Norwich City F.C. Player of the Season

Five men standing on a grass football pitch, wearing yellow shirts, green shorts and yellow socks.
Iwan Roberts, who won the award twice.

The Norwich City Player of the Season 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 two official Norwich City awards, 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 in 1967, nine players have won the award twice, and one, Grant Holt, has won the award three times, in 2010, 2011 and 2012.[6] Kevin Keelan was the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons, a feat since emulated by Martin Peters, Kevin Drinkell, Iwan Roberts, and Grant Holt.[7] Two winners have gone on to manage the club, Dave Stringer,[8] the 1972 winner, and double-winner Bryan Gunn.

  1. ^ "Player of the Year". canaries.co.uk. 27 April 2007. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2007.
  2. ^ Eastwood, John; Mike Davage (1986). Canary Citizens. Almeida Books. p. 107. ISBN 0-7117-2020-7. As a mark of permanent respect...
  3. ^ "Roll up for the end of the year show". The Pink 'Un. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 3 October 2007. Top honour, of course, was the Barry Butler Memorial Trophy for player of the year.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ "FLEMING HONOURED TO WIN AWARD". canaries.co.uk. 7 November 2004. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2007.
  5. ^ "HUCKS ON A HAT-TRICK". canaries.co.uk. 4 May 2007. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2007.
  6. ^ Grant Holt – My Norwich City achievements will take some time to sink in Archived 17 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Eastern Daily Press, 14 May 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  7. ^ "Player of the Season – The Barry Butler Memorial Trophy". On The Ball, City. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
  8. ^ "Dave Stringer's managerial career". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 2 January 2005. Retrieved 15 October 2007.