The Football League have announced the nominees for a number of categories in the inaugural ‘Football League Awards incorporating FourFourTwo’s Top 50 Football League Players’. The winners are to be announced at a gala dinner at The London Hilton on Park Lane on Sunday, 5 March 2006.
The Awards have attracted a number of high profile sponsors and will acknowledge examples of excellence both on and off the pitch. Categories include:
· Community Club of the Year sponsored by Asda
Nominees: Brentford, Burnley, Colchester United, Millwall, Norwich City, Notts County, Wolverhampton Wanderers
· Best Club Sponsorship
Nominees: Gillingham, Leeds United, Norwich City, Nottingham Forest, Stoke City, Walsall
· Best Club Marketing Campaign sponsored by Marketing Magazine
Nominees: Derby County, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Preston North End, Reading
· Best Kit Design sponsored by Ted Baker
Nominees: Ipswich Town, Leyton Orient, Norwich City, Reading
· Match-day Programme of the Year sponsored by Ryman
Nominees: Barnet, Colchester United, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Hull City, Ipswich Town, Preston North End
As well as representatives from The Football League and FourFourTwo Magazine, judging panels have included senior figures from Football in the Community, The League Managers Association, The Professional Footballers’ Association and Supporters Direct, alongside several further key partners.
In addition to categories judged by panels with nominations submitted by clubs, supporters have nominated candidates for the Fan of the Year Award or voted for the club with the Best Ground. Nominations and votes were gathered via the official Football League website at http://www.football-league.co.uk/ and on FourFourTwo’s official website at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/.
The Director of The Football League Coca-Cola Championship, Stewart Regan said: “The inaugural Football League Awards will recognise the most outstanding achievements of our unsung heroes, as well as honouring our most talented players. Selecting names for the shortlists was a huge task, while significant numbers of supporters had their say in the categories awarded by fans. We look forward to unveiling the winners on the night.”
FourFourTwo, Haymarket Publishing’s football magazine, will announce their ‘Top 50 Players In The Football League’, at The Awards Dinner, to coincide with the publication of its April edition.
These further Football League Awards will also be presented on 5 March 2006:
INDUSTRY AWARDS
· Best Club Website sponsored by Premium TV
· Best Ground sponsored by Carling & voted for by away fans
· Contribution To Football Award sponsored by BT & voted for by listeners of BBC Five Live
· Fan of the Year sponsored by FourFourTwo
Plus – a special award to be presented on the night:
· The Wash & Go Good Sport Award
FOOTBALL AWARDS
· Football League Championship Top Apprentice sponsored by Wickes
· Goal of the Year sponsored by Sports TV
· Most Admired Football League Club
· Championship Player of the Year sponsored by Coca-Cola*
· League 1 Player of the Year sponsored by Coca-Cola*
· League 2 Player of the Year sponsored by Coca-Cola*
· The Football League Young Player of the Year sponsored by Dodge*
* These awards will be made to the highest ranked player in each division in FourFourTwo’s Top 50 Football League Players, nominations and winners will be revealed on the night of the awards
Notes to Editors follow
Judging panels
The judging panels for the inaugural ‘Football League Awards incorporating FourFourTwo’s Top 50 Football League Players’ included representatives from The Football League, FourFourTwo Magazine, Football in the Community, The League Managers Association, The Professional Footballers’ Association and Supporters Direct, alongside judges from BBC Radio Five Live, BT, Carling, Connexus, The Daily Telegraph, Fast Web Media, Haymarket Publishing, Saatchi Sports Sponsorship, Sports TV, Ted Baker and Wickes
For further information please contact:
Joseph Beale
FWM PR
(: 0161 831 0404 & 07736 070634
joseph.beale@fastwebmedia.com
Arronjay Fuller
FWM PR
(: 0161 831 0415 & 07793 970578
mailtarronjay.fuller@fastwebmedia.com