The Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland (PFAI) and Ford announced the nominees for the 2010 PFAI Player of the Year Awards at a press briefing in Dublin. The prestigious 2010 Ford sponsored PFAI Awards will take place on Saturday, 6^th November at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin.

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Former winners Gary Twigg, 2009, (left) and Brian Shelley, 2007, (right) with PFAI General Secretary Stephen McGuinness

The nominations for the Players' Player of the Year, First Division Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Irish Overseas 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.

The Irish Overseas Players of the Year award, which debuted last year to recognise Irish players outside of the League of Ireland and was won by Robbie Keane, was also voted for by the League of Ireland players in both the premier and first divisions, with Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle; the 2008 PFAI Players' Player of the Year and current Birmingham City midfielder Keith Fahey, and Everton's Seamus Coleman the three nominated players.  

Ford are the official sponsor of the highly successful annual players' awards and 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.

Brian Shelley and Gary Twigg

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 celebrated annual awards ceremony again this year. This is our fourth year sponsoring the PFAI and their annual awards and our relationship with the PFAI allows us to exclusively reward the players.

"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.

"It is the ultimate accolade to be recognised by your fellow professionals and I would like to congratulate all of the players that have been acknowledged today," Stephen McGuinness, PFAI General Secretary, said.

PFAI PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2010 - NOMINATIONS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Padraig Amond (Sligo Rovers)

Alan Mannus (Shamrock Rovers)

Richie Ryan (Sligo Rovers)

Brian Shelley (Bohemian FC)

Gary Twigg (Shamrock Rovers)

Shaun Williams (Sporting Fingal)

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Jake Kelly (Bray Wanderers)

Paddy Madden (Bohemian FC)

Shaun Williams (Sporting Fingal)

FIRST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Graham Cummins (Cork City)

Philip Hughes (Monaghan United)

Patrick McEleney (Derry City)

REFEREE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Phil Caschera

Neil Doyle

Alan Kelly

IRISH OVERSEAS PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Seamus Coleman (Everton)

Kevin Doyle (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

Keith Fahey (Birmingham City)

PREMIER DIVISION TEAM OF THE YEAR

Alan Mannus (Shamrock Rovers)

Conor Kenna (St Patrick's Athletic)

Gavin Peers (Sligo Rovers)

Brian Shelley (Bohemian FC)

Enda Stevens (Shamrock Rovers)

James Chambers (Shamrock Rovers)

Joseph Ndo (Sligo Rovers)

Richie Ryan (Sligo Rovers

Shaun Williams (Sporting Fingal)

Gary Twigg (Shamrock Rovers)

Padraig Amond (Sligo Rovers)

FIRST DIVISION TEAM OF THE YEAR

Ger Doherty (Derry City)

Alan Carey (Waterford United)

Brian Gartland (Monaghan United)

Kevin Murray (Waterford United)

Pat Purcell (Limerick)

David Cassidy (Shelbourne)

Shane Duggan (Cork City)

James McClean (Derry City)

Patrick McEleney (Derry City)

Graham Cummins (Cork City)

Philip Hughes (Monaghan United)