Iwan Roberts, the most recent player to win the award in consecutive seasons

The Norwich City player of the year award is voted for annually by Norwich City's supporters, in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season.^[1] As a mark of respect, the trophy is named The Barry Butler memorial trophy after the club captain who was killed in a car accident on 9 April 1966.^[2]

This is the more prestigious of just two awards made by Norwich City itself each year to its players, the other being the 'Young Player of the Year' accolade.^[3] The 2003–04 winner Craig Fleming made clear just how important this award is to Norwich City players, "It is something you dream of winning... it is such a prestigious award".^[4] Other awards available are awarded by other bodies, namely the Capital Canaries, Norwich City Independent Supporters Association and the "Ambassador Club".^[5]

Since the inaugural award was made to Terry Allcock, seven players have won the award twice, most recently Darren Huckerby in 2005 and 2007.^[5] World Cup winner Martin Peters was the first to win the trophy in consecutive seasons, a feat since emulated by strikers Kevin Drinkell and Iwan Roberts.^[6] Just one winner has gone on to manage the club, Dave Stringer,^[7] the 1972 winner, although Joe Royle went on to manage arch-rivals Ipswich Town.^[8]

[edit] Voting mechanism

This award is voted for by the fans of the club. Toward the end of the season, fans are invited to vote, either by submitting a paper slip to the club's Carrow Road offices, or by email or text message, with the winner being the player that polls the most votes.^[9] A percentage of the votes from the 'Player of the Month' awards throughout the season also count towards the final votes for Player of the year.^[9]

[edit] List of winners

      Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame inductee^[10]
Player name in bold text represents players still on the playing staff of the club

Season	Level[nb 1]	Name[11]	Position[nb 2]	Nationality	Caps[nb 3]	Notes
1967	2	Allcock, TerryTerry Allcock	Defender[nb 4]	England		Inaugural winner.
1968	2	Curran, HughHugh Curran	Striker	Scotland	5
1969	2	Foggo, KenKen Foggo	Winger	Scotland
1970	2	Forbes, DuncanDuncan Forbes	Defender	Scotland
1971	2	Foggo, KenKen Foggo	Winger	Scotland		Second award.
1972	2	Stringer, DaveDave Stringer	Defender	England		Went on to manage the club, 1987-1992.[12]
1973	1	Keelan, KevinKevin Keelan	Goalkeeper	England
1974	1	Keelan, KevinKevin Keelan	Goalkeeper	England[nb 5]		Second award.
1975	2	Suggett, ColinColin Suggett	Midfielder	England
1976	1	Peters, MartinMartin Peters	Midfielder	England	67
1977	1	Peters, MartinMartin Peters	Midfielder	England	67	Second award.
1978	1	Ryan, JohnJohn Ryan	Winger	England
1979	1	Powell, TonyTony Powell	Defender	England
1980	1	Bond, KevinKevin Bond	Defender	England
1981	1	Royle, JoeJoe Royle	Striker	England	6
1982	2	Downs, GregGreg Downs	Defender	England
1983	1	Watson, DaveDave Watson	Defender	England	12
1984	1	Woods, ChrisChris Woods	Goalkeeper	England	43
1985	1	Bruce, SteveSteve Bruce	Defender	England		Won the award in his first season with Norwich.
1986	2	Drinkell, KevinKevin Drinkell	Striker	England		Won the award in his first season with Norwich.
1987	1	Drinkell, KevinKevin Drinkell	Striker	England		Second award.
1988	1	Gunn, BryanBryan Gunn	Goalkeeper	Scotland	6
1989	1	Gordon, DaleDale Gordon	Midfielder	England
1990	1	Bowen, MarkMark Bowen	Defender	Wales	35
1991	1	Culverhouse, IanIan Culverhouse	Defender	England
1992	1	Fleck, RobertRobert Fleck	Striker	Scotland	4
1993	1	Gunn, BryanBryan Gunn[nb 6]	Goalkeeper	Scotland	6	Second award.
1994	1	Sutton, ChrisChris Sutton	Striker[nb 7]	England	1
1995	2	Newsome, JonJon Newsome	Defender	England
1996	2	Prior, SpencerSpencer Prior	Defender	England
1997	2	Eadie, DarrenDarren Eadie	Winger	England
1998	2	Jackson, MattMatt Jackson	Defender	England
1999	2	Roberts, IwanIwan Roberts	Striker	Wales	15
2000	2	Roberts, IwanIwan Roberts	Striker	Wales	15	Second award. Consecutive wins for first time since 1987.
2001	2	Marshall, AndyAndy Marshall	Goalkeeper	England
2002	2	Holt, GaryGary Holt	Midfielder	Scotland	10
2003	2	Drury, AdamAdam Drury	Defender	England		Longest-standing award winner still with club.
2004	2	Fleming, CraigCraig Fleming	Defender	England
2005	1	Huckerby, DarrenDarren Huckerby	Striker / Winger	England
2006	2	Doherty, GaryGary Doherty	Defender[nb 8]	Ireland	34	First non-British winner.
2007	2	Huckerby, DarrenDarren Huckerby	Striker / Winger	England		Second award.
2008	2	Dublin, DionDion Dublin	Striker / Defender	England	4	In last season as a player (aged 39).[13]
2009	2	Croft, LeeLee Croft	Midfielder / Winger	England

[edit] Summary of wins by playing position

Holt's achievements from midfield in 2001–2 were also recognised with the Capital Canaries Player of the Season award

[edit] Summary of wins by nationality

[edit] Footnotes

1. ^ The official "Level" of competition in the structure of the English league system.
2. ^ For a full description of positions see Football Positions.
3. ^ If blank, uncapped at full international level.
4. ^ By this point in his career, the former forward was playing at "half-back".
5. ^ Keelan was born in India, of English parents.
6. ^ Still technically with the club, although in a non-playing capacity.
7. ^ Played some games in defence.
8. ^ Also played some games as a striker.
9. ^ Doherty has been classed as a defender, Sutton as a striker, Allcock as a defender.
10. ^ ^{a b} Multiple winners are counted multiple times.
11. ^ Includes strikers and wingers.

[edit] References