Jim White of the Telegraph and FWA National Executive Committee reports.
The FWA’s Student Football Writer of the Year awards have once again proven to be hugely popular. Hundreds of entries were received by the deadline of midnight on 24 April, including four that were dispatched at 11.59pm. Which, if nothing else, proves those who sent them in have the necessary journalistic chops.
Since the awards began six years ago, the standard seems to get ever higher. Some really excellent pieces of reporting and writing were submitted. And our fine panel of judges, which includes seasoned writers such as Michael Calvin, Alysson Rudd, Philippe Auclair, Jacqui Oatley and Carl Anka will have some task in narrowing the field down to a top three in each category.
Indeed, such is the level of competition, just to make it on to these longlists is some achievement. So well done to all concerned.
The shortlists will be announced next week and the winners will receive their prizes, including £1000 each, at the Footballer of the Year dinner on May 19
Longlist for the 2026 FWA Hugh McIlvanney Student Football Writer of the Year
Raff Tindale, University of Newcastle
Joseph Saunders, News Associates, London
Jake Pearce, Southampton Solent University
Louis Parry-Garnaud, University of Bristol
Mason Way, University Academy 92, Manchester
Tony Stewart, University Campus of Football Business, Wembley
Ciaran Myers, University of Sunderland
William Munt, University of Brighton
Ben Bagley, University of St Andrews
Paul Edwards, St Mary’s University, Twickenham
Longlist for the 2026 FWA Vikki Orvice Student Football Writer of the Year, in conjunction with Women in Football
Grace Laidler, University of Newcastle
Anna Fogden, University of Northampton
Evie Lisk, University of Cardiff
Olivia Morgan, St Mary’s University, Twickenham
Isabelle Martin, University of Brighton
Grace Holloway, King’s College, London
Lily-Anne Winney, University of Gloucestershire
Rachael Fay, University of Bristol
Courtney Gray, Liverpool John Moores University
Anastasia Storey, University College London
Longlist for the 2026 FWA/Kick It Out Unheard Voices Student Football Writer of the Year
Neel Shelat, Northwestern University, Qatar
Jack Silberston, Rose Bruford College, London
Maya Shah, University of Nottingham
George Townsend, University of Gloucestershire
Billy Taylor, University of Gloucestershire
Naz Islam, City St George’s College, University of London
Aryan Jolly, University Coillege, London
Ruth Ibeakanma, University of Lagos
Daniel Beltran, University of Brighton
Christopher Babaloa, University of the Arts, London
Last year’s winners Carly Lyes, Keane Handley and Dylan McLaren (Photo John Walton PA)
