Sunderland's Anthony Patterson has been named as the North East Football Writers' Association's Young Player of the Year for 2022. The 22-year-old narrowly beat Middlesbrough wideman Isaiah Jones, and his own Sunderland teammate Jack Clarke, who finished second and third respectively in the poll.
It is the second year in a row that a Sunderland academy graduate has won the award, after midfielder Dan Neil was given the accolade in 2021. Patterson also follows in the footsteps of former Sunderland academy man, and now England goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, who was named young player of the year in 2016 and 2017 before joining Everton.
Patterson began 2022 on loan at National League Notts County, before being recalled to Wearside as the club coped with a Covid outbreak. He went on to establish himself as the club's regular goalkeeper for the rest of the 2021-22 season and helped the club qualify for the League One play-offs, and ultimately win promotion at Wembley, and has remained Sunderland's first-choice keeper in the Championship.
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"I'm delighted to receive such a special award," said North Shields-born Patterson. "To start last season at Notts County before winning promotion, signing a new contract and being given the number one shirt has been a whirlwind, but I've loved every minute.
"I know how special the award is, and to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Jordan Pickford is something I'm very proud of. I'm learning every time I step out onto the football pitch, and hopefully I can continue to help the team progress up the table."
Since taking charge on Wearside at the end of August, Sunderland head coach Tony Mowbray has been hugely impressed by Patterson and he predicts the youngster has a 'big future' ahead of him. He said: "It's a great story for the boy.
"Obviously, I didn't know him until four months ago. He's a very unassuming kid, he keeps himself very much to himself.
"What's fantastic is that he keeps the ball out of the net! He finds a way. He's a big-framed goalie, he's not a small, sharp, athletic-type goalie, he's big and he uses his frame fantastically well.
"He's got a good personality for a goalie as well, he's not bouncing around and full of energy all the time, he's calm, he's assured, he relaxes the back line, he just does his job. He's been amazing.
"The main thing for any goalkeeper is to keep the ball out of your net and he does that extremely well. His distribution is improving and he wants to learn on that, we're trying to bring him out of his box to spread the centre-halves, and he is doing that exceptionally well.
"As his confidence grows, I am sure he has a huge future in front of him - hopefully with this football club as we move forward, because he is a big asset."
Patterson becomes the fifth Sunderland player to win the Young Player of the Year award since its inception in 2008, with Pickford, Neil, Jack Colback, and Josh Maja, having been honoured previously. Earlier this week, Newcastle's Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes was named the NEFWA Player of the Year for 2022, while Durham's Sarah Robson was named Women's Player.
The recipients of the prestigious John Fotheringham and Bob Cass Awards, for outstanding service to North East football, will be announced in due course. The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation/NEFWA personality of the year award, which was handed to Middlesbrough-born Chris Kamara last year, will also be revealed next week.
The North East football writers also recognise the achievements of the region's non-league clubs and this year will honour Gateshead and Marske United's promotions. NEFWA secretary Colin Young added: "After another exciting year for North-East football, we've got three extremely worthy recipients of our awards.
"Bruno Guimaraes ended up being a clear winner of the main award, Anthony Patterson won the Young Player award after a brilliant 12 months with Sunderland and Sarah Robson's Women's Player of the Year comes in the week she has made her 150th appearance for Durham Women who continue to be a great footballing story. We're looking forward to our winners getting their awards at our awards night in March, which is always a real highlight of the North-East footballing calendar."
The NEFWA Awards Night, sponsored by William Hill and the FWA, will take place at the Ramside Hall Hotel and Golf Club, near Durham, on Sunday, March 5. Ticket details are available by emailing claire.stephen@ramsidehallhotel.co.uk.
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