PFAI & FORD ANNOUNCE NOMINEES FOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2009

Nominees for new award to honour Irish Overseas Player of the Year also announced

The Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland (PFAI) and Ford, today announced the nominees for the 2009 PFAI Player of the Year Awards at a press briefing in Dublin. The prestigious 2009 Ford sponsored PFAI Awards will take place on Sunday, 15^th November at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin.

The nominations for the Players' Player of the Year, First Division Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, and Referee of the Year, along with the Premier Division and First Division teams of the Year as voted for by the League of Ireland players, were all announced.

A new award debuting this year to recognise Irish players outside of the League of Ireland, the Irish Overseas Players of the Year award, was also voted for by the League of Ireland players in both the premier and first divisions, with Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane, last year's PFAI Players' Player of the Year and current Birmingham City midfielder Keith Fahey, and Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland the three nominated players.

"It's always nice to be nominated for any award but when it's by fellow players it always makes it a bit more special," Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane said after he was informed of his nomination for the award.

"This is the first year of the award and it was voted for by the League of Ireland players in both the premier and first divisions, so this is a real honour to be recognised and one of three Irish players selected, as there are so many talented Irish players playing outside of the League. The international players have a great relationship with the PFAI and the association does great work for Irish footballers at all levels, so the introduction of this award is a great initiative and we will continue to support the PFAI and fellow players."

Ford are the official sponsor of the highly successful annual players' awards and are in year three of a four year deal. As part of the sponsorship Ford will provide the Premier Division and First Division Players' of the Year with the exclusive use of a new Ford Focus for the following year.

Mr Eddie Murphy, chief executive of Ford Ireland, congratulated all of the nominees and also the players selected on both the Premier and First Division teams of the year:

"Ford Ireland is delighted to be involved with the PFAI and their renowned annual awards ceremony again this year. This is our third year sponsoring the PFAI and their annual awards and our relationship with the PFAI allows us to exclusively reward the players, who provide the excitement and the enthusiasm that light up the League of Ireland.

"I would like to congratulate the nominees for the PFAI Players' Awards, the individuals named on the Premier and First Division teams of the season and also the Irish Overseas Player of the Year nominees, which is a novel and fitting award that recognises Irish players who ply their trade outside of the League," Mr Murphy said.

Stephen McGuinness, PFAI General Secretary, acknowledged Ford's continued support of the association. "Ford's direct involvement with the PFAI is greatly appreciated, as Ford's profile and dedication to football at all levels helps to develop the PFAI's standing in domestic football.

"Keith Fahey and David Cassidy were the lucky winners last year, and once again this year the player of the season in each Division will win a Ford Focus car for a year. It's the League of Ireland players that chose the nominees in all categories so we feel that both the PFAI Premier Division and First Division teams of the year are a true reflection of the most talented and consistent players over the course of the season.

"It is a mark of the impact that last year's winner, Keith Fahey, has had in the Premier League this season with his nomination in the first ever Irish Overseas Player of the Year Award. Keith's progress since joining Birmingham at the start of the year demonstrates the talent this League has to offer and hopefully someday players will not need to leave Ireland to fulfil their potential.

"The Premier Division team of the year is made up of players from four different clubs and another excellent season for Bohemians was recognised by the players and they have six representatives on the selection again this year. It was the most open and competitive First Division in years and the team of the year in that division is dominated by the top four clubs of Champions UCD, Sporting Fingal, Shelbourne and Waterford United.

"We are in the third year of a four deal with Ford so we are looking forward to hopefully extending the established and successful relationship over the coming years," McGuinness said.

The nominees are:

PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Jason Byrne (Bohemian FC)

Raffaele Cretaro (Sligo Rovers)

Gary Deegan (Bohemian FC)

Brian Shelley (Bohemian FC)

Chris Turner (Dundalk)

Gary Twigg (Shamrock Rovers)

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Gary Deegan (Bohemian FC)

Ronan Finn (UCD)

Conor Powell (Bohemian FC)

FIRST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Conan Byrne (Sporting Fingal)

Ronan Finn (UCD)

David McAllister (Shelbourne)

REFEREE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Alan Kelly

Rob Rogers

Richie Winter

IRISH OVERSEAS PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Keith Fahey (Birmingham City)

Stephen Ireland (Manchester City)

Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur)

PREMIER DIVISION TEAM OF THE YEAR

Brian Murphy (Bohemian FC)

Pat Sullivan (Shamrock Rovers)

Brian Shelley (Bohemian FC)

Ken Oman (Bohemian FC)

Conor Powell (Bohemian FC)

Chris Turner (Dundalk)

Gary Deegan (Bohemian FC)

Joseph Ndo (Bohemian FC)

Sean O'Connor (Shamrock Rovers)

Gary Twigg (Shamrock Rovers)

Raffaele Cretaro (Sligo Rovers)

FIRST DIVISION TEAM OF THE YEAR

Dean Delaney (Shelbourne)

Kenny Browne (Waterford United)

Alan Carey (Waterford United)

Evan McMillan (UCD)

Brian Shortall (UCD)

Shaun Williams (Sporting Fingal)

Ronan Finn (UCD)

David McAllister (Shelbourne)

Conan Byrne (Sporting Fingal)

Graham Cummins (Waterford United)

Stephen O'Flynn (Limerick)