Sport

SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED

By Richard Smith ⋅ February 25, 2008 ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

On February 4th 2008 the Echo Arena played host to the Liverpool Echo Sports Personality of the Year Award for the very first time. A record attendance for the ceremony witnessed Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta beat off strong competition from many suitors to land the grand prize. Close contenders included Lancashire opening batsman Paul Horton, St Helen’s hardman James Roby and Arteta’s Spanish compatriot and Liverpool revelation Fernando Torres but Arteta ultimately prevailed, much to the delight of the crowd including his on-looking manager David Moyes.

Arteta seemed suitably delighted to be joining an illustrious list of previous winners, including Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, as he displaced last year’s winner, record breaking gymnast Beth Tweddle. On winning the award Arteta had the following to say, “I just need to thank everyone in this city. It takes a long time to settle when you come from abroad, but the people have made it so much easier for me. When you have problems with the language, everyone will always help you out.” It seems fitting that a sports star showing such humility should be given the award, and these are views reinforced by the editor of the Liverpool Echo, Alastair Machray, who said that Arteta “demonstrated enormous dignity and Blue passion in the process”.

Other names to be recognised at the awards ceremony included Kenny Dalglish, Katarina Thompson and Dave Hickson. Dalglish was added to a star-studded list of names to win the Bill Shankly memorial award and few can argue against his credentials. So good he was nicknamed King Kenny during his Liverpool days and revered to such an extent that the faithful Kop still sing his name, he seems a worthy winner. Katarina Thompson was the very proud recipient of the Echo Young Sports Personality of the Year Award. The young athlete had extraordinary success in 2007; her 1.80m high jump best outdid the entirety of the under 17 category despite Thompson being only 15 herself. She also gained success in the long jump, pentathlon and 4×100m events while competing for the Liverpool Harriers. It has truly been a remarkable year for the young athlete.

Dave Hickson became only the 4th sportsman to receive a special award in the award’s 36 year history. Hickson, already cemented in Merseyside folklore after playing for all 3 football clubs, was recently taken ill, on the very same day Everton beat Sunderland 7-1 nonetheless. Less than two months after undergoing emergency open heart surgery Hickson is back on top form and a worthy beneficiary of such special recognition.

With Liverpool being the European Capital of Culture for 2008 it was imperative that the new sporting year got off to the best possible start on Merseyside, and all those in attendance agreed that the night of February 4th heralded just that. The ceremony truly set the tone for the rest of the year and, if the rest of Liverpool lives up to the expectations set by the night, 2008 could truly be a remarkable year for all those involved with sport on Merseyside. John Thompson, sports editor for the Liverpool Echo, said, “we have a range of fantastically gifted sports teams and stars throughout Merseyside and this could be one of the best years for Merseyside sport ever.” Thompson reserved special mention for golfer Nick Doherty and, unsurprisingly, heading into an Olympic year mentioned that he would not be surprised if Beth Tweddle finished the year with a host of medals.
2008 looks bright for Merseyside sport, and the city’s sporting stars will be hoping to make a name for themselves in time for next year’s awards.