SFL awards: Ally McCoist joy but Queens steal show
The Doonhamers picked up awards at player, manager and club level and it was no surprise that their player/manager Allan Johnston saw off the challenge of newly-promoted Alloa’s Paul Hartley to be selected as the Second Division Manager of the Year.
Striker Nicky Clark, who scored 41 goals as the Palmerston side won the title with a record points total, was the runaway winner as the Second Division Player of the Season, with the Ibrox transfer target also picking up an award for being the top goalscorer in the SFL.
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Hide AdQueens were also recognised at the other end of the park with Lee Robinson being selected as the Goalkeeper of the Season.
Johnston, Clark and Robinson and the rest of their Palmerston team-mates were also chosen as the Team of the Season ahead of the other nominees, First Division champions Partick Thistle and Dumbarton.
It was to be a blank night for the Jags as the First Division Manager of the Year award went to the Sons’ Ian Murray, who performed heroics in keeping them safe from relegation despite having only five points from the 13 games they had played before he came in.
The two managers who led Thistle this season, Jackie McNamara and Alan Archibald, made it to the final three, however Murray saw them both off in the voting stakes.
The Firhill side also lost out for the First Division Player of the Season after Falkirk’s Lyle Taylor was rewarded for hitting 29 goals this season by being crowned as the best player in that league. The Jags’ Chris Erskine and on-loan St Johnstone striker Steven May, who ended the season in great style with Hamilton Accies, were the other nominees for the First Division Award.
May did, however, retain the Young Player of the Year honour for a second year running after polling more votes than Stuart Bannigan of Partick Thistle and Rangers youngster Lewis Macleod.
McCoist was recognised for navigating Rangers through choppy waters and leading them to the Third Division title at the first time of asking. He saw off the challenge of Peterhead’s Jim McInally and Gardner Speirs of Queen’s Park.
The Spiders fared better in the Third Division Player of the Year, with midfielder David Anderson being voted as the best player in that league ahead of Rangers’ Lee McCulloch and Rory McAllister of Peterhead.
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Hide AdThere was no surprise in the Goal of the Season stakes with Dumbarton striker Bryan Prunty’s overhead kick against Livingston being voted as the top goal of the 1,781 scored in the SFL last season.
The sponsor also provided a Phenomenal Achievement Award to Berwick Rangers’ club secretary Dennis McCleary in recognition of his 43 years of service to the Borderers
First Division Manager of the Season
Ian Murray (Dumbarton)
Second Division Manager of the Season
Allan Johnston (Queen of the South)
Third Division Manager of the Season
Ally McCoist (Rangers)
First Division Player of the Season
Lyle Taylor (Falkirk)
Second Division Player of the Season
Nicky Clark (Queen of the South)
Third Division Player of the Season
David Anderson (Queen’s Park)
Young Player of the Season
Stevie May (Hamilton Accies)
Goal of the Season
Bryan Prunty (Dumbarton)
Goalkeeper of the Season
Lee Robinson (Queen of the South)
Top Goalscorer
Nicky Clark (Queen of the South)
Team of the Season
Queen of the South
Phenomenal Achievement Award
Dennis McCleary (Berwick Rangers)