Linfield midfielder Chris Shields has rounded off a memorable debut season at Windsor Park by being named Danske Bank Footballer of the Year.
Shields, who joined the Blues on a three year contract from Dundalk last summer, played a key role in helping the Big Two giants win a fourth straight league title.
And the 31-year-old’s polished performances - he scored seven goals in 40 appearances in all competitions - have been recognised and rewarded with the coveted annual award.
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“It’s a great honour for me to win this award and I’d like to thank the Football Writers’, NIFL and Danske Bank,” said Shields.
“This is obviously my first year at Linfield, so I’m absolutely delighted that I have been recognised in this way.
“I came here to win the league and that’s exactly what we did, but to pick up this award is a wonderful added bonus.”
Crediting Healy for giving him a new lease of life following his move to the Irish League, Shields said: “I must give a lot of credit to David Healy, who put faith in me.
“He’s a top class manager, and I’m glad I’ve been able to repay him.”
Linfield, who have now won five of the last six league titles on offer, ended the campaign a point clear of Paddy McLaughlin’s Reds at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership.
“The league was incredibly tough, with Cliftonville pushing us all the way, but I think we deserved the title,” said Shields.
Shields is the 16th Linfield player to be named footballer of the year in the 52 year history of the annual awards dating back to 1970.
He joins a list of Windsor greats including Noel Bailie, Martin McGaughey, Lindsay McKeown, George Dunlop and Glenn Ferguson who won the award three times in the 2000s.
He also follows in the footsteps of Jimmy Callacher, Joel Cooper and Shayne Lavery who won the award in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
This year’s NI Football Awards were voted for by members of the Northern Ireland Football Writers’ Association and the 12 Danske Bank Premiership managers.
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