ALAN Dalton, a journalist with The Irish Times, has been named as the National League Soccer Writer of the Year for the 1995/96 season. Dalton, a deputy sports editor, was recognised by the judges for the outstanding contribution he has made to the game here through his work with the Irish Soccer Magazine.

The leading locally produced soccer publication in the country, Irish Soccer Magazine has been edited by Dalton - who also contributes extensively to it for more than a decade, with the publication concentrating, in the main, on the National League as well as the fortunes of the Irish international side. The Hall of Fame award went to Noel Dunne of the Irish Independent.