The Football League has announced the launch of an annual awards ceremony that will champion those who have made an outstanding contribution to the success of a Football League club.

The winners of 'The Football League Awards incorporating FourFourTwo's Top 50 Football League Players' will be announced at a gala dinner at The London Hilton on Park Lane on Sunday 5 March 2006.

The Awards will acknowledge examples of excellence both on and off the pitch. In addition to categories that will name The Football League's leading players and prospects, a number of awards will go to those whose efforts often go unrecognised such as the clubs' employees and fans.

Commenting on the launch of The Football League Awards, the Chairman of The Football League, Lord Mawhinney said: "There are many examples of outstanding work being undertaken by The Football League's 72 clubs that don't receive the recognition they deserve. The Football League Awards will address this by celebrating the achievements of the unsung heroes within the industry alongside honouring the players.

"The Football League is the best attended sporting competition in Europe so a Football League focused Awards ceremony is appropriate. I look forward to The Football League Awards becoming an important date on the football calendar."

Haymarket Publishing's football magazine, FourFourTwo, has signed up as a partner and will announce their 'Top 50 Players In The Football League' at The Awards Dinner to coincide with the publication of its April edition.

The Managing Director of Haymarket Publishing Ltd, Kevin Costello said: "In recent years, FourFourTwo has invested heavily in quality Football League coverage and activity in recognition of the millions of supporters across the country. In April 2005 we led with a Football League cover for the first time. Our look at the best 50 Football League Players received a great response from FourFourTwo readers. Following that success, we discussed other ways we could work with The Football League and these exciting new awards are the result."

The Football League Awards will be judged by a panel of experts from nominations made by clubs, fans and representatives of The Football League. Clubs have been briefed on The Awards and entries will be accepted until mid-January. Details of how to nominate fans for the 'Fan of the Year Award' will be made available in the coming weeks.

All The Awards will be presented at the gala dinner which will be staged by Haymarket Events who run over 25 annual awards ceremonies such as the PR Week Awards and Media Week Awards.

The full list of The Football League Awards is as follows:

FOOTBALL AWARDS

·Championship Player of the Year*

·League 1 Player of the Year*

·League 2 Player of the Year*

·The Football League Young Player of the Year

·The Football League Top Apprentice Award (by division)

·Goal of the Year

·Most Admired Football League Club

* These awards will be made to the highest ranked player in each division in FourFourTwo's Top 50 Football League Players

INDUSTRY AWARDS

·Community Club of the Year

·Fan of the Year

·Best Club Sponsorship

·Best Club Marketing Campaign

·Best Kit - design

·Match-day Programme of the Year

·Best Club Website

·Best Ground - voted for by away fans

·Contribution To Football Award