Lionesses Celebrated At Northwest Football Awards 2022
England Lionesses duo Ellen White and Jill Scott MBE were among the big winners at last night’s Armstrong Projects Northwest Football Awards.
The pair were joined by Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, Pep Guardiola and Lauren Hemp as the night’s big winners at the star-studded ceremony.
More than 500 guests attended the black-tie event, hosted by broadcaster, Eilidh Barbour, at The Point at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, which celebrated and honoured the stars of the Northwest’s vast football scene over the 2021/22 season.
Winners were named in eight player categories, as well as in a raft of other honours – including the highly sought-after Moment of the Season, as voted for by fans from around the world.
After an intensely fought season and much deliberation from the judges, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola was awarded the coveted Manager of the Season title, for winning the Premier League title, whilst Anthony Gordon, who helped to keep Everton in the Premier League, won The Athletic Rising Star of the Season, as voted for by the fans. A staggering 108,000 fan votes were received for the Player of the Season categories.
Kevin de Bruyne won Premier League Player of the Season, with the Lionesses being handed the Billy Seymour Impact Award, which recognises those who have made a significant positive impact on football, for their UEFA Euro win this summer and the legacy that has followed.
The Lifetime Achievement accolade was awarded jointly to the recently retired Ellen White and Jill Scott MBE for their achievements throughout their careers for clubs and country and their significant contribution to the growth of women’s football.
Laura Wolfe of the Armstrong Northwest Football Awards, said: “The quantity and quality of entries continues to rise year on year and the effort that the clubs put into their entries is truly humbling.
“The array of footballing talent across this region is second to none and I congratulate each and every winner and thank everyone who submitted entries that made the job of our judging panel so demanding, but hugely inspirational.”
During the night, tributes were also paid to the crucial role football clubs carry out in the community, with Everton in the Community winning the hotly contested Community Club of the Season for the Premier League and Wigan Athletic Community Trust winning the Award for clubs from all other leagues.
Rochdale AFC Community Trust Bus took home the accolade for Community Initiative of the Season for its hugely successful One Stop Bus.
The Promoting Inclusion Award, in association with Kick it Out was another hugely impressive category, being awarded to the Manchester United Foundation for their Inclusive Reds: Disability Football Provision.
Full list of winners
The Athletic Rising Star
Anthony Gordon – Everton Football Club
The Athletic Women’s Rising Star
Lauren Hemp – Manchester City Women’s Football Club
National League Player of the Season
Paddy Madden – Stockport County Football Club
League Two Player of the Season
Elliott Nevitt – Tranmere Rovers Football Club
League One Player of the Season
Will Keane – Wigan Athletic Football Club
Championship Player of the Season
Ben Brereton Diaz – Blackburn Rovers Football Club
Premier League Player of the Season
Kevin de Bruyne – Manchester City Football Club
Women’s Player of the Season – All Other Leagues
Leanne Kiernan – Liverpool Football Club Women
Women’s Player of the Season – Women’s Super League
Ella Toone – Manchester United Women’s Football Club
Billy Seymour Impact Award
The Lionesses
Business and Professional Services to Football
Eleven Sports Media (HIGHLY COMMENDED)
Safeguarding Today
Best Club Marketing, Sponsorship or Engagement Campaign
Bolton Wanderers – Be Part Of It – 2022/23 Season Ticket Marketing Campaign
Kick It Out Promoting Inclusion Award
Manchester United Foundation – Inclusive Reds: Disability Football Provision
Community Initiative of the Season, in association with the PFA
Rochdale AFC Community Trust – The One Stop Bus
Community Club of the Season – All other Leagues, in association with the PFA
Wigan Athletic Community Trust
Community Club of the Season – Premier League, in association with the PFA
Everton in the Community
Unsung Hero Award
Emma Fletcher – Head of Girls’ Development, Manchester United Foundation
Fan Media, Channel or Podcast of the Season
The Boundary Park Alert System!
Northwest Football Broadcaster of the Season
Andy Bayes – BBC Radio Lancashire
Northwest Football Journalist of the Season
Simon Hughes – The Athletic UK
Fabrice Muamba Award for Outstanding Service to Football Medicine & Performance
Dr Steve McNally – Head of Football Medicine & Science, Manchester United Football Club
The Armstrong Projects Moment of the Season
MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB v Nottingham Forest Football Club – 11.05.22
Manchester United Under-18s win FA Youth Cup in front of record-breaking crowd of 67,492
Manager of the Season
Pep Guardiola – Manchester City Football Club
The Maurice Watkins CBE Lifetime Contribution Award
Ellen White and Jill Scott MBE
For more information, please visit www.northwestfootballawards.com.