Middag makes it a Rangers double and Varnava wins SWPL 2 award for Stirling University

Tessel Middag and Athina Varnava have collected the September 2022/23 Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) Player of the Month awards.

The versatile Middag, who played in defence during September, makes it two from two for Rangers after Danielsson won the August SWPL award. Stirling University’s Varnava won the SWPL 2 club vote, the first time the club have had a winner of the accolade since September 2017.

Rangers continued their fine league form in September, scoring 10 goals and conceding none against Partick Thistle and Motherwell. They were also narrowly defeated by Benfica over two legs in the 2nd Round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Middag featured in both SWPL matches, playing a full 180 minutes and grabbing an assist. She played in the centre of defence, out with her normal role in the midfield, helping to keep two clean sheets.

In SWPL 2, September saw a turn in fortune for Stirling University who went unbeaten. They first defeated Montrose 4-1 in the Sky Sports Cup 1st Round and then grabbed a point away to Kilmarnock a week later. This was after they lost their opening three league matches, including a 5-0 loss to Montrose on the 7th of August.

Varnava played a crucial role for Stirling University, scoring the equaliser against Montrose and providing the assist in their 1-1 draw at Kilmarnock.

The nominees for the September SWPL award were Lauren Davidson (Glasgow City), Jacynta Galabadaarachchi (Celtic), and Alana Marshall (Spartans) and for the SWPL 2 award the nominees were Dionne Brown (Gartcairn) and Alex Middleton (Kilmarnock).