SWPL 1: Team and player of the season 2020-21

Anyone's Game pick their team of the season from the top flight, and also name their player of the campaign

It was a season like no other. Essentially split into two due to Covid, no knockout cups, and only at the end were some fans allowed in, but all that couldn’t stop a thrilling SWPL 1 campaign.

Glasgow City once again captured the league title, but Celtic and Rangers both pushed them strongly.

Hibernian eventually finished fourth but only by the tightest of margins from an improving Spartans, while Motherwell, Forfar and Hearts had varying campaigns.

So the Anyone’s Game team made their choices for the SWPL 1 team of the season.

Robbie Hanratty

Robbie, as ever, has thrown away the rule book and decided to pick two teams. So he has produced his starting eleven, but picked a squad of 22.

Five of Glasgow City’s title winning team make the first X1, while Celtic and Hibernian both have two in there.

But also represented are Rangers and Spartans.

Kenny Boag

Kenny has gone for a 3-4-3 formation. Four of Glasgow City’s team make the side, and two of each from Rangers and Hibernian.

Chloe Craig represents Celtic while any listeners to the Anyone’s Game podcast will know how much Kenny rates Kaela McDonald-Nguah, and the Motherwell forward leads the line.

Peter Quinn

Like Robbie and Kenny, Peter picks Scotland goalkeeper Lee Alexander, Celtic’s Chloe Craig and Glasgow City’s Janine van Wyk in defence, while Rangers’ Lizzie Arnot is on the wing.

Just the two players from the champions make the side, with three each from Celtic and Rangers in there. There are two from Spartans and new Scotland cap Leah Eddie makes the defence from Hibernian.

Andrew Southwick

A 3-4-3 diamond formation which is the first controversy.

London Pollard was very close to making the team for the young forward’s exploits at Forfar which earned a move to Celtic, but Ode Fulutudilu just couldn’t be ignored for her performances at Glasgow City.

Impressive seasons from Rangers’ Sam Kerr and Celtic’s midfield pair Lisa Robertson and Natalie Ross were recognised.

The Anyone’s Game team of the season

Glasgow City’s Lee Alexander was the unanimous choice of all four to be the goalkeeper.

Likewise, in defence Glasgow City’s South African stalwart Janine van Wyk was the choice of all four despite being injured for much of the campaign, and we’re sad to see her depart for her homeland.

Hibernian’s Leah Eddie has battled back from injury to earn a well deserved Scotland cap, while we’re massively impressed with Spartans’ young defender Robyn McCafferty. Celtic’s Chloe Craig not only helped the Champions League qualifiers concede just 12 goals all season she also helped herself to a few goals at the other end too.

Lizzie Arnot could be deployed as a striker or winger, Likewise, Priscilla Chinchilla looks like she could be deployed anywhere, and Colette Cavanagh likes to get herself around the pitch and that might be needed to cover for the number of attacking players in the team. Lisa Robertson of Celtic finally could not be ignored any longer by the national team and has earned a long awaited call-up.

Up front, South Africa’s Ode Fulutudilu has been an outstanding addition to the league. But we had a decision to make, with Spartans’ Becky Galbraith’s scoring 10 goals despite finishing fifth, and Celtic’s Sarah Ewens has had another outstanding season for Celtic. If we could we would have included them both, but that gave us a 4-4-3 formation.

So we got two more of the Anyone’s Game team - Chris Toney and Colin Falconer - involved. And, after a vote, Ewens made the team.

Player of the season: Priscilla Chinchilla

The Glasgow City midfielder was picked player of the match more than any other in the SWPL 1 this season, while she also made it into three of our four team of the season picks.

Here’s what we had to say about her:-

Chris Toner: Spartans 2-6 Glasgow City - Chinchilla had a part to play in nearly all of City’s goals. It was from her header that Fulutudilu was able to open the scoring, she was able to win the ball that led to City doubling their lead. Later, she was able to pick herself up and convert from the penalty spot and in the second half when City needed a response, she was the force that led to them being able to respond immediately.

Robbie Hanratty: Rangers 0-2 Glasgow City - The Anyone’s Game player of the match was Priscilla Chinchilla who was a constant bright spark in every attack. She took both her goals really well and clearly looks like a player who could be the game changer if City are going to keep up their unbeaten form since the restart and claim yet another league title.

Peter Quinn: Hibernian 1-2 Glasgow City - Eilidh Adams put in a tireless shift up front for, Hibs but the player who ultimately made the difference in this match was Glasgow City’s Priscilla Chinchilla. She looked a threat every time she got on the ball with her pace and dribbling abilities on full display. She won and scored the penalty which capped an impressive overall performance from the Costa Rican international.