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The Texaco Footballer of the Year was a Gaelic football award, created in 1958, that honoured the achievements of a footballer of outstanding excellence. The award was part of the Texaco Sportstars Awards, in which Irish sportspeople from all fields were honoured.
The award was presented annually to the Gaelic footballer considered to have performed the best over the previous year in the Football Championship . Voting for the award was undertaken by a select group of journalists from television and the print media. The award itself, standing 14 inches high, was one of the most sought-after accolades in Irish sport.[citation needed ]
This award is distinct from the All Stars Footballer of the Year , awarded by the GAA since 1995, as part of the GAA GPA All Stars Awards . Marc and Tomás Ó Sé of Kerry , and Alan and Bernard Brogan (junior) of Dublin are the only pairs of brothers to have won the award. Jack O'Shea of Kerry has won the award the most times, with four wins.
The award was discontinued in 2012 after Texaco withdrew their sponsorship.[ 1]
Recipients
Year
Player
County
Club
Notes
2011
Alan Brogan
Dublin
St Oliver Plunketts
Played half forward, succeeded his brother Bernard who won in 2010
2010
Bernard Brogan
Dublin
St Oliver Plunketts
[ 2] One of only three winners to win, despite their county not winning that year's All-Ireland.
2009
Tomás Ó Sé
Kerry
An Gaeltacht
Played right-half back
2008
Sean Cavanagh
Tyrone
Moy
Played at full forward
2007
Marc Ó Sé
Kerry
An Ghaeltacht
Corner back
2006
Kieran Donaghy
Kerry
Austin Stacks
Full Forward
2005
Stephen O'Neill
Tyrone
Clann na nGael
Full Forward
2004
Colm Cooper
Kerry
Dr Crokes
Corner Forward
2003
Peter Canavan
Tyrone
Errigal Ciarán
Full Forward
2002
Kieran McGeeney
Armagh
CLG Na Fianna
2001
Pádraic Joyce
Galway
Killererin
Full Forward
2000
Séamus Moynihan
Kerry
Glenflesk
Centre Back
1999
Trevor Giles
Meath
Skryne
Centre Forward
1998
Michael Donnellan
Galway
Dunmore McHales
Wing Forward
1997
Maurice Fitzgerald
Kerry
St. Mary's Cahirciveen
Corner Forward
1996
Martin O'Connell
Meath
St. Michaels
Wing Back
1995
Paul Curran
Dublin
Thomas Davis
Wing Back
1994
Mickey Linden
Down
Mayobridge
Corner Forward
1993
Henry Downey
Derry
Lavey
Centre Back
1992
Martin McHugh
Donegal
Kilcar
Centre Forward
1991
Colm O'Rourke
Meath
Skryne
One of only three winners to win despite their county not winning that year's All-Ireland.
1990
Shea Fahy
Cork
Nemo Rangers
1989
Teddy McCarthy
Cork
Glanmire
1988
Robbie O'Malley
Meath
St Colmcille's
1987
Brian Stafford
Meath
Kilmainhamwood
Full Forward
1986
Pat Spillane
Kerry
Templenoe
Wing Forward, second win.
1985
Jack O'Shea
Kerry
St. Mary's Cahirciveen
Midfield, fourth win.
1984
Jack O'Shea
Kerry
St. Mary's Cahirciveen
Midfield, third win.
1983
Tommy Drumm
Dublin
Whitehall Colmcilles
Centre Back
1982
Martin Furlong
Offaly
Tullamore
Goalkeeper
1981
Jack O'Shea
Kerry
St. Mary's Cahirciveen
Midfield, second win.
1980
Jack O'Shea
Kerry
St. Mary's Cahirciveen
Midfield
1979
Mikey Sheehy
Kerry
Austin Stacks
Corner Forward
1978
Pat Spillane
Kerry
Templenoe
Wing Forward
1977
Jimmy Keaveney
Dublin
St Vincents
Full Forward, second win.
1976
Jimmy Keaveney
Dublin
St Vincents
Full Forward, did not win an All-Star
1975
John O'Keeffe
Kerry
Austin Stacks
Full Back
1974
Kevin Heffernan
Dublin
St Vincents
The only person to be awarded this award while not a player but a manager.
1973
Billy Morgan
Cork
Nemo Rangers
Goalkeeper
1972
Willie Bryan
Offaly
Walsh Island
1971
Eugene Mulligan
Offaly
Rhode
1970
Tom Prendergast
Kerry
Keel
1969
Mick O'Dwyer
Kerry
Waterville
Wing Forward
1968
Seán O'Neill
Down
John Mitchel
1967
Bertie Cunningham
Meath
Ballivor
1966
Mattie McDonagh
Galway
Ballygar
1965
Martin Newell
Galway
Father Griffins
1964
Noel Tierney
Galway
Milltown
Full Back
1963
Lar Foley
Dublin
St Vincents
1962
Mick O'Connell
Kerry
Young Islanders
Midfield
1961
James McCartan, Senior
Down
Tullylish
Second win.
1960
James McCartan, Senior
Down
St Patrick's
1959
Seán Murphy
Kerry
Dingle
1958
Jim McKeever
Derry
Ballymaguigan
Inaugural winner. One of only three winners to win, despite their county not winning that year's All-Ireland.
References