National award for Town fan Warner

IPSWICH Town supporter Warner Duff has won the EA SPORTS Fan of the Year Award at the 2009 Football League Awards incorporating FourFourTwo's Top 50 Football League Players.

Warner received the award at a gala dinner at Grosvenor House, Park Lane on Sunday evening in front of more than 800 attendees from clubs, sponsors and the football industry.

Run in conjunction with BBC Radio 5 Live, nominations for this award were invited from fans of all Football League clubs. Warner was nominated by his club's manager Jim Magilton who said: “Warner epitomises everything that is so good about a football club. His is the disabled liaison officer, but more than that, he is a friend of the players, and he's been a fan for quite a number of years.

“He's very deserving of this award, I couldn't think of anybody that deserves it more.”

Warner has worked as a volunteer with the club for the last eight years. He provides the first line liaison between supporters with disabilities and the club's ticket office. Warner works with the National Association of Disabled Supporters (NADS) by helping the club to formulate its policies regarding supporters and disabilities. He plays a vital role in the adoption of new procedures and facilities and has recently been the driving force behind the RNIB's Soccer Sight project, providing specialist match-day commentary for supporters with visual impairment. Available for both home and away matches, he spends much of his personal time helping the club.

The Fan of the Year judging panel commented: “Warner is a lifelong fan, whose selfless commitment and support has seen him not only overcome his own personal disabilities but dedicate himself to helping other Ipswich supporters in similar situations, improve their match-day experience. The judging panel feels Warner is a truly deserved winner of the EA Sports Fan of the Year title.”

Commenting on the 2009 Football League Awards, Football League Chairman, Lord Mawhinney, said: "Once again, these awards have given us the opportunity to honour those individuals whose commitment to the game, their club or local community goes beyond the call of duty.

"The fourth Football League Awards have been an enormous success, and I congratulate all the winners on their achievements."

The number one spot in the FourFourTwo Top 50 Football League Players went to Wolverhampton Wanderers' striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Matt Fryatt of Leicester City was the highest ranked League 1 player and Grant Holt of Shrewsbury Town the best from League 2.

The full list of The Top 50 Football League Players can be found either in the May issue of FourFourTwo which is on sale now, or on the FourFourTwo website www.fourfourtwo.com .