Etherington takes KUMB writers award

Hammers midfielder Matthew Etherington has won this season's KUMB Writers Award - but only by the skin of his teeth.

The award - which goes to the player with the highest average rating from KUMB's match reports for any particular season - was won by Etherington with an average score of 6.667 (out of ten) per game.

But the margin between Etherington and runner-up David Connolly couldn't have been closer - just 3/100th's of a point separated the two, with Connolly averaging 6.664.

Third place Stephen Bywater was just as close - he came in with an average of 6.661 after replacing David James as West Ham's first choice 'keeper.

In order to qualify for selection each player must have played in at least 1/3 of West Ham's games this year. The scores were taken from a total of 97 match reports submitted from 56 games.

Last year's Award went to Joe Cole who averaged 6.80. Our congratulations go out to Matthew.

2003/04 KUMB Writers Award Results - the top ten

1. Matthew Etherington (6.67)
2. David Connolly (6.67)
3. Stephen Bywater (6.67)
4. Tomas Repka (6.57)
5. Michael Carrick (6.47)
6. Hayden Mullins (6.42)
7. Rob Lee (6.38)
8. Christian Dailly (6.21)
9. Kevin Horlock (.6.18)
10. Marlon Harewood (6.15)

2002/03 season results

1. Joe Cole (6.80)
2. Glenn Johnson (6.59)
3. Paolo Di Canio (6.50)

Please note that the polls in our annual KUMB Awards - as voted for by you, our readers - will remain open for another 48 hours.

You can add your choices by visiting the voting form.