SFWA Young Player of the Year

The Scottish Football Writers' Association Young Player of the Year (often called the SFWA Young Player of the Year, or simply the Scottish Young Player of the Year) award is given to the footballer in the Scottish football league system, who is seen to have been the best young (under 23) player of the previous season. The shortlist is compiled by the members of the Scottish Football Writers' Association (the SFWA), who also vote for the winner. The prize is seen as the highest awarded to a young player as it names the "Young Player of the Year"; the footballer who is seen to have been the best young player over the previous season. The award was first made in 2002, and was won by Motherwell forward James McFadden.

List of winners

Season Player Club
2001–02 Scotland James McFadden Motherwell
2002–03 Georgia (country) Zurab Khizanishvili Dundee
2003–04 Scotland Craig Gordon Heart of Midlothian
2004–05 Scotland Derek Riordan Hibernian
2005–06 Scotland Steven Naismith[1] Kilmarnock
2006–07 Scotland Scott Brown Hibernian
2007–08 Scotland Steven Fletcher[2] Hibernian
2008–09 Scotland Steven Fletcher[2] Hibernian
2009–10 Scotland Danny Wilson Rangers
2010–11 Scotland David Goodwillie[3] Dundee United
2011–12 Scotland James Forrest[4] Celtic
2012–13 Scotland Stuart Armstrong[5] Dundee United
2013–14 Scotland Stevie May[6] St. Johnstone

Breakdown of winners

Winners by club

Club Number of wins Winning seasons
Hibernian 4 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
Dundee United 2 2010–11, 2012–13
St. Johnstone 1 2013–14
Celtic 1 2011–12
Rangers 1 2009–10
Kilmarnock 1 2005–06
Heart of Midlothian 1 2003–04
Dundee 1 2002–03
Motherwell 1 2001–02

Winners by country

Country Number of wins Winning seasons
Scotland Scotland 12 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14
 Georgia 1 2002–03

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Naismith young player of the year". BBC Sport. 14 April 2006. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Ace Fletcher doubles up young player accolade". Edinburgh Evening News. 16 May 2009.
  3. ↑ "More awards for Izaguirre, Goodwillie and Paatelainen". BBC Sport. 15 May 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  4. ↑ "Neil Lennon hails Celtic duo James Forrest and Charlie Mulgrew after pair pick up awards". BBC Sport. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  5. ↑ "Young Player of the Year Stuart Armstrong looks push on at Tannadice". Daily Record (Trinity Mirror). 18 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  6. ↑ Forsyth, Roddy (6 May 2014). "Rangers' former manager Alex McLeish calls for Dave King peace deal". Daily Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). Retrieved 7 May 2014.