Awards, Reserves and England

Last updated : 20 October 2002 By Martyn Elliott

Player of the Year
Shay Given has won the North East Football Writer’s Association Player of the Year award, with Alan Shearer in second and Craig Bellamy tying for third with smoggie Gareth Southgate.

Not a mackem in sight then.

Remarkably Shearer is still to win this award, despite being in his seventh season at St James’.

The reserves travel to Bedlington Terriers in the Northumberland Senior Cup on Monday night, kick off 7pm.

Alan Shearer has said that he misses international football (watching England this week you can see why he should still be first name on the team sheet), but isn’t about to come out of retirement.

Alan told the Journal," "I do miss international football. The time I really miss it is when you see the players standing in the tunnel and when the national anthems start playing.

"I know I could still do a job for England, but I still think I've made the right decision to retire. I don't miss all the build up and I don't miss being away so much and for so long."

Bad news for four of our youngsters though who’ve been released by the club. The four to go are Carl Bell, Aaron Labonte, Chris Moore and Tommy English.

Good luck to all four of them, as long as they don't sign for Sunderland.

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