FSA Awards Honour Palmer & Hemp As Player of the Year
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer was voted Men’s Player of the Year and Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp picked up Women’s Player of the Year at the Football Supporters’ Association Awards at a ceremony in London on Monday night (2nd Dec).
With more than a quarter-of-a-million votes cast, the FSA Awards are the largest supporter-led awards in the country and Palmer topped the fans’ vote, holding off competition from Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Rodri.
Palmer is the first Chelsea player to scoop the award and the first Englishman since Harry Kane won the popular vote back in 2017.
Manchester City and Lionesses forward Lauren Hemp topped the vote in the Women’s Player of the Year category, ending Arsenal’s domination of the category since its creation.
Hemp saw off competition from fellow nominees Grace Clinton (Manchester United), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Lauren James (Chelsea) Khadija Shaw (Manchester City) and Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal).
Cole Palmer, said: “Thank you to everyone who voted for me, it’s an honour to be the first Chelsea player to win this award.”
Lauren Hemp, added: “I just wanted to say a massive thank you for this award. Looking back at the season we were unfortunate to come so narrowly close to winning the league but we did qualify for the Champions League.
“We’ve now reached the knockout stages this season so we have an important backend of the season and I can’t wait for – hopefully – many trophies coming our way.”
Kevin Miles, chief executive of the Football Supporters’ Association, said: “There’s no doubt both Cole and Lauren have had incredible years. Since bursting onto the scene Cole has scored a remarkable amount of high quality goals for club and country in such a short period of time earning him support from fans across the game – a worthy winner and a clear favourite among the voting public.
“We’re delighted for Lauren, who was a vital part of City’s title push and is a stalwart for the Lionesses, her hard work paying off with a Ballon D’or nomination back in September.”
The winners of the 2024 FSA Awards:
Men’s Player of the Year – sponsored by Football Life: Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Women’s Player of the Year – sponsored by Toyota GB: Lauren Hemp (Manchester City)
Goal of the Year: Patrick Bamford – Peterborough United vs Leeds United (January)
Climate Action Award sponsored by Trainsplit: David Wheeler (PFA & Wycombe Wanderers)
TV/Radio Pundit of the Year sponsored by Elysium Marbella: Gary Neville Club Podcast of the Year: Fearless in Devotion (Wrexham)
Commentator of the Year: Peter Drury
Fans for Diversity Award: SWFC Women’s Supporters Group
Fan Media of the Year: Not The Top 20
Fanzine of the Year: My Only Desire (Charlton Athletic)
Men’s Football Media of the Year: The Athletic
Women’s Football Media of the Year: The Women’s Football Show
Social Media of the Year: Away Days
Podcast of the Year The Football Ramble
Non-League Award: The Non-League Paper
Supporter Liaison Officer of the Year: Hannah Powis (AFC Bournemouth)
Supporter Engagement Award: Portsmouth FC
Writer of the Year: Jonathan Wilson
