In a season that has already surpassed all expectations, the news that the season's brightest find has committed himself to a future with Dale will go down as fantastic news for Dale supporters everywhere. Despite interest from the likes of Tottenham, Blackburn and Scunthorpe, Dawson has signed a new contract at Spotland keeping him at the club until the end of the 2011-12 season.

Dawson has been nothing short of a sensation for Dale this season, and whilst concerns were raised last Summer when Keith Hill didn't bring in a new central defender, all such fears were forgotten from about ten minutes into Dawson's debut at Port Vale, and we've never looked back since.

Ten goals to his name and an every present to boot, Craig has been one of the reasons why Dale currently sit top of the league and the fact that Dawson is a Dale fan makes his success all the sweeter.