' REMARKABLE JOE ALLEN LEADS THE WAY '

Our runaway fans' choice to be Wales' footballer of the year - and it's not Gareth Bale

' REMARKABLE JOE ALLEN LEADS THE WAY '

Stoke City man Joe Allen leads the way with a remarkable 35% of the vote.


BY BYIAN MITCHELMORE


Tuesday 8th November 2016



Gareth Bale lit up Euro 2016 with a string of top performances but surprisingly is only third in a poll of who fans want to see named as Wales' player of the year


Fans have had their say on who they want to see crowned as Wales' player of the year for 2016. And surprisingly, it isn't Gareth Bale.

The Real Madrid star has had a sensational year for both club and country but still finds himself THIRD in oy poll of who fans think has been Chris Coleman's best player this year.

Stoke City man Joe Allen leads the way with a remarkable 35% of the vote, while Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey is in runner-up spot with 22% of the votes.

And, despite scoring three times during Wales' memorable run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 as well as netting three times in the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign already, superstar Bale is only third in the poll with 21% of the votes.


Chris Gunter (14%) and captain Ashley Williams (8%) have also been nominated for the award - with the winner being announced at the FA Wales Awards 2016 ceremony, sponsored by Vauxhall, tonight.

Gongs for best player, players' player and fans' player will be dished out, while there will also me a special media choice award among others for all the FAW teams.

Bale has landed the award five times during his career - winning the trophy for the last three years in a row.

Allen scooped the award in 2012 while Everton skipper Williams was named Wales' best player in 2009 during his time with Swansea City.


John Hartson was the first ever winner of the award which was launched in 1998 - and this year's ceremony is set to be the most hotly contested in history following Wales' exploits at Euro 2016 in the summer.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Gareth Bale has been named Wales' player of the year for the sixth time.

It is the fourth successive year the 27-year-old Real Madrid forward has won the accolade.

Stoke midfielder Joe Allen won two awards - players' and fans' player of the year - while Exeter's Ethan Ampadu, 16, was named young player of the year.

Natasha Harding was named women's player of the year, and Sophie Ingle won the women's players' and fans' player of the year awards.

Bronwen Thomas was named women's young player of the year, while Phil Baker of The New Saints won Welsh Premier League clubman of the year award.

The media choice award went to Wales and Reading defender Chris Gunter, and there was also a 'special award' from the Football Association of Wales for manager Chris Coleman, who has been nominated for Fifa's men's coach of the year.

Bale's award caps a memorable year in which he helped Wales reach the Euro 2016 semi-finals - their first at a major tournament - and won a second Champions League title with Real.

Allen also played a prominent role in Wales' historic campaign in France and was rewarded with a place in Uefa's official team of the tournament.

Four additional award were presented to mark Wales' performance at Euro 2016.

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey was named Wales' player of the tournament while Hal Robson-Kanu won the Welsh goal of the tournament award for his goal in the quarter-final against Belgium.

Defender Ben Davies goal saving block to deny Slovakia's Marek Hamsík in the opening minutes of the opening game was named the moment of the tournament.

Supporters band The Barry Horns were recognised for their outstanding contribution to fan engagement.