Ex-Gala Fairydean Rovers striker Jamie Gullan named as William Hill Championship’s player of month for April
Former Gala Fairydean Rovers striker Jamie Gullan has been named as the William Hill Championship’s player of the month for the second time in three months.
The Edinburgh-born 26-year-old – loaned out to the Galashiels club by Hibernian’s academy from July 2017 to January of the year after, helping them to a 13th-placed finish in the Scottish Lowland Football League – has been awarded that accolade for April, following on from winning it in February, for helping St Johnstone secure the championship title and promotion to Scottish football’s top flight.
Gullan scored three goals in four matches last month, including two during their 2-0 win at home at Perth’s McDiarmid Park to Kirkcaldy’s Raith Rovers, another of his old clubs, on Friday the 24th, one from the penalty spot on 21 minutes and the other from a free-kick on 41.
His other April goal was also scored on 41 minutes as Saints beat Arbroath 4-2 on the road on Saturday the 4th.
Manager Simo Valakari’s club, home to Innerleithen’s Murray Davidson from 2009 to 2023, won all four of their matches last month on their way to securing a return to the William Hill Premiership at the first time of asking after their first relegation since 2002, also seeing off Airdrieonians 4-0 at home on Saturday the 11th and Fife’s Dunfermline Athletic 2-0 away on Tuesday the 24th.
Gullan, scorer of 17 goals in all competitions so far this season, 11 of them in the championship, said: “It’s a massive honour to pick up this award, but I have to be honest – it’s been a huge team effort all season.
“The standards we’ve set this season have been incredible and everyone’s played their part, whether that’s on the pitch or behind the scenes.
“From day one we’ve had one goal – to get promoted – and the togetherness in the squad has been key to that.
“This award is just a reflection of the work we’ve all put in.”
Saints finished the season 11 points clear of second-placed Partick Thistle, ending up with 77 points from 36 fixtures, after beating Ayr United 1-0 away on Saturday.
Former Heart of Midlothian youth player Gullan has been at McDiarmid Park since July last year on a two-year deal, his other previous clubs – besides Hibs from 2015 to 2022 and Raith on loan from 2019 to 2021 and from 2022 to 2024 and again in 2025 – being the League of Ireland Premier Division’s Dundalk for 2024 and Glasgow’s Queen’s Park on loan in 2018.