The 2023 SFSA Fans Awards, in association with Caithness Glass.
In a year that saw our men’s team qualify for their second European championships in a row, the SFSA are delighted to announce our fan-voted award winners for 2023. Whilst the women’s side weren’t able to replicate such success, the growth of the game , particularly at club level, has been undeniable, with over 100,000 fans attending SWPL matches last season!
The overwhelming winner of the Men’s Player of the Year was Scott McTominay, who was absolutely instrumental for the national side, scoring 7 goals in our qualifying campaign for Germany 2024 which saw us amass 17 points in a challenging group. McTominay also featured for Manchester United during 2023, winning his first senior trophy in the league cup against Newcastle. Perhaps McTominay’s most impressive performance came against Spain in a 2-0 victory where he grabbed both goals. The latter of the 2 has also won the goal of the year!
This feat also saw Steve Clarke win his third Manager of the Year award after being narrowly beaten last year by Ange Postecoglou. In a run that saw his team win their first 5 games in Euro qualification, it’s hardly a surprise that Clarke won the vote by a landslide! Bring on Germany!
Erin Cuthbert made it an incredible fourth Women’s player of the year awards in a row as her Chelsea side continue to dominate the women’s game down south. In our second year awarding the Worldwide Scot of the year, which recognises success further from home, Lewis Ferguson was crowned thanks to his stunning development in Italy. Ferguson renewed his contract at Bologna in mid-2023 and has become a mainstay in the Serie A side.
As the SFSA continue to support our officials who allow our game to run, Willie Collum picked up the first ever Referee of the year award! Collum even refereed in the UEFA Champions League in 2023, demonstrating the refereeing pathway to the younger generation.
Our Fan of the Year award has gone to the ‘No to B teams’ group which challenged the Conference League proposals in the summer, resulting in the SFA scrapping the plans which would have saw 200 clubs relegated down the pyramid.
Our Grassroots club of the Year has gone to Denny Warriors! Only founded in 2020, they have helped improve physical and mental health in the community through their Warriors Premier League which supports over 500 local players.
Gordan Strachan has been selected as the Lifetime Achievement Award winner, joining the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Kenny Dalglish, thanks to his incredible career as both a player and a manager. Gordon is pictured here, being presented with his award by SFSA CEO Stuart Murphy.
The awards in full:
- Men’s Player of the Year – Scott McTominay
- Women’s Player of the Year – Erin Cuthbert
- Manager of the Year – Steve Clarke
- Worldwide Scot Award – Lewis Ferguson (Bologna)
- Referee of the Year – Willie Collum
- Goal of the Year – Scott McTominay vs Spain
- Fan of the Year – No to B teams campaign team
- Grassroots Club of the Year – Denny Warriors
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Gordon Strachan
- Special Fans Award 2024 -Dick Campbell for being Dick Campbell
Since 2016 the Scottish Football Supporters Association have run the SFSA Fans Awards, where real fans have their say on who stands out in the Scottish game, supported by Caithness Glass. Thank you, once again, to them for their assistance with this prestigious competition.
Past Winners
Player of the Year – Men
- 2022 John McGinn
- 2021 John McGinn
- 2019 John McGinn
- 2018 Andy Robertson
- 2017 Kieran Tierney
- 2016 Leigh Griffiths
Player for the Year – Women
- 2022 Erin Cuthbert
- 2021 Kim Little
- 2019 Erin Cuthbert
- 2018 Erin Cuthbert
Manager of the Year
- 2022 Ange Postecoglou
- 2021 Steve Clarke
- 2019 Neil Lennon
- 2018 Steve Clarke
Fan of the Year
- 2022 Sandy Fyfe (Jags Foundation)
- 2021 Poppy Lord (Scotland NT)
- 2020 Paul McNicoll (Dundee United)
- 2019 Colin Weir (Patrick Thistle)
- 2018 Marvyn Stewart (Dunfermline Athletic)
- 2017 Tom Feeley (Motherwell)
- 2016 Margret Ross (Dunfermline Athletic)
Travelling Support of the Year
- 2021 Tartan Army
- 2019 Motherwell
- 2018 Hibernian
- 2017 Aberdeen
- 2016 Aberdeen
Family Friendly Club of the Year
- 2021 Motherwell
- 2019 Livingston
- 2018 St. Johnstone
- 2017 St. Mirren
- 2016 Ross County
Pundit of the Year
- 2021 Ally McCoist
- 2019 Chris Sutton
- 2018 Michael Stewart
- 2017 Michael Stewart
- 2016 Chris Sutton
Writer or Blogger of the Year
- 2021 Old Firm Facts
- 2019 Old Firm Facts
- 2018 Old Firm Facts
- 2017 Tom English
- 2016 Tom English
Goal of the Year
- 2021 John McGinn (Scotland v Austria)
- 2019 Stevie Mallan (Hibernian v Heart of Midlothian)
Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2022 Rose Reilly
- 2021 Craig Brown
- 2019 Sir Kenny Dalglish
- 2018 Denis Law
- 2017 Sir Alex Ferguson
Special Achievement Award
- 2022 Fans Supporting Foodbanks & Hibs Dnipro Kids Charity
- 2021 Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal
- 2019 On the Ball
- 2018 Shelly Kerr
Community Orientated Club of the Year
- 2021 Stenhousemuir
Worldwide Scot Award
- 2022 Caroline Weir