Southampton F.C. Player of the Season explained

Southampton Football Club is an English association football club based in Southampton, Hampshire. Founded in 1885 as St Mary's YMA, they became a professional club in 1891, and co-founded the Southern League in 1894.[1] Southampton won the Southern League championship six times between 1896 and 1904,[1] [2] and were later elected to the Football League in 1920 as co-founders of the Third Division.[2] The Saints finished as runners-up in their first season, and the following year received promotion to the Second Division as Third Division South champions.[2] The club first entered the First Division in 1966, and currently play in its modern-day counterpart, the Premier League.[2] Southampton won the FA Cup in 1976, reached the final of the League Cup in 1979 and 2017,[3] and won the League Trophy in 2010.[2] [4]

The Southampton Player of the Season award is voted for annually by the club's supporters, who send their choice of player to the Southern Daily Echo, a local newspaper.[5] Since its inception in 1973, 42 different players have won the award.[6] [7] Six of these players have received the accolade for a second time, and to date only Matt Le Tissier has won the award for a third time.[7] Four players have won in consecutive seasons, 32 winners have represented their country at international level, and one winner (Alan Ball) has gone on to become the club's manager.[6] The most recent winner of the award, for the 2022–23 season, is midfielder Roméo Lavia.[8]

In recent years, the club has also presented its own Player of the Season award, alongside other end-of-season accolades. However, no awards were presented by the club for the men's 2022-23 season as the side was relegated from the Premier League. [9] The most recent winner of the club-run Fans' Player of the Season award is Ward-Prowse, who was also named Players' Player of the Season and he also won Goal of the Season for his sensational long-range free-kick at Wolves.[9] Tino Livramento received the President's Choice Award, while Dominic Ballard won Scholar of the Year.[9] For Southampton Women, awards were given out after their 2022-23 campaign.[10] Kayla Rendell was named Fans' Player of the Season, Laura Rafferty was awarded Goal of the Season for a looping strike against Lewes that won the Saints their first ever point in the Barclays Women’s Championship.

Table key

¤Denotes divisional change due to promotion or relegation
Denotes player who is currently playing for the club
Denotes player who has won full international caps
Div 1First Division (1973–1992), Premier League (1992–)
Div 2Second Division (1973–1992), First Division (1992–2004), Championship (2004–)
Div 3Third Division (1973–1992), Second Division (1992–2004), League One (2004–)

Winners

Southern Daily Echo award

SeasonLevelPlayerPositionNationalityAppsGoalsCapsNotes
1973–74Div 1607228
1974–75Div 2¤13670
1975–76Div 2282440
1976–77Div 234927
1977–78Div 223413
1978–79Div 1¤218110
1979–80Div 116261
1980–81Div 11974
1981–82Div 18042
1982–83Div 122211
1983–84Div 127271
1984–85Div 12420
1985–86Div 1 (2)2420
1986–87Div 1358390
1987–88Div 1784
1988–89Div 1272140
1989–90Div 1540210
1990–91Div 115843
1991–92Div 12510
1992–93Div 1 (2)2510
1993–94Div 1 (2)540210
1994–95Div 1 (3)540210
1995–96Div 11050
1996–97Div 110933
1997–98Div 12230
1998–99Div 123576
1999–2000Div 17970
2000–01Div 11742
2001–02Div 115280
2002–03Div 1 (2)23576
2003–04Div 11230
2004–05Div 13316
2005–06Div 2¤4132
2006–07Div 2793
2007–08Div 22500
2008–09Div 230100
2009–10Div 3¤235117
2010–11Div 328815
2011–12Div 2¤ (2)235117
2012–13Div 1¤26115
2013–14Div 126560
2014–15Div 1 (2)28815
2015–16Div 124536
2016–17Div 125690
2017–18Div 1align=left bgcolor=#FBEC5D1470
2018–19Div 123230
2019–20Div 110046
2020–21Div 141055
2021–22Div 1 (2)41055
2022–23Div 1341
2023–24Div 2¤align=left bgcolor=#FBEC5D3620

Southampton F.C. award

SeasonLevelPlayerPositionNationalityAppsGoalsCapsNotes
2012–13Div 1¤26115
2013–14Div 126560
2014–15Div 128815
2015–16Div 1807
2016–17Div 125690
2017–18Div 1align=left bgcolor=#FBEC5D1470
2018–19Div 123230
2019–20Div 110046
2020–21Div 141055
2021–22Div 1 (2)41055
2022–23Div 1Not awarded
2023–24Div 2¤align=left bgcolor=#FBEC5D119290

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Southampton St Mary's . Football Club History Database . 27 November 2012 .
  2. Web site: Southampton . Football Club History Database . 27 November 2012 .
  3. News: Manchester United 3–2 Southampton . . 26 February 2017 . 13 May 2018 .
  4. News: Carlisle 1 - 4 Southampton . Shemilt . Stephan . . 28 March 2010 . 27 November 2012 .
  5. News: Last chance to vote for your Southampton FC Player of the Season Award 2015/16 . Leitch . Adam . . . 12 May 2016 . 12 May 2016 .
  6. News: Previous winners of the Daily Echo Southampton FC Player of the Season Award . Kerins . Dan . . . 12 May 2016 . 12 May 2016 .
  7. Web site: Player of the Year - Southampton FC . Kelly . Christian . Saints Mad . 11 May 2002 . 26 December 2012 .
  8. News: Romeo Lavia caps impressive maiden campaign with Daily Echo award . Nurick . Benjy . . 27 May 2023 . 27 May 2023 .
  9. News: 3 May 2022 . Player Awards: The winners . . 27 August 2023.
  10. Web site: Women's Fans' awards announced Southampton FC News . 2023-08-27 . www.southamptonfc.com . en-gb.