The third annual Clydesdale Bank Premier League Awards ceremony, held to celebrate the best of the SPL on and off the field, took place on Monday 19th April at the Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow.  In total, nine awards were presented which were Manager, Player and Young Player of the Season, Goal and Save of the Season, Under 19 League Player of the Season, Best Club Media Relations, Best Community Initiative, and the SPL Family Champions.

Rangers Manager Walter Smith has been named Manager of the Season .  Walter has negotiated his team through a difficult time for the club, and taken his team to an 11 point lead at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, 1 point away from winning the title.

The Player of the Season has been awarded to Rangers captain David Weir .  David has played every minute of every SPL match for Rangers this season, and has consistently produced top-level performances for his club, playing at the heart of a defence that doesn’t give away many goals.

Dundee United striker David Goodwillie has been named Young Player of the Season .  The 21 year old has come of age this season, holding down his spot in the first team, regularly getting his name on the score sheet.

The Goal of the Season award has gone to Hibernian FC’s Anthony Stokes for his goal against Rangers at Ibrox on 24th November 2009.  The best goals of the SPL season were shortlisted, and our panel of experts decided that Stokes’ equaliser was best.  The 22 year old showed a great piece of individual skill, controlling the ball at the edge of the box using both feet before lifting the ball over Allan McGregor on the volley.

Save of the Season was performed by Celtic’s Artur Boruc , during the match against Hibernian at Easter Road on 30th August 2009.  David Wotherspoon hit a strike from 30 yards out which looked to have the keeper beaten, but at full stretch Boruc got a right hand to it and pushed it onto the far post.  Not expecting a ball to come in from there, the goalie was out of position, and with the flight of the ball coming down on him as he was back pedalling, the panel of goalkeeping experts felt it was very impressive that he got a strong hand to the ball.

The Clydesdale Bank Under 19 League Player of the Season has been won by Dale Hilson of Dundee United.  The 17 year old striker has scored 13 goals in the U19 league this season, and has made two appearances for the first team, as a substitute against Hamilton and Falkirk.

The award for Best Community Initiative was again fiercely contested, demonstrating the SPL clubs do fantastic work in their local communities.  The winner was Hibernian FC , for their Under 19 Community Engagement Initiative.  Hibs have created a way of utilising existing club resources to help the local community, by having their U19 players trained as SFA coaches and referees.  The U19s then assist in delivering coaching sessions for primary school children and a local disability football team.  This programme helps the U19 players become more rounded individuals, developing their life experience and interpersonal skills, and providing them with other football skills they can use if they do not make it in the game as a professional footballer.  Using professional players to offer coaching inspires young people and encourages participation, while building better relationships with the local community.  This initiative is an innovative way of benefitting the club, it’s players, and the local community.

Best Club Media Relations was awarded to Motherwell FC for the second successive season.

St Mirren FC are the winners of the first SPL Family Champions Award .  This initiative, run by the SPL, is aimed at improving the match day experience for families across all SPL clubs.  Mystery shoppers visited each club and reported back to the SPL and the clubs on the experience – everything from contacting the ticket office to buying a pie.  St Mirren rated highly on three key parts of the match day experience for families:  stewarding, catering and control of bad language.  These factors combined to make it an enjoyable day out for families and would encourage them to attend again as a family.

Neil Doncaster, Chief Executive, SPL said:
“I am delighted to celebrate the very best of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League tonight.  These awards not only recognise great performances on the pitch, but also celebrate the tremendous work our clubs do off the pitch in attracting families, supporting their local communities and developing young players for the future.”

A panel of Scottish football experts chose the award winners for the Manager, Player, Young Player, Goal and Save of the Season.  The Under 19 League Player of the Season was voted for by the Under 19 coaches at each of the 12 Clydesdale Bank Premier League clubs.  Submissions were invited from all clubs for Best Community Initiative with the winners chosen by a panel of representatives from both Clydesdale Bank and the Scottish Premier League.  Best Club Media Relations was voted for by Scotland’s sports media.  The SPL Family Champions award was decided by the SPL after reviewing information from the mystery shoppers.

By cbfootball.co.uk   Last updated: 20 April 2010