The 24-year old becomes the first ever female footballer to be nominated for the prestigious award and the nomination comes off the back of a successful year for the defender.
2015 saw Bronze have success at both a domestic and international level, finishing second in FAWSL 1 and qualification for next season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League as well as a bronze medal at the 2015 FIFA World Cup in Canada.
Speaking about the nomination, Lucy said: “We did so well at the World Cup so I was very surprised to be nominated for an individual award because there are a handful of girls that could have represented the team within this category.
“Obviously I’m delighted and humbled that it was me, but I’m happy to be representing the England girls as a whole.
“I don’t see it as me as an individual being nominated for an award, I look at it as me representing what we did in Canada and what we’ve done in the past few years and the changes we’ve made.
“I think it’s a credit to [how much the game has progressed] that there’s a Women’s player nominated for the first time. It shows that the way people are looking at our sport is changing and that is exactly what we want.”
Lucy is joined on the shortlist by athletes Jessica Ennis-Hill, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford, tennis player Andy Murray and F1’s Lewis Hamilton.
Boxer Tyson Fury, cyclists Chris Froome and Lizzie Armitstead, swimmer Adam Peaty, gymnast Max Whitlock and rugby league’s Kevin Sinfield are also nominated.
The winner will be announced on 20 December.
