Today I was drawn to a tweet from fellow Blade and Guardian football journalist John Ashdown, which mentioned that he was judging the Football League Awards 2011. It set me thinking as to where my votes would go.
The awards were established in 2006 and cover a wide variety of categories rewarding fans, community programmes, matchday programmes, stadia, sponsorship, sportsmanship as well as the players. Awards are given to the best player in each division, the best young player and the best apprentices in each division.
Success has often been an acknowledgement that the player concerned is ready for the step up in division. The first Championship Player of the Year, Phil Jagielka, has since gone on to Everton and international recognition. The Young Player of the Year in 2007 was the much touted Gareth Bale. And the 2008 League 1 and 2 players of the year Jermaine Beckford (then of Leeds) and Keith Andrews (then playing for a South Midlands franchise) now find themselves at Premier League clubs. Some struggle to have an impact when their team steps up a level, Sylvain Ebanks-Blake the 2009 winner being a good example. Others were realistically Premier League quality players who remained loyal as their club went down; Kevin Nolan (2010 winner) and Kevin Phillips (2008).
So, who would I choose? I have limited my choice to the Championship, it has taken me long enough to narrow down my list as it is. I also find things like this difficult to assess often because of when they take place. Do you include performances in the latter part of last season, or just this season to date? If you included the early part of 2010, a player who would be up for consideration as Championship Player of the Season would be Darren Ambrose. His dynamic goalscoring performances were a key factor in Crystal Palace's survival, yet this season he has made just 10 starts due to injury. So, to keep this as simple as possible, my candidates listed below are based on this season to date.
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