Richie Towell named SWAI personality of the year 2015

Richie Towell has been named as the Airtricity/Soccer Writers Association of Ireland Personality of the Year for 2015 with the now Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder beating off competition from a shortlist of contenders that included last year's winner, his former manager at Dundalk, Stephen Kenny, and former teammate, Daryl Horgan.

Towell, who made a habit of picking up Player of the Month awards through last season as he helped the club to the double with 29 goals in all competitions from midfield, was unable to attend the association's awards as he becomes eligible for the first time to feature for Brighton as Chris Hughton's side travels to Hull City for a third round FA Cup tie but the 24 year-old expressed his delight at being the first player since Owen Heary in 2008 to receive the prize.

“I’m sorry I can’t be there tonight but we have a really important game tomorrow,” he said in a video recorded this week in England. “I’d like to thank, first of all, the Soccer Writers who voted for me and also I’d like to thank the backroom staff at Dundalk and all the players because without them I wouldn’t have been able to win the award. I’m very honoured to have won.

As for his early days at Brighton, he said: “I signed a few weeks ago, so it’s been frustrating not being able to pay. Being at training with the lads has been great but nothing compares to playing competitive football, and that’s what I’m here to do.

“I just need to get into the team, take my chance whenever I get it, and be ready for the busy schedule in the Championship. There are a lot of games coming up thick and fast, so I just need to take my chance when it comes.”

With Hughton expected to rest a couple of players after a dip in the side’s league form recently and with a couple of regulars out injured, Towell may well get to make his debut at some stage over the course of the cup game.

Another Dundalk player, Gary Rogers, was named as the goalkeeper of the year while former internationals Arthur Fitzsimons, Damien Duff and Johnny Fullam - the former Preston, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians wing-half - who passed away in June of last year, were amongst the others honoured over the course of the night.