Top scorer Rachel in the hunt for SWFL player of year award
Ayr United goal machine Rachel Scott is bidding to cap a wonder season with an award on the national stage.
The 22-year-old hit the target an incredible 63 times as United’s Ladies Development team enjoyed a successful debut campaign.
And Rachel’s record has now turned heads with a nomination for SWFL Player of the Year at the annual Scottish Women’s Football Awards.
She will take her place alongside stars like Erin Cuthbert and Claire Emslie as the best of the women’s game gathers for a glittering gala night in Glasgow on June 4.
Development team coach Colin Fulton is also nominated for SWFL Coach of the Year after leading the girls in an eyecatching first season which included a run to the Plate Cup final.
Ayr’s Development team bids for a hat trick of awards in the SWFL Team of the Year category.
Rachel, of Catrine, told the Post: “It’s a huge honour for me just to be nominated at a night like this.
“Last year was our first together as a team so to do as well as we did was a big achievement. I scored a lot of goals but it wasn’t all about me, we played very well as a group and learned so much under the manager, Colin, who has been brilliant. The things he’s taught me have taken my game to the next level and he deserves a lot of the credit.”
Rachel, who began playing football at 13, has been part of the Ayr United setup for five years.
And she now combines playing with community coaching during the week – a role she sees as vital to growing the game locally.
She said:“I spend my week out doing coaching classes – of both boys and girls – and it’s great to see the enthusiasm of the kids.
“It’s definitely true that the women’s game is growing in popularity and you’re seeing more girls wanting to take an interest in the sport these days.
“You look at someone like Erin Cuthbert who’s gone from Ayrshire to play for Chelsea and you see what can be achieved. She is a big inspiration of mine.”
Clare Docherty, Head of Women and Girls at United, added:“This is great recognition for Rachel, Colin and all of the girls in the Development squad.
“They’ve enjoyed a fantastic first season together and have already begun their second campaign in great form.
“They thoroughly deserve their night at the awards and it would be the icing on the cake if they could bring one or two home.”