Inverness Caley Thistle teenager shortlisted for prestigious Scottish Women's Football award
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PROMISING Caley Thistle midfielder Ellie Anderson is in the running for a prestigious Scottish Women’s Football award.
The under 18s graduate, who broke into the first team last season, has been nominated for youth player of the year at the Scottish Power SWF Awards at Hampden Park on November 25.
Listed alongside National Academy Programme (NAP) players – a route ICTWFC were unable to take this year after rule changes – manager Karen Mason felt it was a real feather in the player and club’s caps.
“It is a bit of a first for us to be recognised as individuals,” Mason said. “It is nice that someone out there has been watching and felt Ellie is deserving if it.
“It is credit to what our coaches are achieving in our own youth pathway that Ellie is there and it shows that players can progress from our 18s team without having to be in a national academy.
“We have girls coming up through the system and stepping up to play at a high level in the Championship. It is definitely a massive achievement.”
Anderson (18) made her first team debut last season and began to really impact the side in central midfield in the second half of the campaign.
“Now she has completed a full pre-season with us, I’d say this season will be big for Ellie,” Mason said.
“She is really athletic and the type who could run all day. She has good creativity in her game to open up play.”
Nairn St Ninian’s Lisa Mason is a nominee for Highlands and Islands League player of the year.
Mason saw her team bounce back to winning form on Sunday, moving joint second in the table, after an 8-0 rout of visiting Edinburgh City.
Betty Ross (3), Kirstie Deans (2), Julia Scott (2) and Kayleigh Mackenzie scored.
“It was a good way to bounce back after the East Fife defeat,” Mason said. “City didn’t offer much, but it was positive to keep the clean sheet and get good minutes in the legs.”
