Town legend Frans Thijssen has been named Dutch province Gelderland's best footballer of all time.

Local newspaper Omroep Gelderland was behind the award which was selected by the public and representatives of the clubs in the central eastern province.

An online vote - in which TWTD Forum posters and Town fans on Twitter played their part - counted for 50 per cent of the outcome and the thoughts of the jury, Martin Esveld, ex-stadium announcer at Vitesse Arnhem, Jan Lamers, the archivist of De Graafschap, and Leen Looijen, who is on the supervisory board of NEC Breda, the other half.

Thijssen finished second in the online poll behind his one-time international team-mate Simon Tahamata but topped the jury’s rankings. Ex-Arsenal man Marc Overmars was second overall with Tahamata third.

The 68-year-old, who was with the Blues between 1979 and 1983 during which time he helped Sir Bobby Robson’s side to the 1981 UEFA Cup, was handed his prize by his ex-Vitesse team-mate Edward Sturing.

"Frans is the best of the list and he is the best player I have played with. And then he was already in his latter days. The ball was on a string, he had fantastic technique and good overview,” Sturing told Omroep Gelderland. "A great footballer with a fantastic career.”

Thijssen, who was aware that his fans in Ipswich were voting for him, was flattered to receive the award: “I don't like to talk about myself, I am not like Louis van Gaal and José Mourinho. But it is always nice to hear from colleagues and other people that they are very important to you.

“And nice to win this prize from Gelderland. I had a great time here at Vitesse, also with Bert Jacobs as a trainer. I once had a conversation at Feyenoord and Ajax once came to the door. But I had a lot of fun."

1. Frans Thijssen (1st with jury, 2nd in poll)
2. Marc Overmars (2nd and 4th)
3. Simon Tahamata (6th and 1st)
4. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (5th and 3rd)
5. Roy Makaay (3rd and 6th)
6. Jan Peters (4th and 7th)
7. Theo Janssen (7th and 5th)
8. Jasper Cillessen (9th and 8th)
9. Dick Schoenaker (8th and 9th)
10. Ernie Brandts (10th and 10th)
11. Pauke Meijers (11th and 11th)

Photo: Action Images

66notout added 11:00 - Jul 24 Well deserved and glad we played our part. That ‘piece of string' comment summed him up well. Great player, great guy.
4

Cakeman added 11:12 - Jul 24 and certainly one of our top five performers in my opinion. Great player and such a joy to watch.
5

CanadianBlue added 13:30 - Jul 24 "He comes from Gelderland!" "GELD-ER-LAND!"
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warksonwater added 14:21 - Jul 24 Well deserved, Fran. Seeing you on so many occasions surrounded by three or four players, and then see you emerging away from them with the ball still stuck to your feet was a pure joy to watch!
1

backwaywhen added 14:47 - Jul 24 My favourite Town player and I have a big list to choose from ... since 1968.
3

armchaircritic59 added 17:45 - Jul 24 Magic. Swear the ball was glued to his foot! My favourite Town player over all the decades i attended Portman Road! Congrats, Frans!
2

not_a_witty_name added 19:27 - Jul 24 My favourite player of all time, wish we had someone half as good as him now. I was hoping it was going to be Huws but injuries have put a stop to that.
2

dirtydingusmagee added 08:30 - Jul 25 Thijssen and Murhen ,those were the days.We have had some great players over the years. Sad to think it will never be the same again .
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TractorRoyNo1 added 08:46 - Jul 25 Obviously
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Shawsey added 09:58 - Jul 25 There are some mighty fine names on that list. Frans was always going to win with our backing.
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carlisleaway added 18:19 - Jul 25 Lucky to have watched him in the Robson Golden Years, who were we playing when Frans took the ball from near the dug out and twisted past opponents before laying off the ball for a teammate to score in the North.
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bobble added 05:29 - Jul 26 what a coincidence, i have just been voted the best footballer in my lounge room, i wonder what time the rest of the family get back ?
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itsonlyme added 13:36 - Jul 26 Wonderful player for us! Oh those really were the days!
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