Former Coventry City manager and Football and Broadcasting legend Jimmy Hill has been presented with the prestigious Contribution to League Football Award at the 2009 Football League Awards incorporating FourFourTwo's Top 50 Football League Players.
In receiving the award, Jimmy Hill said: "I am greatly honoured to accept this award from an organisation that has played such an important part in my life and throughout my career as a player, manager, chairman and broadcaster. It fills me with immense pride."
Football League Chairman Lord Mawhinney said: "During a career spanning nearly 60 years, Jimmy Hill has made a significant contribution to League football. His influence is still being felt today, in many areas of the game; after all it was Jimmy that was responsible for the introduction of three points for a win and the use of panels of pundits to comment on televised matches.
"He is much admired throughout The Football League and we are delighted to recognise his unparalleled contribution."
Jimmy received his award at a gala dinner at Grosvenor House on Park Lane on Sunday evening in front of more than 800 attendees from clubs, sponsors and the football industry.
The FourFourTwo Top 50 Football League Players were also announced at the ceremony. The number one spot went to Wolverhampton Wanderers' striker, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Matty Fryatt of Leicester City was the highest ranked League 1 representative and Grant Holt of Shrewsbury Town the highest in League 2. The full list of The Top 50 Football League Players can be found either in the May issue of FourFourTwo which is on sale now, or on the FourFourTwo website www.fourfourtwo.com.
The Football League Awards show will be aired on Sky Sports 1 on Tuesday 31st March at 6:30pm.
Winners
The full list of winners from The 2009 Football League Awards is as follows:
- EA SPORTS Fan of the Year (in association with BBC Radio 5 Live)
Warner Duff - Ipswich Town
- Family Club of the Year - League 2
Shrewsbury Town
Highly Commended - Wycombe Wanderers
- Family Club of the Year - League 1
Southend United
- Family Club of the Year - Championship
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Highly Commended - Norwich City
· Press Association Sport Best Matchday Programme
Burnley - 'Claret and You'
- Championship Manager Apprentice of the Year - Coca-Cola League 2
Matthew Phillips - Wycombe Wanderers
- Championship Manager Apprentice of the Year - Coca-Cola League 1
Tom Aldred - Carlisle United
- Championship Manager Apprentice of the Year - Coca-Cola Championship
Sean Scannell - Crystal Palace
- PFA Player In The Community
Graeme Murty - Reading
- Community Club of the Year - League 2 CSI SPORTS
Brentford
- Community Club of the Year - League 1 CSI SPORTS
Leyton Orient
Highly Commended - Brighton and Hove Albion
- Community Club of the Year - Championship CSI Sports
Charlton Athletic
- Mitre Goal of the Year (in association with Soccer AM)
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
- Perform Best Fan Marketing Campaign
Preston North End - 'Lilywhites Go Green'
Highly Commended - Huddersfield Town - 'The £100 Season Ticket
and the Centenary'
- Sky Digital Media Best Digital Communication
Milton Keynes Dons
Highly Commended - Reading
- FourFourTwo Young Player of the Year**
Fabian Delph - Leeds United
- FourFourTwo Player of the Year - Coca-Cola League 2*
Grant Holt - Shrewsbury Town
- FourFourTwo Player of the Year - Coca-Cola League 1*
Matt Fryatt - Leicester City
- FourFourTwo Player of the Year - Coca-Cola Championship*
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake - Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Contribution to League Football
Jimmy Hill OBE
*These awards will be presented to the highest ranked player in each division in FourFourTwo's Top 50 Football League Players
**This award will be presented to the highest ranked young Football League player in FourFourTwo's Top 50 Football League Players