Butcher named player of the season

Last updated : 04 April 2008 By Paul Smith
Butcher narrowly beat goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington ahead of the actual awards announcement on Tuesday 29 April at Meadow Lane.

The duo are sure to be the two main candidates for the Supporters Player of the Year, last season won by Mike Edwards.

But it is the fine goalscoring exploits of Butcher from the midfield that saw him edge past Pilkington in this NCM poll.

The former Lincoln City star, signed from high-flying Peterborough United in the summer, has bagged eleven goals this season, and is far and away the
Butcher... Pointing the way to official award?
Magpies' leading scorer.

Butcher polled 38% of the votes, just 5% more than Pilkington, who has had arguably his best campaign in a Notts shirt.

He is currently injured and has seen Russell Hoult take his jersey superbly, but that aside Pilkington has had a fine season and has fully played his part in Notts' impressive defensive record.

He was in unstoppable form prior to his injury, and had been named NCM player of the month twice on the trot, particularly after a quite extraordinary save against Chester in January.

The other candidates included a shock in the form of loanee Michael Johnson. The defender has been a huge success despite only arriving in February, and polled 11% of the votes.

Adam Tann has also had two player of the month accolades and he recieved 6% of the votes while early season front runner Neil MacKenzie polled only 3% largely owing to his lack of involvement since the turn of the year.

The option 'other' had 9%.

You can now vote in another poll to determine the winner of the March player of the month. Choices include Hoult, Johnson, Tann, Mike Edwards and Paul Mayo. Vote in the yellow box on the right hand side of the homepage.