Rangers Player of the Year awards in full as Jack Butland doubles up

The only prizes with Rangers eyes on them this season are still to be dished out.

Philippe Clement's team are locked in a battle for the Premiership title with Celtic, although could do with a favour from elsewhere as they focus on winning the final Old Firm clash of the season at Parkhead. There's also the small matter of the Scottish Cup Final between the pair on May 25. A Light Blues Treble could still hinge on the result, while Hopps league and cup double or Clement adding it to his League Cup triumph are the other possibilities.

But it was all about the individual awards at Ibrox on Sunday night. The personal gongs were handed out in a glitzy ceremony, honouring the big goals, moments and performances of the 2023/24 Premiership campaign and the SWPL season, which could also end with a silver living on more than one front.

Player of the Year - Jack Butland

The England international has been Rangers standout player by a country mile this season, and his free transfer from Crystal Palace last summer is undoubtedly one of the best pieces of business done by the club for quite some time. An impressive 25 clean sheets in 53 games in all competitions has been vital to Rangers success on all fronts, with Butland's form spearheading the team to glory in the Viaplay Cup and also has them in contention to complete a domestic treble.

The 31-year-old has caught the eye of England boss Gareth Southgate and could yet earn a recall to the set-up for the Euros in Germany this summer.

Players' Player of the Year - Jack Butland

Stopper Butland has also became a quick favourite with Rangers fans, and has eased the concerns in the goalkeeping position that had been left by long-time Ibrox keeper Allan McGregor last summer.

As recently as in Sunday afternoon's narrow 2-1 away win against St Mirren, Butland has shown time and time again that he can be called upon when the heat is truly on his team, making vital saves in Paisley as Clement's Gers kept their title aspirations alive by staying within three points of leaders Celtic.

Goal of the Season - Rabbi Matondo vs Celtic

Was always likely to be the clear winner. Not just for the quality of the Welshman's strike, but for what it meant in the context of the season. After Gers had battled back from 2-0 down, they looked sunk when Adam Idah fired hom what seemed to be a late winner for Brendan Rodgers' side.

That would have wrestled the title advantage back from the Ibrox club. So when Matondo unleashed a stoppage time stunner into the top corner and earn a 3-3 draw, the celebrations were significant. Some of the gloss may have been removed in hindsight after losing ground against Ross County and Dundee, but defeat in the derby would have almost certainly have meant curtains for the title hopes there and then.

Top Goalscorer - James Tavernier

With a remarkable 24 goals in 53 matches to his name in 2023/24, captain Tavernier is no ordinary full back. While his defensive capabilities are often called into question, what the former Newcastle United youngster offers his team going forward cannot be disputed.

As well as being a more than reliable taker of penalties, Tavernier is deadly from set pieces anywhere on the pitch and has also racked up 10 assists in all competitions. His 21 Premiership strikes rank him second in the top scorers' list, just four behind Hearts hitman Lawrence Shankland.

Like fellow defender Goldson, the 32-year-old may have a big decision on his hands with summer, with his old Rangers boss Steven Gerrard prepared to offer him a lucrative switch to Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League.

John Greig Achievement Award - Connor Goldson

Although he has found himself out of Clement's starting eleven in the last couple of weeks, Englishman Goldson has been a key cog in the Rangers team that have the best defensive record this season, having shipped just 24 goals in 34 matches. The 31-year-old almost left the club on a free transfer last summer, but has built up a strong partnership with John Souttar at the heart of the Gers back line, and his 48 outings in all competitions are bettered only by Jack Butland, skipper Tavernier, John Lundstram and Cyriel Dessers.

The centre back has however again been linked with an Ibrox departure, with his old manager Steven Gerrard planning a double swoop to bring Goldson and teammate Lundstram to Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia.

Young Player of the Year - Ross McCausland

The 19-year-old has quickly became a favourite of Belgian gaffer Clement, and has netted twice in 34 matches so far this season in breakthrough year in Govan. The winger has often found himself picked ahead of the likes of Matondo and Fabio Silva, and is certain to enjoy even more personal success with the club in years to come.

The 20-year-old has also been recognised at international level, winning his first cap for Northern Ireland in a 4-0 defeat to Finland in a Euro 2024 qualifier back in November.

Academy Player of the Year - Cole McKinnon

Although Northern Ireland international McCausland has stole the headlines, the talents of 21-year-old midfielder Cole McKinnon have not gone unnoticed.

The academy graduate made his senior bow under Giovanni van Bronckhorst in May 2022 and spent the whole of last season on loan at Partick Thistle. But the Cambuslang-born player has gone onto make two more outings in the current season, the last of which came as a second half substitute in Rangers pulsating 2-2 draw with Benfica in Lisbon in the last 16 of the Europa League last month.

Women's Players' Player of the Year - Kirsty MacLean

The Gers midfielder has enjoyed another stellar campaign, building on her breakthrough season in 2022/23 where she helped the Light Blues win the Sky Sports' Cup, to help Jo Potter's side retain the trophy last month. MacLean has chipped in with 12 assists in the SWPL this season, playing a major part in Potter's title chasing team that trail Celtic at the top of the table by just two points with five games still to play.

MacLean and her teammates are eyeing up a domestic treble, having set up a Scottish Cup final meeting against Hearts next month with a 2-0 win against Celtic at Hampden on Saturday.

Women's Top Goalscorer - Rio Hardy

Striker Hardy was one of Potter's first signings as Rangers manager last summer, and she has repaid that faith with a goal-laiden first season in Glasgow so far. The ex-Durham forward has netted 21 goals in the top-flight, making her the joint-third highest scorer in the SWPL this season.

The number 10 has also shown that she can rise to the big occasion when she scored her team's third goal in the 4-1 win against Partick Thistle that saw the Light Blues retain the Sky Sports Cup last month.

Women's Player of the Year - Mia McAulay

Academy graduate Mia McAulay's outstanding first full season at senior level also saw her rewarded with the Rangers Women Player of the year. At just 17-years of age, McAulay has flourished in at the top level of Scottish football, registering 12 goals in the SWPL so far this season.

The winger's first professional goal in a 5-1 victory over Aberdeen with the strike being named SWPL goal of the month for August, and since then McAulay's development has gone from strength to strength. The talented teenager is also making inroads on the international scene at youth level, running out for Scotland at both U15 and U17s.