrieved 2007-10-03. 
  2. ^ Eastwood, John; Mike Davage (1986). Canary Citizens. Almeida Books. p. 107. ISBN 0711720207. "As a mark of permanent respect..." 
  3. ^ "Roll up for the end of the year show". The Pink 'Un. 5 May 2007. http://new.pinkun.com/search/story.aspx?brand=PINKUNOnline&category=DavidCuffley&itemid=NOED05%20May%202007%2014:44:47:243&tBrand=PINKUNOnline&tCategory=search. Retrieved 2007-10-03. "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. http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetails/0,,10355~520356,00.html. Retrieved 2007-10-03. 
  5. ^ a b "HUCKS ON A HAT-TRICK". canaries.co.uk. 4 May 2007. http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetails/0,,10355~1018999,00.html. Retrieved 2007-10-03. 
  6. ^ "Player of the Season - The Barry Butler Memorial Trophy". On The Ball, City. http://www.otbc.co.uk/pots.asp. Retrieved 2007-09-11. 
  7. ^ "Dave Stringer's managerial career". Soccerbase. http://www.soccerbase.com/managers2.sd?managerid=333. Retrieved 2007-10-15. 
  8. ^ "Joe Royle's managerial career". Soccerbase. http://www.soccerbase.com/managers2.sd?managerid=770. Retrieved 2007-10-15. 
  9. ^ a b "Race is on for Barry Butler trophy". The Pink 'Un. 16 March 2006. http://new.pinkun.com/search/story.aspx?brand=PINKUNOnline&category=Norwich&itemid=NOED15%20Mar%202006%2019:06:50:843&tBrand=PINKUNOnline&tCategory=search. Retrieved 2007-10-03. 
  10. ^ "Canary stats - Norwich City Hall of Fame". Eastern Daily Press. http://web.archive.org/web/20070927172948/http://www.edp24.co.uk/Content/Sport/CanaryCentenary/HallofFame.asp. Retrieved 2007-10-09. 
  11. ^ "Player of the Season 1967-2007". canaries.co.uk. http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10355~1132064,00.html. Retrieved 2007-10-12. 
  12. ^ "Dave Stringer's managerial career". soccerbase.com. http://www.soccerbase.com/managers2.sd?managerid=333. Retrieved 2007-10-15. 
  13. ^ "Tearful Dublin in Carrow farewell". BBC Online. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/norwich/7370902.stm. Retrieved 2008-01-05. 
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