Shortlist revealed for North West Football of the Year
Fleetwood Town defenders Conor McLaughlin and Danny Andrew have both been shortlisted for the North West's Footballer of the Year award.McLaughlin will be up against Bury's Danny Mayor and Rochdale's Ian Henderson for the League Two award, while Andrew will face competition from Barrow's Andy Burns and Southport's Luke George for the Conference award.
Four of the Premier League's leading stars are now in the shortlist to win one of the top prizes at the MBNA Northwest Football Awards.
And speculation is mounting across all divisions to discover the recipients of the 2013-2014 Player of the Year honours.
All will be revealed on November 18 when the North West football family makes its annual trip to the Point, Emirates Old Trafford for the climax to more than three months of voting and judging in a wide ranging list of categories.
Invariably, the Player of the Year awards are always full of intrigue and this year will be no different. Will Raheem Sterling complete a hat-trick of Liverpool wins after successes for Martin Skrtel and Jamie Carragher?
Just as importantly will he be too tired to collect his trophy if deemed the eventual winner!?
England star Sterling is up against formidable opposition including Manchester City's reigning African Player of the Year, Yaya Toure, Everton's influential dynamo, Seamus Coleman and Manchester United's Spanish goalkeeper, David de Gea.
Bolton skipper Jay Spearing was the recipient of last season's Championship top award so the pressure is on American international,to keep the trophy at the Macron Stadium.
Danny Ings' goals played a major part in Burnley's elevation to the Premier League and he's shooting for top honours in this category together with fellow marksman, Jordan Rhodes of Blackburn Rovers.) and James McArthur (now Crystal Palace but formerly of Wigan) are also in the running.
There are three players on the shortlists in League One and Two and three hoping to be crowned Conference Player of the Year.
Three of England's finest stars are neck and neck to become MBNA Northwest, Female Player of the Year: Fara Williams (Liverpool), Nikita Parris (Everton) and Steph Houghton of recently crowned Continental Cup champions, Manchester City.
Over 20,000 football fans throughout the region have now cast their votes to decide which of the players will be honoured. And now the final count down begins.
Voting officially ended at the start of the week following an extension of the deadline by organisers, Journey9, keen to ensure as many people could play their part in one of the showpiece football events of the year.
For a full run down of players, shortlists and all other Award categories see below.
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