REAL Madrid star Gareth Bale has been voted Football Association of Wales player of the year for a record fourth time.

Bale overtakes both Mark Hughes and John Hartson who each won the award three times.

The 25-year-old star retained the trophy at the FAW awards dinner at Cardiff’s St David’s Hotel and has now won it four times in the past five years.

The award caps an amazing 12 months for Bale, which saw him win the Champions League, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Super Cup in Cardiff.

Consistently his performances for Wales have caught the eye. He scored both goals in the opening UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier in Andorra last month and has now netted ten times in his last 11 internationals.

Bale also picked up the Vauxhall fans player of the year trophy for the fourth year in succession, while three more of the main awards were retained by last year’s winners.

Ben Davies took the Young Player of the Year award, having now made a big money move to Spurs.

Davies’ former Swansea team-mate Ashley Williams was again rewarded for his sterling performances for the Liberty Stadium club by winning the club player of the year award for the fourth year on the trot.

And Jess Fishlock also retained her crown as women’s player of the year for the fourth time in succession. The Wales women’s captain, now with Frankfurt, came so close to leading Wales into at least a World Cup play-off match last month.

The women’s young player of the year went to Angharad James, last year’s club player of the year.

Michelle Green, who made her Wales debut in 2001, was rewarded with the women’s club payer of the year.

The Cardiff City player is now the most capped Wales player of all time, her 95 caps overtaking Neville Southall’s 92 for the men’s team.

Another long serving player, New Saints midfielder Scott Ruscoe, was named Welsh Premier clubman of the year.

Ruscoe has made over 250 appearances for the club since joining them 14 years ago.

Two FAW long service awards were made, with former Wales skipper Kevin Ratcliffe taking the accolade for the men’s game, while Swansea City Ladies secretary Julie Lowe won the women’s award.

A special award was also made to Jarmo Matikainen, the outgoing national women’s team manager.