Chelsea defenders, Emma Hayes lead London Football Award nominations
By George Perry
A contingent of Chelsea’s defenders will lead the Blues’ hopes for another strong showing at the London Football Awards. Emma Hayes was nominated for Manager of the Year, the first time a ladies’ manager has been in contention.
Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen and Thibaut Courtois earned three of the top nominations for this year’s London Football Awards. Azpilicueta is up for the Premier League Player of the Year, Christensen for Young Player of the Year and Courtois for Goalkeeper of the Year. They are the only Chelsea players in either category, with Tottenham replacing the Blues as the most nominated club.
Chelsea’s Ladies are once again in a strong position to bring home trophies. Defender Millie Bright, leading scorer Fran Kirby and captain Katie Chapman are in contention for Ladies Player of the Year. Their skipper Emma Hayes is the first woman to be nominated for Manager of the Year. Hayes will vie with Roy Hodgson, Slavisa Jokanovic, Neil Harris and Mauricio Pochettino.
Last season the Blues brought home the two biggest awards as well as a lifetime achievement award. Antonio Conte won Manager of the Year, as the awards took place soon after Chelsea’s 13-game winning streak with a commanding lead atop the league. N’Golo Kante won Player of the Year, and Frank Lampard was honoured for his Outstanding Contribution to London Football.
Despite Arsenal being only a few places behind Chelsea and Tottenham in the standings – and despite the London Football Awards being founded by an Arsenal legend – the Gunners only have three nominations. Danielle Carter and Jordan Nobbs are up for Women’s Player of the Year, and Ashley Maitland-Niles for Young Player.
The London Football Awards benefit the Willow Foundation. Former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson created the foundation to honour the memory of his daughter, who died of cancer at age 31. The Foundation creates special days for seriously ill people between age 16-40.
Last year, Bob Wilson talked to The Blue Lions podcast about how Premier League players get involved with the Foundation’s special days.
"Without any doubt the players say ‘sometimes we live in this world, it’s almost a cocooned world of ours.’ They are very well-paid in the Premier League with huge salaries. I think it makes them realize how just fortunate they are as individuals to not only not have a life-threatening or life-limiting illness, but to be able to appreciate just how fortunate they are."
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The London Football Awards ceremony is on March 1, midweek between Chelsea’s games against Manchester United and Manchester City.