BLACKBURN Rovers Disabled Supporters Club have voted Damien Duff their player of the year.

The Irish wing-wizard has been in scintillating form this season, despite the fact the team have struggled to adapt to the rigours of the Nationwide League.

Duff was handed his award at a special presentation night at Ewood recently, which was also attended by manager Graeme Souness.

Meanwhile, Duff can cement his place as the top attacking midfielder in the Nationwide League with another super show against Manchester City tomorrow.

The Republic of Ireland international is currently top of the heap according to statistic experts Carling Opta.

But a match-winning display from City's own Irish international Mark Kennedy could see him pipped at the post.

Duff has a top rating of 1,006 going into the clash, compared to Kennedy's score of 969 which sees him in fourth.

But Kennedy is head and shoulders above his competitors in a host of other categories.

The former Millwall whizz-kid -- who has been the inspiration behind City's promotion push -- is currently the player with the most dribbles and runs, the most crosses and corners, and the most goal assists.

Rovers do have two players who should finish the season in the top three of two other categories, however.

Per Frandsen is currently second behind Mark Kinsella in regard to players making the most tackles.

And Christian Dailly's impressive form recently is shown in his standing among the players making the most clearances.

THE sad passing away of Peter White did not hit me fully until I went down to Ewood on Wednesday evening to watch Rovers reserves play Everton.

Somehow, the ground just did not seem the same without him there, sharing a joke with a club official or standing by the dressing rooms waiting to collar a player.

For over 20 years, Pete had been an institution at the club and part of its very fabric.

He was also a great inspiration to me and a mentor.

His incessant thirst for accuracy and perfection put the rest of us to shame.

I lost count of the amount of times he pulled me up over a spelling or a piece of a bad grammar.

But you always knew he was doing it in your best interests.

And if you ever needed any advice on how to tackle a problem then he was always there with the right solution.

The thing I will miss most, however, is that razor sharp wit and satirical insight which used to brighten up my day.

Ewood Park will clearly never be the same again without Pete patrolling the corridors -- and neither will our office.

He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.

Thank you for the memories.