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Footballers, coaches and volunteers in women’s and girls’ football across Scotland are discovering they are up for an award, as the 2025 ScottishPower Scottish Women’s Football Awards shortlist has been published.
An all-women panel of judges will now choose the winners, announced at a glittering ceremony on the 29th November at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
As the most prominent annual celebration of women’s football at all levels in Scotland, these awards celebrate success both on and off the field, from international stars and SWPL winners to the volunteers who sometimes juggle an enormous amount to provide opportunities for women and girls to play the game they love.
SWPL winners Hibernian see both Kathleen McGovern and Eilidh Adams make the SWPL Player of the Year shortlist, joined by the league’s top scorer last season Katie Wilkinson of Rangers and Celtic’s Emma Lawton.
Hibs manager Grant Scott is up for SWPL Coach of the Year, as are former Rangers boss Jo Potter, Craig Feroz of Montrose and promoted Hamilton’s Robert Watson.
Scotland stars Erin Cuthbert, Lee Gibson, Kirsty Maclean and Caroline Weir will vie for International Player of the Year.
In a new category to recognise referees in the women’s game, Walking Football’s first referee Karin Gallacher is joined on the shortlist by Stirling University player Maura Paterson, FIFA assistant Vikki Allen and Usman Javed, who brought his newborn baby with him to the Youth Performance League Cup Final.
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 Rangers keeper and front-line firefighter Megan Cunningham, Hearts twins Erin and Jess Husband for achieving straight As in their Highers while juggling full-time football, new solicitor Kirsty McLeod who plays for Dunipace in Barclays Scottish Women’s League One and Armadale Thistle captain Megan Williamson, who attained a first class Biological Sciences degree while guiding her side to promotion to the Barclays Championship.
Former Scotland striker Jane Ross joins a judging panel chaired by SWF CEO Aileen Campbell, with 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.
Scottish Football’s Hall of Fame will also make a special women’s football induction on the night to honour someone who has played a big role in the development of the women’s game in Scotland.
Commenting, Scottish Women’s Football CEO Aileen Campbell said: “Our annual awards ceremony at Hampden is always an incredible evening, marking the rapid growth and increasing visibility of the women’s game in Scotland.
“As always, it’s very exciting to reveal the shortlist which again demonstrates the rich stories of individual bravery commitment and dedication right across our game.
“Our Principal Partner ScottishPower deserves enormous credit for backing the awards again, as do our media partner the Sunday Post for providing the coverage these women deserve. I can’t wait to celebrate all those shortlisted at Hampden in November.”
ScottishPower’s Stephanie Todd, who sits on the judging panel said: “ScottishPower are incredibly proud to once again be sponsoring this annual celebration of the women and girls in Scotland who play the beautiful game.
“There’s been so many nominations this year, one of the highest ever received, with many highlighting the unsung heroes who go above and beyond to provide real opportunities for girls and women in their communities.
“All of those shortlisted should be incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved, and they all deserve recognition, which will make the judging process harder than ever.”
Tickets for the event are available via Scottish Women’s Football on fanbase.
The full awards shortlist is as follows:
SundayPost Volunteer of the Year
Sharon Hill (Rossvale), Niomi McConnell (Easterhouse), Lisa Millar (Stewarton Annick), Adam Priest (Shetland)
SWF’s SWPL1 Player of the Year
Eilidh Adams (Hibernian), Emma Lawton (Celtic), Kathleen McGovern (Hibernian), Katie Wilkinson (Rangers)
SWF’s SWPL2 Player of the Year
Josi Giard (Hamilton), Cara Gray (Kilmarnock), Cailin Michie (Boroughmuir Thistle), Sophie Townsley (Hamilton)
ScottishPower SWPL Coach of the Year
Craig Feroz (Montrose), Jo Potter (Rangers), Grant Scott (Hibernian), Robert Watson (Hamilton)
Barclays Championship Player of the Year
Harriet Anderson (East Fife), Becky Downs (Renfrew Ladies), Teri Skivington (East Fife), Ann Taylor (Stirling University)
Barclays League One Player of the Year
Claire Hutton (Dunipace), Nikki Lavery (St Mirren), Chelsea Lowe (Bonnyrigg Rose), Khya McGurk (Armadale Thistle, now Bonnyrigg Rose)
Barclays Championship & L1 Coach of the Year
Liz Anderson (East Fife), Jamie Carter (Bonnyrigg Rose), Nile Robbins (Stirling University), Jamie Williamson (Armadale Thistle)
Alex Davie (Dunfermline Athletic), Rachel Fowler (Glenrothes Strollers), Mia Lundberg (Elgin City), Sarah Tait (Cambusdoon)
Pauline Harley (Glenrothes Strollers), Lauren Johnston (Cambusdoon), Diane Taylor (Cumbernauld United)
Highlands & Islands Player of the Year
Lori Lappin (Buckie Ladies), Rachael Sutherland (Sutherland) , Freya Leslie (Shetland), Shannon Campbell (Caithness)
Dunfermline Athletic Whites YPL, Dundee United CT 14s, Rossvale 18s, Turriff United 18s
sportscotland Youth Player of the Year
Freyah Black (Hamilton Next Gen), Natasha Franchi (Kirrie Thistle), Erin Husband Hearts), Sophia Martin (Montrose – on loan from Glasgow City)
ScottishPower Youth Coach of the Year
Garry Fraser (Melrose), Sally Hammond (Queen of the South), Raymond McGovern (Rossvale), Rachel Whillans (Wallace High School)
International Player of the Year
Erin Cuthbert, Lee Gibson, Kirsty Maclean, Caroline Weir
ScottishPower Sustainable Club of the Year
Bonnyrigg Rose, Cumbernauld United, Elgin City, Shetland Women and Girls
Kat Lindner Award for Outstanding Athletic and Academic Achievement
Megan Cunningham (Rangers), Jess and Erin Husband (Hearts), Kirsty McLeod (Dunipace), Megan Williamson (Armadale Thistle)
Scottish FA Referee of the Year
Vikki Allan, Usman Javed, Karin McKenny, Maura Paterson
Announced on the night.
