Brighton & Hove Albion supporter, Paul Samrah has won the EA SPORTS Fan of the Year Award at the 2008 Football League Awards incorporating FourFourTwo's Top 50 Football League Players.

Paul received the award which was sponsored by EA SPORTS, at a gala dinner at The London Hilton, Park Lane on Sunday 2nd March 2008 in front of over 800 attendees from clubs, sponsors and the football industry.

Paul first rose to prominence in the mid '90s as a leading member of the Independent Supporters Association. Since then, he has spent the last decade working to help the club achieve their ambition of finding a new permanent home. Paul, chairman of the 'Falmer For All' campaign, organised petitions in support of the club's wish to build a new stadium. The club successfully received planning permission in 2007 with Paul playing a pivotal role in organising the club's political, social, moral and economic case for the new multi sports community stadium at Falmer.

On winning the award, Samrah commented: "I am absolutely delighted. This award is as much for the thousands of fans around the country who helped us in our hour of need, as it is for me."

The Fan of the Year judging panel commented "Paul has displayed personal sacrifice and dedication during a particularly difficult era for his club. This involved not just supporting the team from the terraces but galvanising other supporters and using every vehicle available to ensure his club succeeded in achieving a move to a new home that will provide a focus for both fellow supporters and the local community for generations to come."

Commenting on the 2008 Football League Awards, The Football League Chairman, Lord Mawhinney, said: "For the third consecutive year, The Football League Awards has been an enormous success. Once again, it has given us the opportunity to recognise and reward the outstanding contributions made by fans, clubs and players to the continued growth and development of league football."

The number one spot in the FourFourTwo Top 50 Football League Players went to West Bromwich Albion striker, Kevin Phillips, followed by Andy Gray of Charlton and Michael Kightly of Wolverhampton Wanderers. The full list of The Top 50 Football League Players can be found either in the April issue of FourFourTwo which is on sale now, or on the FourFourTwo website www.fourfourtwo.com.

The Football League Awards show will be aired on Sky Sports 1 on Thursday 6th March at 8pm.

To find out more about The Football League Awards please visit www.footballleagueawards.com.

EA SPORTS FIFA 08 sponsored the Football League Fan of the Year Award, for the second consecutive year. Fans are the passion and life blood behind football and rightly deserve recognition for their commitment and support for the beautiful game.