NWJL Player of the Year 2014/15.
By Steven Doherty
Football fans all over the North West have certainly got behind the inaugural Player of the Year with over 4,000 votes cast already. And while every nominee received their fair share of votes, there are six clear front runners as we approach the home straight. Five of your six favourites are strikers, with only one midfielder with a chance of winning the award.
Voting will continue right up to the Matt Morrison Cup final on Thursday night, with the winner announced in next Monday’s Derry News.
The Top 6:
James Boyd: James Boyd has been one of the most prolific strikers in the city for the last few years, regularly hitting the back of the net for Claudy Rovers, Clifton Villa and Top of the Hill Celtic. Indeed, Boyd had been linked with both Derry City and Institute at the start of the season, but work commitments in England have probably hampered his chances of playing senior football for the time being. Senior football loss has ceratinly been junior football’s gain.
Sandy Gillespie: along with Colin Logue, Sandy Gillespie has formed a formidable patnership in the Lisahally midfield that has taken Lissa to the Division One league title and to two cup finals. Gillespie plays with his head up, always looking to get it and give it, and the bigger the game the better the midfielder performs. Enjoys a tackle or two as well.
Robbie Godfrey: the outpouring of man love for Robbie Godfrey this season has been staggering. And why not? Former BBOB and Lincoln player, Godfrey took several years out having been plagued with injury. However, at 31 he made his return to Foyle Wanderes and more than any other player guided the club to the North West Premiership. A man his manager Andy McClintock says is just as important off the pitch as on it, helping to get the bet of the young players around him.
Joe McCready: McCready has been a class act for a number of years now. The former ‘Stute man can be unplayable on his day, as many North West defences have found out to their cost. Blessed with two great feet, serious pace and an eye for goal, McCready along with Grant Garden have taken BBOB’s scoring rate off the charts in the last two seasons.
Gavin McShane: McShane is a born winner. Strong and aggressive, the GAA star holds the ball up better than any striker in the league. When the going gets tough, the Lissa front man gets going and even in the tightest games McShane’s will to win can be the difference between defeat and victory. Scores plenty of goals, most of them in the big games.
Trevor McSparron: Claudy Utd’s McSparron is the ultimate striker. Probably lives on a fraction of the service that some of the other nominees receive and still scores a serious amount of goals for his side. Spent some time with Newtone before returning ‘home’ to help Claudy retain their Division One status this season. Can win games single-handedly.
You can still vote for all the nominees until Thursday night at : http://www.derrynow.com/sport/201415-north-west-player-of-the-year/29225
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