[1] The award has been presented since the 1947–48 season, with the inaugural winner being Blackpool winger Stanley Matthews.
The latest winner of the award as of 2023–24 is Phil Foden of Manchester City.
The winner is selected by a vote amongst the members of the Football Writers' Association (FWA), which comprises around 400 football journalists based throughout England.
[2] The award was instigated at the suggestion of Charles Buchan, a former professional footballer turned journalist and one of the Association's founders.
On one occasion two players shared the award for a season.