Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Belfast News Letter, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. The campaign has now hit the halfway point, which means it’s time to hand out some mid-season awards. From the best player so far to the shining young star and the top-flight’s standout manager to the best goal, let’s see who takes home the win in each of our categories below.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNER: Joel Cooper Advertisement Advertisement Cooper has hit the headlines in recent days with his proposed move to Coleraine reportedly on the cusp of being completed and you can’t blame the Bannsiders for going all out to secure the 28-year-old’s services – he’s a player every Irish League club would love to have in their ranks. According to Irish League Stats Man, Cooper has scored 34 goals and provided 25 assists in 83 league matches since returning to Linfield from Oxford United in 2022, including 11 goals and seven assists so far this term. He has completed 123 successful dribbles this season – the next best is Glentoran’s Dylan Connolly on 72 and he has almost double the tally of third-placed Thomas Maguire – which is another indicator of the creative spark he has provided for David Healy’s side and his spectacular form is a big reason behind their current 11 point advantage.
Honourable mention: Joe Gormley (Cliftonville), Josh Carson (Ballymena Uni.
