Barnes Wins By a Huge Margin

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 17/04/2008

GRIMSBY'S undisputed No. 1 Phil Barnes has won the Fishy's Player of the Season award by a huge margin. Barnes polled 132 votes, with Danny North coming second with just 16!

Town's keeper has shown an amazing turnaround in form from last season, and has had an outstanding year. Before Alan Buckley came to the club Barnes was regarded by many fans as something of a liability. But in the second half of last season, under Buckley's coaching, Barnes began to improve. Alan Buckley's signing of a second 'keeper - and serious competition for Barnes - in the summer in the form of Gary Montgomery seemed to be the final piece in the jigsaw. The transition to a match winner was completed.

Barnes has had many outstanding games this season and was instrumental in getting Grimsby to Wembley, making a number of outstanding games (especially against Morecambe) to ensure the Mariners reached the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

With one year left on his contract, and Gary Montgomery at the club too, Town should be well served in the goalkeeping department next season.

The award will be presented to Barnes by one of the Fishy's readers on Awards Night on May 6th.

Barnes is the second goalkeeper to win the award after Danny Coyne picked up the first ever trophy in 2002. Previous Winners

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