LIVERPOOL FC WIN MOST NOMINATIONSFOR PFA PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDSBT Sport takes over as sponsor of PFA awards

Three Liverpool FC stars feature in the shortlist of six nominations for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year Award, including Captain Steven Gerrard and strikers Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.    

The nominations also include Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard, Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure and Southampton’s Adam Lallana.    

The Reds also feature prominently in the shortlisted candidates for the PFA Young Player of the Year Award, with Sturridge and Raheem Sterling nominated. Hazard is also nominated for the Young Player Award, along with Everton’s Ross Barkley, Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal and Luke Shaw of Southampton.    

BT Sport has agreed a deal to take over as the main sponsor of the prestigious Awards, which will be held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on April 27. The Awards will be hosted by Jake Humphrey and a 30-minute highlights show aired on BT Sport the next day.    

The City of Liverpool is also well represented in the women’s nominations with Liverpool Ladies having three players nominated for the Women’s Players’ Player of the Year Award in defender Lucy Bronze, striker Natasha Dowie and German midfielder Nicole Rolser. The other women in contention are goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain and central midfielder Jordan Nobbs, both of Arsenal Ladies, along with their former team-mate, midfielder Kim Little, now of Seattle Reign.    

The Women’s Young Player of the Year shortlist also includes Liverpool’s Bronze and Nobbs, of Arsenal Ladies, along with team-mate striker Danielle Carter. England forward Isobel Christiansen, of Manchester City Women, defender Alex Greenwood, of Everton Ladies, and defender Martha Harris, of Liverpool Ladies complete the nominees.    

PFA Chief Executive Gordon Taylor, OBE, said: “These Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in football and looking at this year’s nominations it is clear that this has been an incredibly competitive year.    

“Each of the six men nominated for the Players’ Award could expect to be recognised by their fellow professionals, as they have each had a superb season individually and played significant roles in the success of their clubs this year.    

“The quality of the Young Player nominations is a cause for real celebration. There are some extremely talented players coming through at the highest level of our domestic game and four of the six nominees already play for England, with Aaron Ramsey a stalwart of the Welsh national side.”    

Gavin Patterson, Chief Executive of BT Group, said: “We are delighted to extend our support for football by sponsoring the PFA Awards. This year’s winners will be joining an extremely distinguished list of previous winners. We are really pleased to show our support for male and female professional players at every level.    

“As broadcasters of the Barclays Premier League, FA Cup with Budweiser, FA Women’s Super League and the Skrill Football Conference, BT Sport is a growing part of the national game and we aim to help develop the sport and support clubs and players.”

Nominations 2013-14 Men’s Players’ PlayerSteven Gerrard           LiverpoolEden Hazard               ChelseaAdam Lallana              SouthamptonDaniel Sturridge          LiverpoolLuis Suarez                 LiverpoolYaya Toure                 Manchester City

Men’s Young PlayerRoss Barkley           EvertonEden Hazard ChelseaAaron Ramsey             ArsenalLuke Shaw                   SouthamptonRaheem Sterling          LiverpoolDaniel Sturridge           Liverpool         

Women’s Players’ PlayerLucy Bronze                  Liverpool LadiesSiobhan Chamberlain    Arsenal LadiesNatasha Dowie              Liverpool LadiesKim Little                        Seattle ReignJordan Nobbs                 Arsenal LadiesNicole Rolser                  Liverpool Ladies

Women’s Young PlayerLucy Bronze                     Liverpool LadiesDanielle Carter                  Arsenal LadiesIsobel Christiansen           Manchester City WomenAlex Greenwood               Everton LadiesMartha Harris                    Liverpool LadiesJordan Nobbs                    Arsenal Ladies

Enquiries about this news release should be made to:

George Berry, Commercial Director, PFA, on 07973 319387. E-mail GBerry@thepfa.co.uk

or

The BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369. E-mail: newsroom@bt.com

All BT news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.bt.com/newscentre

Notes to editors

About BTBT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services; and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of five lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Business, BT Consumer, BT Wholesale and Openreach.

For the year ended 31 March 2013, BT Group’s reported revenue was £18,103m with reported profit before taxation of £2,315m.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.btplc.com.