DARLINGTON defender Craig Liddle has been named The Northern Echo's Player of the Year for 2001-02.

The inspirational captain finished ahead of all other North-East players and he has become the first winner of the title.

And the delighted Quakers defender, who finished with a season average of 7.32, said: "I'm shocked really. To get this award after a season like the one I have had is fantastic."

The 31-year-old has overcome injuries but has always bounced back in his best form.

Then, towards the end of the campaign, Liddle's future was hanging in the balance as he held crunch contract talks with chairman George Reynolds.

And he said: "I missed quite a few games before Christmas and then I picked up another injury and that was really frustrating.

"Then there was a lot of things going on, off the field, but I just had to make sure I kept playing to the best of my ability.

"When you go out onto the pitch you just have to put all your problems to one side and be professional and that's what I would like to think I did.

"But I'm surprised to get this award and I'm really pleased.

"I've obviously had to beat the players who play at a higher level so that feels quite good.

"But a few of my mates won't be very happy because they are Newcastle fans!"

The former Middlesbrough man has been linked with moves away from the club this summer, but Liddle insists he will be playing at Feethams again come August.

"I'm staying at Darlington," said Liddle. "I've got another two years on my contract left and I am more than happy to see them through."

Liddle sneaked into top-spot during the last month of the campaign with a series of superb displays. The Darlington man overtook Craig Bellamy and Gareth Southgate, who were joint favourites to lift the title.

Magpie Bellamy (7.31) and Boro's Southgate (7.21) have been battling it out for top spot for the majority of the season.

The speedy striker has been unable to boost his average because he has not played a full game for Bobby Robson's side since the derby with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, only appearing once as a substitute at Blackburn - the night the Magpies clinched their Champions League spot.

But the Welshman's fine form before that ensured that he was always a serious contender.

Southgate, meanwhile, has had an exceptional first year with Boro, following his £6m move from Aston Villa last summer.

The centre-back, who has missed just one Premiership game through injury, only had two sixes - the rest were sevens, eights and one nine.

Boro's defensive lapses against Blackburn on the second last home game of the season, when they lost 3-1 on April 20, in the end proved costly for Southgate.

The 31-year-old, currently hoping for a starting place in England's World Cup team, received a rare six and that allowed Liddle to overtake his fellow defender at the top.

Hartlepool top-scorer Gordon Watson (7.19) looked at one stage as if he was going to be rated the region's best player.

But a couple of indifferent displays from Pool's star striker in March - against Rochdale and Macclesfield - put a dent in his chances and he finished fourth.

Italian Benito Carbone actually had the highest rating of all with 7.7 after a string of fine performances while he was on loan at Boro.

But Carbone, who has returned to cash-strapped Bradford City, failed to qualify for the award because he did not play at least 20 games.

Read more about the Quakers here.