Judges deliberate as ScottishPower Scottish Women’s Football shortlists unveiled

An all-women panel of judges will choose the winners of the ScottishPower Scottish Women’s Football Awards after over a thousand nominations from the public.

The winners are to be announced at a ceremony on the 30th November at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

The awards celebrate success both on and off the field, from international stars like Erin Cuthbert and Christy Grimshaw to the volunteers who sometimes juggle an enormous amount to provide opportunities for women and girls to play the game they love.

Former Scotland star Gemma Fay joins a panel of SWF CEO Aileen Campbell, Shirley Martin, the Scottish FA’s Head of Girls & Women’s Football, Fiona McIntyre, SWPL managing director, Kate Cooper, St Mirren WFC head coach and chair of the SWF Championship and League One management committee and former player and ScottishPower’s Senior Corporate Affairs Manager Stephanie Todd.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager, physio and sometime bus driver Karen Mason has been shortlisted as Sunday Post Volunteer of the Year, alongside Dryburgh Athletic’s John Beatt, who has held many positions at all levels of the club, Ross County’s Glenda Scobbie, who helped found the team and Annan Athletic coach Gary Cother, who has devoted his time to the club after the loss of his wife.

Clubs shortlisted for the ScottishPower Sustainable Club of the Year include newly-crowned ScottishPower Highlands & Islands champions Ross County, Armadale Thistle, who have gone from strength to strength since linking up with the West Lothian club, Glasgow side Rossvale who have built a substantial youth pathway to their newly-promoted SWPL2 side and north east club Westdyke.

The Kat Lindner Award for Outstanding Athletic and Academic Achievement, named after the former Glasgow City player who died suddenly in 2019, honours a player who has excelled both on and off the field.

The shortlist in this category includes Celtic captain and accountant Kelly Clark, Rangers midfielder Tessel Middag whose MA included research into recognition of Women’s Football in Scotland in the 1970s and Hamilton’s Josephine Giard, who combines medical research with being an ambassador for Diabetes.

Commenting, Scottish Women’s Football CEO Aileen Campbell said: “Last year’s ScottishPower awards ceremony at Hampden was an incredible evening, marking the rapid growth and visibility of the women’s game in Scotland.

“We received more than twice as many nominations for this year’s awards, highlighting some amazing stories of success, bravery and sportswomanship, sometimes against all odds. So it’s therefore tremendously exciting to reveal the shortlists, which again showcases the best the women’s game has to offer and the women and girls who sometimes don’t even realize the power they have as role models.

“A huge thanks is due to our Principal Partner ScottishPower for backing the awards again, and to our media partners the Sunday Post and MG Alba. I can’t wait to celebrate all those shortlisted at Hampden in November, but first the judging panel has a difficult job ahead.”

ScottishPower’s Stephanie Todd, who sits on the judging panel said: “ScottishPower are incredibly proud to be again sponsoring this annual celebration of the women and girls in Scotland who play the beautiful game as Principal Partner of both Scottish Women’s Football and the SWPL.

“Looking through the nominations it’s clear there are so many unsung heroes who go above and beyond to provide opportunities for girls and women in their communities, which is exactly why ScottishPower is backing women’s football in Scotland. All of those shortlisted deserve recognition, which will make judging a real challenge indeed.”

Tickets for the event are available via Scottish Women’s Football on fanbase.

ENDS

The shortlists in full:

SundayPost Volunteer of the Year:

John Beatt (Dryburgh Athletic), Gary Cother (Annan Athletic), Karen Mason (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), Glenda Scobbie (Ross County)

Highlands and Islands Player of the Year:

Rebecca McMillan (Buckie Ladies), Bethany Sutherland (Sutherland Women), Daisy Fraser (Ross County), Keira Syrjanen (Ross County)

Youth Team of the Year:

Ross County u18s, Bayside YPL, Musselburgh Windsor YPL, Glasgow Girls U14s

Sportscotland Youth Player of the Year:

Sophie Ambrosini (Rossvale), Laura Berry (Motherwell/Rangers), Jessica Husband (Heart of Midlothian), Keira Syrjanen (Ross County)

Youth Coach of the Year:

Paul Murray (Bayside), Steven McLean (Jeanfield Swifts), Mick Docherty (Rossvale), Iain Maciver (Ross County)

SWFL Player of the Year:

Katie Hay (Armadale Ladies), Claire Hutton (Dunipace), Alex Davie (Dunfermline Athletic), Sarah Tait (Ayr United Development/Cambusdoon)

SWFL Coach of the Year:

Jamie Williamson (Armadale Thistle), Lauren Johnstone (Ayr United Development/Cambusdoon), Stuart Wood (Inverurie Locos), David Gaw (Kilwinning FA)

Barclays League One Player of the Year:

Rosie Alexander, Eva Ralston (both Stenhousemuir), Holly Ovens (Queen of the South), Katie White (Forfar Farmington)

Barclays Championship Player of the Year:

Megan Whiteford, Jemma McQuillan (both Rossvale), Clare Docherty (Ayr United), Brodie Rigby Wilson (East Fife)

Barclays Championship and League One Coach of the Year:

Julie McSherry (Rossvale), Jack Cameron (Stenhousemuir), Craig Potter (Ayr United)

SWPL1 Player of the Year:

Caitlin Hayes (Celtic), *Kirsty Howat (Rangers), Amy Gallacher (Celtic), Bayley Hutchison (Aberdeen/Heart of Midlothian),

SWPL 2 Player of the Year:

Ellie Kane (Queen’s Park), Dionne Brown (Kilmarnock), Ellie-May Cowie (St Johnstone), Kaela McDonald-Nguah (Gartcairn)

SWPL Coach of the Year:

Eva Olid (Hearts), Jo Potter (Rangers), Elena Sadiku (Celtic), Brian Graham (Partick Thistle)

International Player of the Year:

Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Claire Emslie (Angel City), Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa) Christy Grimshaw (AC Milan)

ScottishPower Sustainable Club of the Year

Rossvale, Armadale Thistle, Ross County, Westdyke

Kat Lindner Award for Outstanding Athletic and Academic Achievement:

Kelly Clark (Celtic), Tessel Middag (Rangers), Josephine Giard (Hamilton)