Canberra United's Lydia Williams and Sydney FC's Caitlin Foord were the big winners today at the Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) Awards presented in Brisbane.

Williams was awarded the PFA Player of the Year, as voted on by her football peers, while Foord was voted the Football Media Association’s International Women's Footballer of the Year.

For Lydia Williams it was further recognition of a remarkable 12 months for the 24 year old goalkeeper.  Since June 2011, although she started in only one World Cup match, Williams has established herself as the premier women's goalkeeper with excellent performances in the Olympic Qualifiers and the recent Westfield W-League season.

“Lydia had an outstanding year, with her form for Canberra United being instrumental in helping Canberra win the W-League."

"She was equally impressive in the Olympic qualifiers keeping Australia in the match in several key fixtures,” said PFA President Simon Colosimo.

Williams polled 59 votes to beat out Foord’s 22 and Elise Kellond?Knight’s 21.

Previous winners of the PFA women’s player award have been Sydney FC's Servet Uzunlar and Kellond-Knight.

Meanwhile Caitlin Foord became the inaugural winner of the FMA International Women's Footballer of the Year.

The period of the award covered approximately the twelve months to the end of May this year and, for the women, includes the 2011 Women’s World Cup and the Olympic qualifiers

The prodigious 17 year old was a clear media favourite in the award and yet another acknowledgement of Foord's immediate impact on the football landscape.

“It was a real breakthrough year for Caitlin,” said FMA President, Ray Gatt of The Australian.

“She won the Best Young Player at the Women’s World Cup as well as the Asian Football Confederation’s Young Player of the Year – and it was easy for FMA members to agree with that assessment."

“Her mobility, speed and timing on the tackle allows Caitlin to quell opposition attackers, but she also transitions the ball well from defence into attack.”

Other nominees for the award were Emily Van Egmond, Elise Kellond-Knight, Kyah Simon and Lydia Williams.