Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association Player of the Year

The Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association Player of the Year (often called the NIFWA Player of the Year) is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in the NIFL Premiership. It is one of two association football Player of the Year awards in Northern Ireland, with the other being the Ulster Footballer of the Year award.

The award has been presented since the 1969–70 season and the winner is chosen by a vote amongst members of the association."Annual awards". Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association. Retrieved 20 August 2010. The first winner of the award was Des Dickson of Coleraine. The player to have received the award more than any other is Glenn Ferguson, who has collected the award on three occasions, the last of which was in 2006.M. Brodie (ed.), Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 2009-2010, p. 102. Belfast: Ulster Tatler Publications Two other players have won the award twice; Ivan Murray was the first in 1975 and Vinny Arkins was the most recent, in 2002.

List of winners YearPlayerNationalityClubAlso wonNotesRefs1969–70Coleraine———1970–71LinfieldUFY——1971–72ArdsUFY——1972–73Crusaders———1973–74Coleraine———1974–75 (2)Coleraine——1975–76GlentoranUFY——1976–77Glentoran———1977–78LinfieldUFY——1978–79Glenavon———1979–80LinfieldUFY——1980–81Glentoran———1981–82ColeraineUFY——1982–83Linfield———1983–84Linfield———1984–85LinfieldUFY——1985–86Linfield———1986–87 Republic of IrelandArds———1987–88GlentoranUFY——1988–89Portadown———1989–90 Republic of IrelandNewry TownUFY——1990–91GlenavonUFY——1991–92GlentoranUFY——1992–93 Republic of IrelandBangor———1993–94LinfieldUFY——1994–95CrusadersUFY——1995–96PortadownUFY——1996–97CrusadersUFY——1997–98CliftonvilleUFY——1998–99GlentoranUFY——1999–00 Republic of IrelandPortadownUFY——2000–01LinfieldUFY—"Linfield and Lennon celebrate awards". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2010.2001–02 (2) Republic of IrelandPortadown—"Weatherstone saves England C". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2010.2002–03GlentoranUFY—"Smith wins player honour". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2010.2003–04 (2)LinfieldUFY—"Blues dominate awards". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2010.2004–05Glentoran——"Glendinning wins top player award". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2010.2005–06 (3)LinfieldUFY"Linfield double at Writers' awards". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2010.2006–07LinfieldUFY—"Jeffrey and Murphy in Blues double". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2010.2007–08Linfield——"Gault picks up NI Writers award". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2010.2008–09CliftonvilleUFY—"Top boss McDonald agrees new deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2010.2009–10ColeraineUFY—"Patterson scoops top player award". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2010.2010–11Crusaders—Crusaders' Stuart Dallas earns N Ireland writers double2011–12Crusaders—Chris Morrow and David Jeffrey pick up NI Writers' awards2012–13CliftonvilleUFY—Liam Boyce wins Football Writers Player of the Year award2013–14CliftonvilleUFY—Cliftonville striker Gormley wins writers player of year award2014–15CrusadersUFY—It's treble joy for the Crusaders at Northern Ireland Football Writers' Awards2015–16CrusadersUFY—Crusaders pair Baxter and Burns win top awards2016–17LinfieldUFY—BBC2017–18CrusadersUFY—BBC2018–19LinfieldUFY——2019–20Joel CooperLinfield—2020–21Shayne LaveryLinfieldUFY—2021–22Chris Shields Republic of IrelandLinfieldUFY—2022–23Leroy Millar Northern IrelandLarneUFY—2023–24Kyle McClean Northern IrelandLinfieldUFY—2024–25Joel Cooper (2)LinfieldUFY—2025–26Matt RidleyLarne——

Wins by player (multiple) PlayerTotalYears 32001, 2004, 2006 Ivan Murray21974, 1975 22000, 2002 22020, 2025

Wins by country ClubPlayersTotal4348 Republic of Ireland561111

Wins by club ClubPlayersTotalLinfield1720Crusaders88Glentoran88Coleraine45Cliftonville44Portadown34Ards22Glenavon22Larne22Bangor11Newry Town11

Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association Player of the Year

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