Three Lions hotshot Ellen White voted fans' favourite.

Ellen White has been voted the Vauxhall England Women’s Player of the Year for 2011 by fans on TheFA.com.

The striker played 13 times for her country in 2011 - only vice-captain Casey Stoney appeared more - and joint-top scored, along with Rachel Yankey, with four goals. These impressive statistics earned White the majority of votes cast in our online poll, with Jill Scott in second place and Kelly Smith third.

“I’m extremely proud and really grateful,” said White on winning the award.

“It makes it more special that it’s voted for by the fans. I’m really thankful they have given me this award. It’s overwhelming really.”

Much like the winner of the men’s award, Scott Parker, White really cemented her place in the England team in 2011. She made her debut in March 2010 and it didn’t take her long to make an impression. The 22-year-old has an international goal ratio of almost one in two and she has evolved into one of her country’s key performers.

“It was a massive year for me because I got the chance to prove myself on the international stage,” reflected White.

“I sort of broke into the team properly at the beginning of last year in Cyprus. But to be selected for the World Cup squad was the pinnacle, and to get minutes on the pitch and to start games in Germany - it was a whirlwind of a year, one that I’ll never forget and winning this award just tops it off.”

White certainly played her part in Germany as she scored the opening goal in the 2-0 defeat of the eventual World Champions, Japan, but her own personal highlight of 2011 came off the field – it was receiving the phone call from National Coach Hope Powell which confirmed her inclusion in the World Cup squad.

“The call from Hope that told me I was in the squad was an amazing moment for me,” she conferred. “I was so excited I was jumping around the house and I rang my mum and dad straight away to tell them.

“Knowing that you’ve put all this hard work in and knowing you’ve been picked for your country to play at a World Cup was a massive highlight.

“I went into the World Cup quite naively, not really knowing what to expect, but I knew it was probably going to be the biggest Women’s World Cup yet. Germany did the women’s game proud and it was an unbelievable experience.

“The crowds that came to our games were 20,000+ and it was an amazing experience. Being there and being part of it was a massive deal and the fact my family came over to watch me gave me a lot of confidence and it proved to them that all the travelling was worth it!”