The versatile defender – Sunderland's Player of the Season for the past two campaigns – was the choice of the region's sports writers after a campaign of consistent and largely unsung effort which concluded with the Black Cats as the only North East club remaining in the Premier League.

Middlesbrough winger and Sunderland target Adam Johnson won the scribes' Young Player of the Year award.

Both players attended the celebratory dinner in their honour at the Ramside Hall near Durham last night and received their awards in front of guests including Alan Shearer, Chris Turner, Steve Harper and Collins' former team-mates Marton Fulop and Craig Gordon.

Jimmy Montgomery represented Sunderland Football Club with chairman Niall Quinn unavailable through flu.

Collins, who was transferred to Stoke City for a £4m fee in August, told the Echo: "The award means a great deal to me, as did my two Player of the Season awards.

"Anything awarded to you by people who watch you every week and rate you, has to mean a lot.

"Sports journalists are independent and objective, so for them to watch North East football over the course of the year and single me out is special.

"I loved my time at Sunderland and I did the very best I could in every game I played for the club and I don't think I let anyone down.

"Maybe that's what the award recognises."