Birmingham City and England colleagues Rachel Yankey and Karen Carney were given confidence boosters ahead of next month’s Women's Euro 2005 when they were among the major winners at The FA Women’s Football Awards.

“Shocked” was the reaction to their awards of both left winger Yankey, named the Nationwide International Player of the Year, and 17 year-old right winger Carney who took the Young Player of the Year accolade.

The most prestigious of the annual awards, the Players’ Player of the Year, was won by Arsenal and Scotland striker Julie Fleeting. And the prolific scorer, who hit 24 goals in all competitions for the Gunners, was likewise taken aback.

“I’m really surprised,” said Fleeting, “but it’s very special when you’re voted for by people you are playing against week in, week out.

“The award could have gone to any of my team mates because they’ve created so many scoring opportunities for me. So I’m accepting the award on their behalf, but I’m very grateful to everybody who voted for me.”

Fleeting, Yankey and Carney were among the recipients of 15 awards handed out at the seventh annual FA Women’s Football Awards event, held at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel on Tuesday 10 May.

England Women’s National Coach Hope Powell, FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick, FA Chairman Geoff Thompson, FA Women’s Football Committee Chairman Ray Kiddell and Sir Trevor Brooking, The FA’s Director of Football Development, were among the presentation party.

Powell, her coaching staff and playing squad produced the nominations for the International Player of the Year category and Yankey, like Fleeting, was grateful to her peers for their votes.

“It’s a great honour to be nominated by your fellow players and the management team,” said the former Arsenal and Fulham winger. “For that group of people to tell you that you’re a valued member of the squad is quite something, although I have to admit I was shocked when my name was read out.

“It’s great to get the award though, and hopefully I can follow it by being named in the England squad for the European Championship finals. We’ve done really well of late and everybody in the squad is feeling very positive and confident – and I would love to win the Championship for England.”

Carney was as dumbfounded by her award as she was when Yankey became one of her club colleagues at the start of the season. At that time the teenager’s thoughts were no further advanced than trying to establish a place in the Birmingham line-up, with England recognition at senior level not even on her radar.

But so well did she perform during the season that she not only became a Birmingham regular but also graduated via the national Under-19 side into the senior squad, becoming the youngest player to be handed a debut in the seven years that Powell has been in charge.

“When the season started I was over the moon just to be on the Birmingham subs’ bench,” said Carney. “I didn’t speak to Yanks for two and a half months because I was so in awe of her, so to be in the England squad with her and the rest of our top players for the past couple of months has been unbelievable.

“I don’t want to jinx myself by even thinking about being selected for the Euro finals, but I’ve really enjoyed being in the squad and I’ve been given loads of confidence by Hope Powell and all the players around me. I still can’t believe I’ve won this award, though. It was a real shock - but it’s fantastic!”

The annual awards are aimed at rewarding those people who have worked hard to raise the standards of the women’s game both on and off the pitch, so the annual event is an occasion for The Football Association and its Partners to recognise the efforts invested in developing the game and taking the sport to a wider audience.

The full list of 2005 winners is as follows:

PLAYERS' PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Julie Fleeting - Arsenal

NATIONWIDE INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Rachel Yankey - Birmingham City

UMBRO TOP GOALSCORERS

National Division: Trudy Williams - Bristol Rovers
With 20 goals, Trudy is the outright winner this season, for a club that finished fifth in The FA Nationwide Premier Division and the Semi Final of The FA Women’s Cup.

Northern Division: Amy McCann - Wolverhampton Wanderers

Southern Division: Emma Mead - Brighton & Hove Albion

NATIONWIDE YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Karen Carney - Birmingham City

Karen started off the season with a tough challenge to earn a regular starting place in her side. She worked hard on and off the pitch to get that First Team spot and her coaches have been raving about her club performances.

Karen is an accomplished England youth international and helped the Under-19s side come through their first round of qualifying. She impressed enough to be called-up to the Senior squad and capped off a remarkable debut with a goal in the 4-1 victory over Italy in February. She is the youngest player to have played for the England senior team under Hope Powell.

NATIONWIDE MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Vic Akers - Arsenal

The award for Manager Of The Year is voted for by the Premier League clubs and the judging panel - consisting of The FA’s Women’s committee, members of the media, football development team and Nationwide.

Vic has had a proud career in the women’s game. Vic earned the plaudits from his peers by taking his team to another level this season by competing on the European stage at the highest level and once again earning the National Division title.

NATIONWIDE CLUB OF THE YEAR AWARD

Everton

The past season has seen a huge turn-around in the performance of Everton.

Last season they was nearly relegated, but thanks to a mixture of young talent and new signings the new manager of the team has seen her side finish third in the National Division and finish runners-up in The FA Women’s Cup.


THE FA SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Gill Wallworth

This year’s winner is a volunteer who has been involved in the administration of local women’s football for over 20 years. In the 1970s she was a player for Southport Ladies and then followed in her mother’s footsteps by becoming the Club Secretary


The FA National Media Award
BBC TV Sport

The FA Regional Media Award
The Lincolnshire Echo

Club Media Award
Wolves

Club Marketing Award
Leeds United

Programme of the Year
Arsenal

Fair Play Award
Three-way tie – Cardiff City, Coventry City, Sunderland