Liverpool Captain Gerrard 'Delighted' With Football Writers' Award

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard - who has been utilised this season in a supporting striker capacity, often to tremendous effect as he has scored 23 goals in all competitions so far - has revealed his "delight" in being named Footballer of the Year by England's football journalists.

He pipped PFA Player of the Year recipient Ryan Giggs, and English powerhouse striker Wayne Rooney to the title, and is the first Liverpool representative to claim the award since John Barnes received the accolade in 1990 - the last time the Reds won a league title.

"I'm delighted but I'm a little bit surprised," the 28-year-old told the club's official website. "When you look at the quality of the players there are in this league, it's a great privilege to win this kind of award.
 
"It's made even more special for me because I am following in the footsteps of Liverpool players like John Barnes, Steve Nicol and Kenny Dalglish who were heroes of mine. Then further back players like Ian Callaghan and Terry McDermott who were heroes to my dad and so many other Liverpool fans.
 
"It's not just the Manchester United players - when you look at the players the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal and other teams have got, they all have fantastic players throughout their squads now. The quality is getting better and better each year so to win this award is a great achievement for myself," he said.
 
"But I've had fantastic help along the way from everyone at this football club. My family and friends come every time I play and everything I achieve in football they are a very big part of that because they are there for me 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
 
"But the biggest thank yous have to go to the manager, the coaching staff and my team-mates."
 
He continued, "Individual awards are great but you don't win them without great help from those people."
 
Gerrard will receive the honour at a Footballer Writers' dinner at the end of the month, on May 29.

Alan Dawson, Goal.com