THE Echo's Southend United reporter Chris Phillips has been shortlisted for a top football award.

Chris, who has written about the Shrimpers for the past 21 years, won best in non-league editorial at the Football Content Awards last year.

And he has now made the final 11 person shortlist for a second year in succession.

Confirming his nomination, the panel of judged explained: "Chris Phillips has been a stalwart of Southend United journalism at the Southend Echo for 21 years.

"His comprehensive and fair coverage of the club’s highs and lows, especially during turbulent times, has earned him significant respect.

"His work extends beyond journalism into charity, having raised over £120,000 for mental health causes.

"Chris’s dedication and influence make him a standout candidate."

The awards had more 36,000 nominations and more than 1,200 entries across 34 categories which were meticulously reviewed by a panel of 60 judges.

The winners will be determined by a 50/50 split between the expert judges and fan votes.

You can vote for Chris now on the Football Content Awards website here, Instagram or Twitter.

The results will be announced at the awards ceremony, taking place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 21.