Vindication at last for Steven Gerrard; whose gargantuan performances this season have been rightfully rewarded, as he is named, Football Association Writers’ Footballer of the Year for 2009.

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool): 2009 F.A. Writers' Footballer of the Year

Gerrard has again been Liverpool’s star player this term with his Liverpool side pushing Manchester United every inch of the way -  the first time they have been genuine title contenders since way back in 1990. Gerrard, who is in the form of his life, has scored 23 goals already this season, and he is the first Liverpool player to win this award since John Barnes, also in 1990. 

Congratulations to Stevie G, who just pipped Manchester United pair, Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney to the award; and in the opinion of The EFP, a worthy winner. 

Stanley Matthews won the award twice: 15 years apart!

It is Europe’s oldest and most prestigious award,  one which has been running since 1948, when Sir Stanley Matthews was its inaugural winner. Sir Stan amazingly won the award some 15 years later whilst playing for Stoke City. Thierry Henry (whilst at Arsenal) is the only player to have won the award on three occasions.

Here are all the previous winners of England’s illustrious prize: 

Past Winners: Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year

1947–48 ENG  Stanley Matthews – Blackpool  
1948–49 IRE  Johnny Carey – Manchester United
1949–50 ENG  Joe Mercer – Arsenal  
1950–51 ENG  Harry Johnston – Blackpool  
1951–52 ENG  Billy Wright – Wolverhampton Wanderers  
1952–53 ENG  Nat Lofthouse – Bolton Wanderers  
1953–54 ENG  Tom Finney – Preston North End  
1954–55 ENG  Don Revie – Manchester City  
1955–56 GER  Bert Trautmann – Manchester City 
1956–57 ENG  Tom Finney – Preston North End
1957–58 NIR  Danny Blanchflower – Tottenham Hotspur  
1958–59 ENG  Syd Owen – Luton Town  
1959–60 ENG  Bill Slater – Wolverhampton Wanderers  
1960–61 NIR  Danny Blanchflower – Tottenham Hotspur  
1961–62 ENG  Jimmy Adamson – Burnley  
1962–63 ENG  Stanley Matthews – Stoke City
1963–64 ENG  Bobby Moore – West Ham United  
1964–65 SCO  Bobby Collins – Leeds United  
1965–66 ENG  Bobby Charlton – Manchester United  
1966–67 ENG  Jack Charlton – Leeds United  
1967–68 NIR  George Best – Manchester United  
1968–69 ENG  Tony Book (joint winner) – Manchester City  
1968–69 SCO  Dave Mackay (joint winner) – Derby County  
1969–70 SCO  Billy Bremner – Leeds United  
1970–71 SCO  Frank McLintock – Arsenal  
1971–72 ENG  Gordon Banks – Stoke City  
1972–73 NIR  Pat Jennings – Tottenham Hotspur
1973–74 ENG  Ian Callaghan – Liverpool  
1974–75 ENG  Alan Mullery – Fulham  
1975–76 ENG  Kevin Keegan – Liverpool  
1976–77 ENG  Emlyn Hughes – Liverpool  
1977–78 SCO  Kenny Burns – Nottingham Forest  
1978–79 SCO  Kenny Dalglish – Liverpool  
1979–80 ENG  Terry McDermott – Liverpool
1980–81 NED  Frans Thijssen – Ipswich Town  
1981–82 ENG  Steve Perryman – Tottenham Hotspur  
1982–83 SCO  Kenny Dalglish – Liverpool 
1983–84 WAL  Ian Rush – Liverpool 
1984–85 WAL  Neville Southall – Everton  
1985–86 ENG  Gary Lineker – Everton 
1986–87 ENG  Clive Allen – Tottenham Hotspur 
1987–88 ENG  John Barnes – Liverpool 
1988–89 SCO  Steve Nicol – Liverpool  
1989–90 ENG  John Barnes – Liverpool  
1990–91 SCO  Gordon Strachan – Leeds United  
1991–92 ENG  Gary Lineker – Tottenham Hotspur  
1992–93 ENG  Chris Waddle – Sheffield Wednesday  
1993–94 ENG  Alan Shearer – Blackburn Rovers  
1994–95 GER  Jürgen Klinsmann – Tottenham Hotspur  
1995–96 FRA  Eric Cantona – Manchester United  
1996–97 ITA  Gianfranco Zola – Chelsea  
1997–98 NED  Dennis Bergkamp – Arsenal 
1998–99 FRA  David Ginola Tottenham Hotspur 
1999–00 IRE    Roy Keane – Manchester United 
2000–01 ENG  Teddy Sheringham – Manchester United 
2001–02 FRA  Robert Pirès – Arsenal  
2002–03 FRA  Thierry Henry – Arsenal 
2003–04 FRA  Thierry Henry – Arsenal
2004–05 ENG  Frank Lampard – Chelsea 
2005–06 FRA  Thierry Henry – Arsenal
2006–07 POR  Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United
2007–08  POR  Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United

2008-09  ENG  Steven Gerrard – Liverpool

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