Twentyman Talks Back: 1 April 2009

By Geoff Twentyman
BBC Bristol

Rickie Lambert bagged four goals against Southend in October

Do the 'glamour' clubs and their players always seem to get the awards and recognition ahead of the less glamorous ones?

This week's Football League awards suggest they do.

The League One player-of-the-year award went to Matt Fryatt of Leicester City.

I admit his credentials are impressive - the 23-year-old has scored 23 League One goals and has 28 in total.

However Fryatt has produced the goods in a side that has been top of the table for most of the season.

Leicester have scored four goals on five occasions and Fryatt is an excellent player but surely scoring is easier in a team that is the division's dominant force.

Furthermore Leicester are a 'big' club and have greater resources and attract bigger crowds than most.

Many will feel Fryatt deserves the gong but spare a thought or two for Bristol Rovers striker Rickie Lambert and Simon Cox of Swindon Town.

It makes me think back to 1990 and playing in a Championship winning side. When the PFA named the Third Division Team of the Year there was not one Bristol Rovers player in the select XI

Geoff Twentyman, BBC Bristol

Lambert has scored 25 goals in a side that has been in the bottom half of the table for most of the campaign, he even managed four in a game against Southend.

Cox, who's just 22, has scored 25 League One goals and in all has bagged 27 this season.

This is even more remarkable as he has played in a team that has been embroiled in a relegation battle for most of the season and has generally struggled to score.

It makes me think back to 1990 and playing in a championship winning side. When the PFA named the Third Division team of the year there was not one Bristol Rovers player in the select XI, that team was even picked by our fellow professionals.

For me it was living proof that the less glamorous clubs were not recognised when it came to the end of season awards unless of course footballers know very little about football!

Geoff presents the Twentyman Talks Back football phone-in at 1900 GMT on Fridays on BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Radio Somerset. If you missed the latest programme, listen to it now.