12 May 2010
2010 MBNA NORTHWEST FOOTBALL AWARDS LAUNCHED
One of the footballing calendar’s most prestigious events is returning to the North West this October.
The MBNA Northwest Football Awards 2010 will once again celebrate the region’s footballing talent and the commercial, marketing and professional services expertise that contributes to its teams’ successes.
More than 450 VIP guests from the football and business world are expected to attend the event, which was launched in 2007 and has become one of the highlights of the sporting season.
A panel of expert judges, including PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor, will acknowledge the outstanding achievements of the region’s football clubs, in awards to be presented at the glittering gala dinner.
Footballers, from the Premier League to the Blue Square Conference, will compete for awards chosen by the general public and a special goal of the year award will be voted for by guests on the night.
Fans can vote for their favourite players on the awards’ official website, www.northwestfootballawards.co.uk. A lifetime contribution award to North West football will also be presented on the night. Previous recipients include Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Tom Finney.
The charity and community work undertaken by the region’s football clubs will be honoured and the event will also recognise the commercial teams behind the scenes at the clubs and professional and business services that the region’s companies provide to the football industry.
Gordon Taylor, Chief Executive of the PFA and awards judge, said: “The North West has such a proud football heritage and our awards are unique in its regional focus, celebrating talent on the pitch, the great work undertaken by clubs commercially and in the community alongside the world class contribution that the area’s businesses make to the sport.
“Many of the biggest football headlines this year have been made in the North West and the awards will once again be a real celebration of talent and passion in football here.
“We look forward to welcoming footballing icons to the event and we hope we will be celebrating even more on-field successes for the North West’s teams.”
Greg Phillips, Director of Brand at MBNA, said: “North West England has a football heritage of world renown and – we all hope – a future to match! We are proud to back the North West Football Awards; they celebrate some of the best aspects of the sport in this region; one that continues to have an impact around the world.”
The awards will be raising money for its chosen charity, Breakthrough Breast Cancer. The awards were launched in 2007 and previous winners include Ryan Giggs, Fernando Torres, Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes.
The MBNA North West Football Awards take place on Monday 11 October 2010 at Lancashire County Cricket Club, Old Trafford.
