FOOTBALL: CASEY Stoney has been named the Football Association’s international player of the year.

The England centre half, who grew up in Rayleigh, took over as the national team skipper this season and led the Great Britain team at the summer’s Olympics.

She received her award from England manager Roy Hodgson.

Stoney, 30, said: “I had a couple of names in my head that I thought would win it but my name wasn’t one of those.

“I am in even more of a shock than when I first won it in 2008, especially off the back of such an important year. “It was emotional and I was massively proud.”

Stoney, who plays for Lincoln Ladies, and Birmingham’s Rachel Unitt both also received golden caps for making 100 England appearances. Meanwhile, Basildon-born Stoney has extended her stay in Lincoln for another two years.

She turned down offers from other top clubs in England and abroad to commit herself to staying with the Imps.

She said: “This club has set itself big ambitions and I hope to help them achieve them. I am really happy to have signed a new deal with Lincoln.”