Parker pipped PFA Player of the Year Gareth Bale to the award
West Ham midfielder Scott Parker has been voted 2011 Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association.
Parker, 30, topped the poll of journalists ahead of Tottenham winger Gareth Bale, who was last week named the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year.
Parker’s form this season earned him an international recall for England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales in March.
The former Chelsea and Newcastle player will receive the award on 12 May.
Parker’s award is even more impressive considering West Ham’s lowly position and the poor season they have had – they head into their last five games of the campaign one off the bottom of the table.
“Parker has been so consistent this season with his performances in a West Ham team battling for Barclays Premier League survival and as such has forced himself back into the England national set-up,” said FWA chairman Steve Bates, chief football writer at The People.
“He has been an inspirational figure for the Irons and hopefully his professionalism will be rewarded with West Ham staying up at the end of the season.
“In what was one of the tightest votes of recent seasons, Scott is certainly a worthy winner and follows in the footsteps of a long line of superb footballers who have been given this prestigious honour.”
