McFadden wins first Scotland player of the year

Add one to the growing list of May awards each season. Though Scotland is one of the two oldest international sides in football, the team has only now begun to award a Scotland Player of the Year honor. No word yet on retroactive awards for the 126 past years of the team … anyway, the winner of the inaugural Scotland Football Writers / Tennents International Player of the Year award is James McFadden.

Fads’ goal against France would probably be enough on its own to win him the award, being the most iconic and memorable goal for Scotland in years, and perhaps since Archie Gemmill’s famous score in the 1978 World Cup. It would, of course, be more important in Scotland history if it had led to a tournament qualification, and Fads agrees that the team staying home takes a bit of luster off of the award.

“It is nice to get a personal award but I would gladly swap it to be at the Euro 2008 finals. I am sure we will all be reminded how close we came come the summer, when we are stuck watching it on the TV. I try not to look back too much but beating France, the World Cup finalists, in Paris and scoring the winner with a good goal is special.”

Special indeed, James. Here’s hoping a bit of silverware brings you back to better times, and gets you in the proper mindset for a very tough relegation battle on Sunday, when Birmingham takes on Blackburn. A win is necessary for both McFadden and former Scotland boss Alex McLeish to stay up in the Premiership. Good luck lads.