Celtic’s Leigh Griffiths beat off competition from Aberdeen’s Jonny Hayes and Dundee duo Kane Hemmings and Greg Stewart as he was voted Premiership Player of the Year by his fellow professionals at last night’s PFA Scotland awards dinner at the Glasgow Hilton.
The striker has scored 39 times for his side so far this season, and he bagged another at the weekend as Celtic beat Hearts at Tynecastle to close in on a now inevitable fifth consecutive title.
His teammate, 18-year-old Kieran Tierney, scooped the young player of the year award to cap off an impressive season on a personal level for the lifelong Celtic supporter, who established himself in the side ahead of Emilio Izaguirre at left-back with a series of accomplished displays.
There was a treble for Rangers as manager Mark Warburton took the manager of the year award after leading his side to the Championship title and the Scottish Cup final, with captain Lee Wallace being awarded the accolade of Championship player of the year, and Barrie McKay picking up the goal of the season award for his stunning long-range strike against Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden.
For manager of the year Warburton, the recognition was just reward for the endeavours of his players, who he says deserve the lion’s share of credit for their success over the course of his first season in charge.
“It’s been a fantastic night for the club,” he said. “It’s good for the players to get these awards because they’ve worked hard throughout the season. Sometimes you work hard and don’t get rewarded for it.
“Football is a team game but, as individuals, it’s always nice to get that recognition from your peers.
“It’s truly a privilege and an honour when that happens but, ultimately, every award is a team award. You can’t win them without teamwork, without the group.
“This has been a successful season. The Petrofac Training Cup was a bonus and the Scottish Cup, if we win that, will also be a bonus, there’s no doubt about that.
“But our main aim was always really clear. There was no grey area – we had to get promotion back to the top flight.
“And I like it that way, when it’s black and white, and I was delighted to achieve what I did. I think the margin at the end was 11 points but we led from start to finish.”
Faissal El Bakhtaoui of Dunfermline took the League One award after bagging 30 goals as the Pars romped to the title, and East Fife’s Nathan Austin took the League Two award after netting 24 times in their own championship winning season. It was a fitting end to his career at New Bayview, with the hitman on his way to Falkirk, and perhaps the Premiership, for the new season.
The award winners were:
Player of the Year: Leigh Griffiths
Manager of the Year: Mark Warburton
Young Player of the Year: Kieran Tierney
Championship Player of the Year: Lee Wallace
League One Player of the Year: Faissal El Bakhtaoui
League Two Player of the Year: Nathan Austin
Goal of the season: Barrie McKay
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