Hamilton Accies Women star is youngest to claim SWPL player of the month prize

Hamilton Accies Women goalkeeper Emma Thomson is celebrating after becoming the youngest player since the formation of the new SWPL to win the player of the month prize in the top flight.

The 16-year-old Strathaven Academy pupil had a fantastic February and has been rewarded with a trophy to show for her efforts.

Thomson helped Hamilton to a 2-1 derby win over Motherwell and a 1-1 draw with Spartans last month and although conceding in both games, she made four vital one-on-one saves across both matches and faced 16 shots.

She saw off competition from Celtic’s Natasha Flint, Aberdeen’s Eilidh Shore and Partick’s Ava Easdon to claim the award.

Proud Accies boss Robert Watson said of her achievement: “She is the youngest player to have won the award and you very rarely see goalkeepers win at as well, so that just shows you how important she was for us over February.

“It underlines as well that, as a club, we are giving young players an opportunity. For young players who want to make their way in football, we are a great place to do it.

“We understand players will have good games and bad games, but we trust them.

“We trusted Emma over February and we are delighted that she has picked up the award and feel it is very well deserved.

“It has been a wee while since an Accies player has won – I think Amy Anderson was the last a few years ago – and we are delighted for Emma.”

In more good news for Thomson, she has been selected for Scotland’s U17 squad that will travel to Poland next week for a Euro U17 qualifying tournament.

Meanwhile, Watson insists he will not criticise his players for the manner of their defeat to relegation rivals Montrose last week – despite shipping seven goals in a 32-minute spell of the second half.

Wats