THE Daily Post today launches this year’s Welsh Premier’s Player of the Year award, voted for by you, the readers.

The Phil Stanley Memorial Trophy is named after the long-serving sport correspondent of the Daily Post, who covered the region’s sport scene right up to his death at the age of 58.

The annual award – presented in association with Welsh Premier sponsors Principality Building Society – gives you a chance to vote for the player you think has lit up the league this season.

Rhyl defender George Horan won last year’s inaugural trophy, and today we present this year’s shortlist, based on the nominations from all the Premier managers in North and mid Wales.

Simply choose your best player of the season from the recommendations of the managers, fill in the form and send it to us at the address below.

THE SHORTLIST

JOHN HULSE (Rhyl)

MY player of the year would be John Leah of TNS. He’s been involved in a lot of vital goals for them, and generally he’s the one who does a lot of the untidy work for them. He does a lot of hard work, but this season he’s also added a few goals. He’s unselfish and he’s the complete player for TNS. He makes them a far better side.

KEN McKENNA (TNS)

I’D have to go for Lee Hunt of Rhyl. He’s my sort of footballer, the sort of player I’d like to have in my team. He’s the player that sticks out for me because he’s hard-working, he gets stuck in and he scores a lot of goals for them.

STEVE BLEASDALE (Bangor)

I’LL go for Lee Hunt of Rhyl. He’s hard-working, he’s aggressive, tenacious, he’s got good control and he puts defenders under pressure. He never stops working and he’s a 100%-er. I’d give it to Lee Hunt, no problem.

NEVILLE POWELL (Nomads)

I’D have to go for Phil Baker at The New Saints. He’s a quality defender who reads the game very well and he is also a really good passer of the ball. TNS build from the back very well and that’s why they are so successful. He helps to set up play for them, but he is also a very solid defender.

OSIAN ROBERTS (Porthmadog)

I’LL go for Rhyl’s Conall Murtagh. He’s the best midfielder around. He’s got a bit of everything as a midfield player – he’s a hard worker, he’s solid defensively, and he’s also a creative midfield player. He creates chances for his team-mates. He’s a good, all-round midfield player – he’s the best we’ve come up against this season and he’s the best I’ve seen in any other game.

DIXIE McNEIL (DRUIDS)

NOT many people will go for a left-footer but I’ll go for Alex Hay of Rhyl. He’s the best winger in the league in my opinion. He’s got pace, he works very hard from the sides and I think he’s a very good player who could even be playing in the Football League.

Hay gave us quite a few problems when we played Rhyl – although not necessarily enough for me to nominate him!

STEVE O’SHAUGHNESSY (Car’fn)

Paul Dowridge of Welshpool would be my player of the year. Welshpool have had a really good season, the best season they’ve had for a long time, and he’s a player who does really well for them.

He never has a poor game – he gets eight of 10 every week.

He’s a very good player and he’s been so consistent for them this season.

GARETH OWEN (Airbus)

I’D go for Chris Williams of Connah’s Quay Nomads. He’s always reliable and he’s been superb this season. As a centre-half he’s got everything that’s required in this league. He’s a big, strong lad, he’s got great feet and he very rarely loses anything in the air. He’s young and athletic, and he also scores goals from set-pieces. Everyone expects TNS and Rhyl to be up there, but with all due respect Connah’s Quay weren’t expected to be up there in the top three – but they’ve done well this season and it’s because of players like Chris Williams.

MICKEY EVANS (Caersws)

IT’S got to be a TNS player and I’m going to go for an unsung hero in Tommy Holmes. He’s a player any manager would like to have in his side, and he can play equally as well at the centre of defence, full-back or in midfield. He has a very high level of consistency – all successful teams need those kinds of players and I’m sure Ken McKenna doesn’t need to tell him how important he is to the team. It’s not just this year either – in previous teams he’s played for he’s always had that high level of consistency.

TOMMI MORGAN (Welshpool)

CONALL MURTAGH has done well for Rhyl, as has John Leah at The New Saints, but I’ll go for Llanelli midfielder Craig Williams. Although Rhys Griffiths has scored a lot of goals for them, Williams has been instrumental in lots of those goals. He’s troubled lots of defenders, he’s a good, direct player, he’s got a good left foot – and he’s a good prospect because he’s still quite young

BRIAN COYNE (Aberystwyth)

SCOTT RUSCOE is playing in a TNS side which looks like it’s going to win the championship, and he’s one of their best players so he’s got to be up there. He played for me for a couple of seasons at Newtown, so I know what his capabilities are. He’s consistent week in, week out, and he’s one of the best players in the league.

DARREN RYAN (Newtown)

JOHNNY LEAH at TNS. I’ve watched him a couple of times and he’s been good against us. He’s very good on the ball, his passing is good, he can shoot and he defend as well. He just sits in that midfield, his first touch is good and he’s an all-round great player.