Terry shares award glory with Stamford Bridge colleagues

John Terry last night dedicated his 2005 Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year Award to his Chelsea team-mates and manager. The 24-year-old Blues captain was honoured with the accolade at a gala dinner in London.

John Terry last night dedicated his 2005 Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year Award to his Chelsea team-mates and manager. The 24-year-old Blues captain was honoured with the accolade at a gala dinner in London.

Two of Terry's Stamford Bridge team-mates, Frank Lampard and goalkeeper Petr Cech, had also been shortlisted, along with 2004 winner Thierry Henry, Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and Crystal Palace striker Andrew Johnson.

But it was the England centre-back who topped the poll after developing this season into a strong leader for the west London club.

After receiving the trophy, Terry said: "It is unbelievable, and the ultimate accolade to be voted for by your fellow professionals whom you play against week-in and week-out. You just go out there and give it your best, and for them to vote for me is fantastic."

He emphasised: "I want to thank all of my team-mates, because without them this would not have happened."

Jose Mourinho had admitted he hoped Arsenal would beat Spurs, so his players would not be distracted ahead of their Champions' League tie against Liverpool and did not slip up against Bolton.

Terry reflected: "I can understand what the manager is saying, but for me, I would like to get it wrapped up as soon as possible.

"The manager has rotated players, given us days off, not trained us too hard and you can talk to him if you are feeling tired and he tells you to stay inside and be ready for Saturday."

The PFA Young Player Award went to Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney, who arrived later in the evening after playing at Old Trafford in the afternoon.

Portsmouth goalkeeper Shaka Hislop received the PFA Special Merit Award, following his continued involvement with the "Show Racism The Red Card" campaign.

"I'm very proud of the campaign, considering where we have come from," Hislop said. "But just because we have made so many steps forward over the last decade, it doesn't mean that we stop and rest on our laurels, otherwise all that hard work is in vain."

¿ Celtic striker John Hartson and Rangers midfielder Fernando Ricksen were the joint recipients of the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association's Player of the Year award.

2005 Professional Footballers' Association awards

Player of the year: John Terry (Chelsea)

Young player of the year: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd)

Premiership

¿ Team of year: Petr Cech (Chelsea); G Neville (Man Utd); J Terry (Chelsea); Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd); A Cole (Arsenal); F Lampard (Chelsea); S Gerrard (Liverpool); A Robben (Chelsea); S Wright-Phillips (Man City); Thierry Henry (Arsenal); A Johnson (C Palace)

Championship

¿ Team of year: K Davis (Ipswich); G Alexander (Preston); T Huddlestone (Derby); G Breen, G McCartney (both Sunderland); J Bullard (Wigan); S Sidwell (Reading); J Arca (Sunderland); I Idiakez (Derby); N Ellington, J Roberts (both Wigan)

League One

¿ Team of year: M Beresford (Luton); R Taylor (Tranmere); C Davies (Luton); C Coyne (Luton); W Cummings (B'mouth); S Elliott (Hull); P Merson (Walsall); A Brkovi, K Nicholls, S Howard (all Luton); L Lita (Bristol City).

League Two

¿ Team of year: Chris Weale (Yeovil), Sam Ricketts (Swansea), Adam Barrett (Southend), Andy Crosby (Scunthorpe), Michael Rose (Yeovil), Lee Johnson (Yeovil), Darren Way (Yeovil), Kevin Maher (Southend), Peter Beagrie (Scunthorpe), Phil Jevons (Yeovil), Lee Trundle (Swansea)