Joe Allen is named as top Welsh player
Joe Allen followed his winning of the 'Welsh Player of the Year' award the previous year by being chosen as 'Welsh Player of the Year' at the Football Association of Wales annual awards dinner, recently held at the National Museum in Cardiff.
The awards, voted by journalists and broadcasters, cover the period from October 2011 to October 2012. His selection for this top award capped an incredible year and he becomes the second Pembrokeshire man to win the award, following Simon Davies, who hails originally from Solva and claimed it in 2002 and 2008.
Superb double
Allen completed a double as he was named 'Club Player of the Year' after his superb season with Swansea City in the Premiership, and his immediate impact at Anfield since moving to Liverpool in August as the most expensive Welsh player ever, with a fee believed to be in the region of £15 million.
Welsh debut and Olympic selection
Allen also established himself as a regular in the Wales midfield after making his first start in October 2011 during the reign of late manager Gary Speed - a 2-0 win over Switzerland in a Euro 2012 qualifier.
He was one of five Welshmen, along with Craig Bellamy, Ryan Giggs, Aaron Ramsey and Neil Taylor, who represented Great Britain in the Olympic football tournament. Allen played in all five matches for Team GB, who lost on penalties to South Korea in the quarter-final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
PHOTOS:
Joe Allen is named as winner . . .
. . . and steps up to the podium to receive his trophy . . .
. . . before speaking on television!