Lancashire scores at football awards

Among the winners were Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the PFA and former Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers star, who received a lifetime achievement award.

Taylor, who lives in the Ribble Valley, said: “I am absolutely shocked and surprised. People think the PFA is just about players but we have a policy that it has to be good for the game, not just for players. We are a relatively small island but we have the most number of full-time clubs and players, and the highest aggregate attendances in the world. I am very proud of that.”

Other honours for Lancashire included:

Community Scheme – Project of the Year
Highly commended – Blackburn Rovers Community Trust; Blackpool FC Community Trust

CSR Programme of the Year
Winner – Forbes Solicitors

Best Club Marketing Campaign
Winner – Preston North End

Most Innovative Non-Matchday Use of a Football Ground
Winner – UCFB/Burnley FC

npower Championship Player of the Year
Winner – Jay Rodriguez, Burnley

npower League Two Player of the Year
Winner – Andy Parrish, Morecambe

Lifetime Contribution to Northwest Football
Winner – Gordon Taylor, chief executive of Professional Footballers’ Association