Norwich City player of the year
Encyclopedia
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
's supporters, in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. 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.
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. The 2003–04 winner Craig Fleming
Craig Fleming
Craig Fleming is a former footballer. He was a defender.-Football career:Fleming began his professional career with his hometown club Halifax Town where he made his debut aged 16. He also picked up the Barclays Player of the Month award at the same age...
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". Other awards available are awarded by other bodies, namely the Capital Canaries, Norwich City Independent Supporters Association and the "Ambassador Club".
Since the inaugural award was made to Terry Allcock
Terry Allcock
Terence Allcock is a former professional footballer who played for Bolton Wanderers and Norwich City. Allcock was also a cricketer.-Bolton:...
, eight players have won the award twice, most recently Grant Holt
Grant Holt
Grant Holt is an English footballer, currently playing in the Premier League for Norwich City. He plays as a striker and is club captain....
in 2010 and 2011. World Cup
1966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
winner Martin Peters
Martin Peters
Martin Stanford Peters, MBE is a former football player and member of the victorious England team which won the 1966 World Cup as well as playing in the 1970 FIFA World Cup....
was the first to win the trophy in consecutive seasons, a feat since emulated by strikers Kevin Drinkell
Kevin Drinkell
Kevin Smith Drinkell is a former professional footballer and football manager. He runs his football Agency Kevin Drinkell Sport Management Ltd in Stirling, Scotland...
and Iwan Roberts
Iwan Roberts
Iwan Wyn Roberts is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a striker for a number of English league clubs. The most notable period of his club career was with Norwich City...
, as well as Holt. Just two winners have gone on to manage the club, Dave Stringer
Dave Stringer
Dave Stringer , is a former player and manager of Norwich City football club.As a player, he won the fans' vote to be Norwich City player of the year in 1972 and made a total of 499 appearances for the club. He ended his playing career with Cambridge United before returning to Norwich city to coach...
, the 1972 winner, and double-winner Bryan Gunn
Bryan Gunn
Bryan James Gunn is a Scottish former professional goalkeeper and football manager. After learning his trade with Aberdeen in the early 1980s, he spent most of his playing career at Norwich City, the club with which he came to be most closely associated...
.
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 RoadCarrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
offices, or by email or text message
Short message service
Short Message Service is a text messaging service component of phone, web, or mobile communication systems, using standardized communications protocols that allow the exchange of short text messages between fixed line or mobile phone devices...
, with the winner being the player that polls the most votes. 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.
List of winners
Player name in bold text represents players still on the playing staff of the club
| Season | LevelThe official "Level" of competition in the structure of the English league system. | Name | PositionFor a full description of positions see Football Positions Football (soccer) positions In the sport of association football, each of the eleven players on a team is assigned to a particular position on the field of play. A team is made up of one goalkeeper and ten outfield players who fill various defensive, midfield and attacking positions depending on the formation deployed. These... . | Nationality | CapsIf blank, uncapped at full international level. | 1967 1966-67 in English football The 1966–67 season was the 87th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Queens Park Rangers won the Football League Cup on the first occasion it was played at Wembley, coming from 2-0 down at half-time to beat West Bromwich Albion 3-2.... | 2 | Defender Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... By this point in his career, the former forward was playing at "half-back". |
Inaugural winner. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 1967-68 in English football The 1967–68 season was the 88th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition-FA Cup:... |
2 | Striker Striker Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals... |
5 | |||
| 1969 1968-69 in English football The 1968–69 season was the 89th season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Leeds United won the League for the first time in their history, finishing six points ahead of Liverpool... |
2 | Winger | ||||
| 1970 1969-70 in English football The 1969–70 season was the 90th season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Everton won their seventh title, finishing nine points clear of Leeds United with Chelsea in third and newly promoted Derby County in fourth... |
2 | Defender Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
||||
| 1971 1970-71 in English football The 1970–71 season was the 91st season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Arsenal won the league championship at the end of a season which would soon be followed by their FA Cup final tie with Liverpool. Arsenal secured the league title at White Hart Lane, the home of bitter rivals... |
2 | Winger | Second award. | |||
| 1972 1971-72 in English football The 1971–72 season was the 92nd season of competitive football in England.-FA Cup:Leeds United overcame holders Arsenal to win the 1972 FA Cup Final... |
2 | Defender Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Went on to manage the club, 1987-1992. | |||
| 1973 1972-73 in English football The 1972–73 season was the 93rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League announced that a three-up, three-down system would operate between the top two divisions from the following season, rather than the traditional two-up, two-down system... |
1 | Goalkeeper Goalkeeper (football) In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal... |
First goalkeeper to win the award, and retained it the following year. | |||
| 1974 1973-74 in English football The 1973–74 season was the 94th season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Don Revie marked his last season as Leeds United's manager by guiding them to league championship glory, before taking over from Sir Alf Ramsey as the England national football team manager, with England... |
1 | Goalkeeper Goalkeeper (football) In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal... |
Keelan was born in India, of English parents. | Second award. | ||
| 1975 1974-75 in English football The 1974–75 season was the 95th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Dave Mackay guided Derby County to their second league title in four years having overcome strong competition from Liverpool, Ipswich Town, Everton, Stoke City, Manchester City, Sheffield United and... |
2 | Midfielder Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
||||
| 1976 1975-76 in English football The 1975–76 season was the 96th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won their first major trophy under Bob Paisley by narrowly winning the league title after heated competition from Queens Park Rangers. They also lifted the UEFA Cup for the second time in their... |
1 | Midfielder Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
67 | |||
| 1977 1976-77 in English football The 1976–77 season was the 97th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League revamped the tie-breaking criteria for teams level of points, replacing the traditional goal average tie-breaker with one based on goal difference to try to encourage more scoring... |
1 | Midfielder Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
67 | Second award. | ||
| 1978 1977-78 in English football The 1977–1978 season was the 98th season of competitive football in England, from August 1977 to May 1978:-First Division:Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest side took on the First Division by storm, by winning the League Cup on 22 March and confirming themselves as league champions the following month... |
1 | Winger | ||||
| 1979 1978-79 in English football -FA Cup:Manchester United had seemingly pulled off a remarkable comeback against Arsenal in the 1979 FA Cup Final to make the score 2–2 after being two goals down, but a last-minute goal from Alan Sunderland saw Arsenal lift the trophy with a 3–2 scoreline... |
1 | Defender Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
||||
| 1980 1979-80 in English football The 1979–80 season was the 100th season of competitive football in England.- FA Cup :Second Division West Ham United, managed by John Lyall, won the FA Cup, beating Arsenal 1–0 with a Trevor Brooking goal... |
1 | Defender Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
No voting for award this year | |||
| 1981 1980-81 in English football The 1980–81 season was the 101st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League introduced a three points for a win system in place of the two points for a win system which had operated since the league's formation in 1889... |
1 | Striker Striker Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals... |
6 | |||
| 1982 1981-82 in English football The 1981–82 season was the 102nd season of competitive football in England.It was also the first season that the Three points for a win system was introduced.- First Division :Three points for a win was introduced for the first time in England... |
2 | Defender Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
||||
| 1983 1982-83 in English football The 1982–83 season was the 103rd season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Bob Paisley's last season as Liverpool manager ended on a high as they topped the First Division with a comfortable lead. Bob Paisley retired as Liverpool manager with a record 21 prizes in nine years. His... |
1 | Defender Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
12 | |||
| 1984 1983-84 in English football The 1983–84 season was the 104th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool had a great first season under the management of Joe Fagan as they wrapped up their third successive league title and the 15th in their history... |
1 | Goalkeeper Goalkeeper (football) In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal... |
43 | |||
| 1985 1984-85 in English football The 1984–85 season was the 105th season of competitive football in England.-Bradford City disaster:56 spectators died and more than 200 were injured when a fire ripped through the Main Stand at Valley Parade during Bradford City's Third Division fixture with Lincoln City on 11 May... |
1 | Defender Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Won the award in his first season with Norwich, who were Football League Cup Football League Cup The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis... winners but suffered relegation to the Second Division. |
|||
| 1986 1985-86 in English football The 1985–86 season was the 106th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The championship crown went to Liverpool for the 16th time in their history at the end of their first season under the management of Kenny Dalglish, but they had to fight off some very stiff competition to... |
2 | Striker Striker Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals... |
Won the award in his first season with Norwich, who were promoted back to the First Division as Second Division champions. | |||
| 1987 1986-87 in English football The 1986–87 season was the 107th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off... |
1 | Striker Striker Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals... |
Second award. His goals helped newly promoted Norwich finished fifth in the First Division. | |||
| 1988 1987-88 in English football The 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season.... |
1 | Goalkeeper Goalkeeper (football) In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal... |
6 | |||
| 1989 1988-89 in English football The 1988–89 season was the 109th season of competitive football in England.-Hillsborough disaster:On 15 April, a crowd crush at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough killed 94 people and injured more than 300. A 95th Liverpool supporter died in hospital... |
1 | Midfielder Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
||||
| 1990 1989-90 in English football -European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :... |
1 | Defender Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
35 | |||
| 1991 1990-91 in English football The 1990–91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Arsenal won the league. Runners-up spot was achieved by Liverpool, who had led the table for much of the first half of the season but had been shell-shocked in February by the sudden resignation of manager... |
1 | Defender Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
||||
| 1992 1991-92 in English football - First Division :The last-ever league championship before the creation of the Premier League was won by Leeds United who overhauled Manchester United thanks to the efforts of, among others, Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed and Gary McAllister... |
1 | Striker Striker Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals... |
4 | |||
| 1993 1992-93 in English football The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions.... |
1 | Goalkeeper Goalkeeper (football) In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal... |
6 | Second award. | ||
| 1994 1993-94 in English football The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years... |
1 | Striker Striker Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals... Played some games in defence, but scored 28 goals in all competitions and was then sold to Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... for a then national record fee of £5million. |
1 | |||
| 1995 1994-95 in English football -Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw... |
2 | Defender Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
||||
| 1996 1995-96 in English football - Premiership :Newcastle United were 12 points clear at the top of Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's relatively young and inexperienced side overhauled them during the second half of the season to win the title.... |
2 | Defender Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
||||
| 1997 1996-97 in English football The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :... |
2 | Winger | ||||
| 1998 1997-98 in English football The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title... |
2 | Defender Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
||||
| 1999 1998-99 in English football -Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker... |
2 | Striker Striker Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals... |
15 | |||
| 2000 1999-2000 in English football -Premier League:Manchester United were crowned FA Premier League champions with an 18-point margin over runners-up Arsenal and with just 3 league defeats all season. This was despite their failure to retain the European Cup and withdrawal from the FA Cup in order to compete in the FIFA Club World... |
2 | Striker Striker Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals... |
15 | Second award. Consecutive wins for first time since 1987. |
||
| 2001 2000-01 in English football The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons... |
2 | Goalkeeper Goalkeeper (football) In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal... |
||||
| 2002 2001-02 in English football The 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the... |
2 | Midfielder Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
10 | |||
| 2003 2002-03 in English football The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable... |
2 | Defender Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Longest-standing award winner still with club. | |||
| 2004 2003-04 in English football The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game.... |
2 | Defender Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
||||
| 2005 2004-05 in English football The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League... |
1 | Striker Striker Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals... / Winger |
||||
| 2006 2005-06 in English football The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether... |
2 | Defender Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... Also played some games as a striker. |
34 | First non-British winner. | ||
| 2007 2006-07 in English football The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five... |
2 | Striker Striker Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals... / Winger |
Second award. | |||
| 2008 2007-08 in English football The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool... |
2 | Striker Striker Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals... / Defender Defender (football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
4 | The oldest winner at the age of 39; retired at end of season. | ||
| 2009 | 2 | Midfielder Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... / Winger |
||||
| 2010 | 3 | Striker Striker Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals... |
Won the award in his first season with Norwich, who sealed promotion to the Championship as League One champions. | |||
| 2011 | 2 | Striker Striker Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals... |
Second award for the player, whose goals helped Norwich reach the Premier League with a second successive promotion as Championship runners-up. | |||
Summary of wins by playing position
| | PositionDoherty has been classed as a defender, Sutton as a striker, Allcock as a defender. | | Number of winners | |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | 6 | |
| Defender | 16 | |
| Midfielder | 7 | |
| ForwardIncludes strikers and wingers. | 14 |
Summary of wins by nationality
| | Nationality | | Number of winners | |
|---|---|---|
| English | 31 | |
| Irish | 1 | |
| Scottish | 8 | |
| Welsh | 3 |