Best of North West football world honoured

Tue 15th Nov 2011 | Football Industry Events

The cream of the North West football world were honoured last night (Monday) at the 2011 MBNA Northwest Football Awards.

The event, held at Lancashire County Cricket Club in Manchester, awarded excellence both on and off the field.

Among the winners were Liverpool star Lucas Leiva, Jay Rodriguez of Burnley, Tranmere’s Enoch Showunmi, Andy Parrish of Morecambe and Bury’s Alan Knill and Richie Barker as managers of the year.

Meanwhile, Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor was awarded the lifetime achievement award.

Everton, Manchester City, Preston North End, Liverpool and Burnley also picked up awards. 

Receiving his honour, Gordon Taylor said: “I am absolutely shocked and surprised. People think the PFA is just about players but we have a policy that it has to be good for the game, not just for players.

“We are a relatively small island but we have the most number of full-time clubs and players, and the highest aggregate attendances in the world. I am very proud of that.”

Blackpool and England legend Jimmy Armfield, who presented the award, said: “In his 30 years as chief executive of the PFA he has opened up opportunities for footballers outside football as much as anything else. Football owes a lot to Gordon Taylor.”

During the evening, guests raised thousands of pounds for Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s North West appeal with a charity auction presented by Match of the Day 2 presenter Colin Murray.

A special tribute to Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who recently celebrated 25 years at the club, was also shown.

 The MBNA Northwest Football Awards were hosted by Sky Sports News presenter Ed Chamberlin and attended by players, former players, managers and other big names from the world of Northwest football.

The awards are supported by businesses and organisations including the PFA, the National Football Museum, FIFA, Sky Sports, Jaguar, npower, JD Sports Fashion and Applied Media.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Community Scheme of the Year

Winner - Everton in the Community

 Highly commended – Bolton Wanderers Community Trust

Community Scheme – Project of the Year

Winner – City in the Community

Highly commended – Blackburn Rovers Community Trust; Blackpool FC Community Trust 

CSR Programme of the Year

Winner – Forbes Solicitors

Best Club Marketing Campaign

Winner – Preston North End

Best Use of New Media

Winner – Liverpool FC 

Most Innovative Non-Matchday Use of a Football Ground

Winner – UCFB/Burnley FC

Northwest Professional Service to Football

Winner – Sports Business Group, Deloitte

Highly commended – University of Liverpool

Northwest Business Service to Football

Winner – ESTC Group

Female Player of the Year

Winner – Jill Scott, Everton 

Barclays Premier League Player of the Year

Winner – Lucas Leiva, Liverpool

npower Championship Player of the Year

Winner – Jay Rodriguez, Burnley

npower League One Player of the Year

Winner – Enoch Showunmi, Tranmere Rovers

npower League Two Player of the Year

Winner – Andy Parrish, Morecambe

Blue Square Bet Premier Player of the Year

Winner - Tony McMillan, Southport

Northwest Manager of the Year

Winners – Alan Knill and Richie Barker, Bury FC

Lifetime Contribution to Northwest Football

Winner – Gordon Taylor, chief executive of Professional Footballers’ Association

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