Southgate wins regional award

Middlesbrough skipper Gareth Southgate has been named player of the year by the north-east Football Writers’ Association.

The 34-year-old England international fought off competition from the previous two winners, Newcastle’s Alan Shearer and Shay Given, to lift the award.

Southgate became the first Boro captain to get his hands on a major trophy when he collected the Carling Cup at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium following the Teessiders’ 2-1 victory over Bolton in the final.

“It is a tremendous honour and I accept it very much on behalf of the team because without winning the Carling Cup last season, it is unlikely I would be in the running or at the top of the list for an award such as this,” he said.

Southgate, who joined Boro in a move from Villa in July 2001, is the seventh player from the club to win the FWA prize, which will be presented at the 25th annual awards dinner at Durham’s Ramside Hall on Sunday, November 21.

All the previous winners, including the other six from Boro – Paul Merson, Juninho, Stephen Pears, Tony Mowbray, Jim Platt and David Armstrong – have been invited to attend.