Soccer:Scott Parker admitted he was "staggered" to collect the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year Award tonight, but admitted he would change the best season of his career to have West Ham survive in the Premier League.
In what was one of the closest contests of recent seasons, Parker topped the poll of journalists ahead of Tottenham defender Gareth Bale, the PFA Player of the Year.
The England international — who started his career at Charlton before spells with Chelsea and Newcastle ahead of joining the Irons in 2007 — was guest of honour as he collected the prestigious accolade, which has been running since 1948.
Parker, 30, is the first Hammer since England World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore in 1964 to receive the FWA award, and the midfielder admitted it was a moving occasion.
“It feels pretty amazing. When I first got the call to say I had won the award, you can imagine all of the emotions into one, exciting and shock,” said Parker, who hopes to return from an Achilles injury to help the Irons battle to avoid the drop in a relegation six-pointer at Wigan this weekend. “I am staggered I have won and am very, very proud.
“This is a massive thing, when you look back at the people who have won this award in the past, especially someone like the great Bobby Moore, to think my name will be along side them is pretty special for me.
Parker, though, added: “At the end of the day, I am in a team sport and ultimately I’m not doing it by myself. I could change all this for me to stay up and be involved in a successful team.
“I would not want to be involved in a team which went down, along with all the rest of the squad, so hopefully we can get some results before the end of the season and other results go our way, so we can get out it.”
Parker signed a new five-year contract in September 2010, making him the highest-paid player in the club’s history. However, the midfielder’s future is unclear after West Ham co-owner David Gold revealed last week he would let the club’s England internationals leave if they are relegated — with Avram Grant’s men four points adrift of safety with just two matches left.
While Parker only wants to focus on the next two matches, he admits prospect of life in the npower Championship could see him move on to pastures new.
“We are not in a good position and it is not a nice place to be, so it is very difficult,” he said. “Everything is uncertain, but we need to focus on Wigan and get three points there, then we can still be in a shout when we play Sunderland.”
