Norwich City F.C. Player of the Season


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. 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.
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. 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". Other awards available are awarded by other bodies, namely the Capital Canaries, Norwich City Independent Supporters Association and the "Ambassador Club".
Since the inaugural award was made to Terry Allcock, eight players have won the award twice and one three times, Grant Holt in 2010, 2011 and 2012. 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, as well as Holt. Just two winners have gone on to manage the club, Dave Stringer, the 1972 winner, and double-winner Bryan Gunn.

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. 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.

List of winners

† Player currently on the playing staff of the club
SeasonLevel/TierNamePositionNationalityCapsNotes
19672DefenderInaugural winner.
19682Striker5
19692Winger
19702Defender
19712WingerSecond award.
19722DefenderWent on to manage the club, 1987–1992.
19731GoalkeeperFirst goalkeeper to win the award, and retained it the following year.
19741GoalkeeperSecond award.
19752Midfielder
19761Midfielder67
19771Midfielder67Second award.
19781Winger
19791Defender
19801DefenderNo voting for award this year
19811Striker6
19822Defender
19831Defender12
19841Goalkeeper43
19851DefenderWon the award in his first season with Norwich, who were Football League Cup winners but suffered relegation to the Second Division.
19862StrikerWon the award in his first season with Norwich, who were promoted back to the First Division as Second Division champions.
19871StrikerSecond award. His goals helped newly promoted Norwich finished fifth in the First Division.
19881Goalkeeper6
19891Midfielder
19901Defender35
19911Defender
19921Striker4
19931Goalkeeper6Second award.
19941Striker1
19951Defender
19962Defender
19972Winger
19982Defender
19992Striker15
20002Striker15Second award.
Consecutive wins for first time since 1987.
20012Goalkeeper
20022Midfielder10
20032Defender-
20042Defender
20051Striker / Winger
20062Defender34First non–British winner.
20072Striker / WingerSecond award.
20082Striker / Defender4The oldest winner at the age of 39; retired at end of season.
20092Midfielder / Winger
20103StrikerWon the award in his first season with Norwich, who sealed promotion to the Championship as League One champions.
20112StrikerSecond award for the player, whose goals helped Norwich reach the Premier League with a second successive promotion as Championship runners–up.
20121StrikerThird Award for the player, whose goals helped Norwich reach their highest league finish for 18 years.
20131Defender15First African/ Non European to win the award
20141Winger15Reserve goalkeeper Carlo Nash actually led the fan poll due to a protest vote.
20152Midfielder
20161Midfielder
20172Midfielder37
20182Midfielder
20192Striker72First winner from continental Europe
20201Goalkeeper8

Summary of wins by playing position

PositionNumber of winners
Goalkeeper7
Defender17
Midfielder9
Forward15

Summary of wins by country

Footnotes