SFWA awards dinner
The SFWA hosted their 58th annual awards dinner at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central on Sunday evening.
Members, winners and guests were joined by speakers Graeme Souness and Jim Leishman as President Chick Young paid a heartfelt tribute to Ewing Grahame, who tragically died last week.
Ewing re-joined the SFWA committee earlier this season and was a driving force in the industry and for the dinner. A toast and applause were a fitting tribute to a colleague and friend who will be sorely missed.
An audience of around 500 were entertained by Souness and Leishman as the SFWA crowned their winners across several categories in recognition of their efforts for club and country over the campaign.
The most coveted prize of them all - the title of SFWA Player of the Year - was given to Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland after he finished as the top scorer in the Premiership this term.
The Player of the Year prize was first handed out to Billy McNeill in 1965 and has been won by the greatest names to ever grace our game, including John Greig, Henrik Larsson, Willie Miller and Craig Gordon.
Writing in his welcome notes, Chick said: “Welcome to the end of another season of fairytales and horror stories, but never failing entertainment.
“Plenty to write about, but tragically fewer and fewer newspaper journalists receiving a decent wage and the opportunity to do the job.
“These are trying times for the old business. And yet this organisation strides on, fighting the good fight for football journalism and celebrating the beautiful and, indeed, bonkers game in this country.
“Tonight we again chew the fat and sup in celebration and salute to our winners.
“I give thanks to our magnificent committee and our generous sponsors, and to our guests who join us for a bit of nosebagging, reminiscing and general high jinks.
“It was a tough job voting for our winners this year, the Men's International Player of the Year apart where Scot McTominay won it by the length of the A9. But we got there in the end to find a worthy winner of the original Player of the Year award in this country.
“We were handing out silver salvers when others wouldn't have known where to find a jeweller. And think on this.
“Imagine we were on the receiving end of some precious metal in Germany. Go on, Stevie. Make a nation happy - and we can close the voting for next year by the end of next month. Here's tae us, my friends. Wha's like us? We are about to find out.”
The DoubleTree by Hilton SFWA Scottish SPFL Young Player of the Year was given to David Watson of Kilmarnock after he topped a poll of members ahead of Aberdeen’s Connor Barron, Lyall Cameron of Dundee and Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller.
Watson’s boss at Rugby Park, Derek McInnes, also collected a prize after being named the William Hill SFWA Manager of the Year.
McInnes lifted this award a decade ago during his time with Aberdeen and has now been recognised for a second time after seeing off competition from Philippe Clement, Tony Docherty and John McGlynn.
Fittingly, the tribute to the man who was presented with the William Hill Lifetime Achievement Award was honoured by Ewing as he charted the life and times of Andy Roxburgh in his programme piece.
Ewing heralded Roxburgh’s ‘long and remarkable career’ in the game and the former Scotland boss was presented with a canvas print as he joined Chick to recall some of his finest moments in the dugout.
Scotland’s heroes of today were also noted for their contribution as McTominay was named the William Hill Men's International Player of the Year and Erin Cuthbert won the Women's International Player of the Year.
On the domestic front, Hibernian were rewarded for their PR approach as Adam Tomlinson collected the Nutmeg SFWA Media Relations award for the first time.
The Committee would like to thank the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central and all sponsors, speakers and guests. We look forward to welcoming you to our 59th awards dinner in May 2025.