Footballers claim third of nine accolades handed out at Innerleithen awards ceremony
Innerleithen footballers claimed two of the nine accolades on offer at this year’s ClubSport Tweeddale awards ceremony, held in the town last Friday.
Ayr United loan striker Josh Landers was named as sports personality of the year and the prize for team of the year went to Leithen Rovers, last season’s Border Amateur Football Association B division champions.
Former Leithen Vale youth player and Scotland age-grade international Landers is currently on loan to William Hill Championship side Ayr after joining English second-tier team West Ham United from Hibernian in January 2025 for a reported £120,000 transfer fee.
The 19-year-old has played seven games for Ayr – currently seventh of ten teams making up the championship, on 15 points from 12 fixtures – since arriving at Somerset Park on a season-long loan at the start of September and he’s scored one goal for them.
Leithen Rovers went unbeaten on their way to topping last season’s B division – their eighth league title and first since 2015 – notching up 18 wins and two draws to finish on 56 points from 20 fixtures, nine points clear of second-placed Stow.
Ninth of 11 teams in the A division at the moment, on nine points from as many matches, they also won the Beveridge Cup for the ninth time, beating Gala Hotspur 6-0 at May’s final at Whitestone Park in Peebles.
Football accounted for one further award at last Friday’s prize-giving at Innerleithen Union Club, with Peebles Rovers, the town’s rebranded youth set-up rather than its former East of Scotland Football League side, being named as club of the year.
Scottish national under-20 rugby team captain Ross Wolfenden, currently in Edinburgh’s academy after being signed from Peebles in 2024, was declared junior sports personality of the year.
An award for outstanding achievement went to Eve Hume for representing Scotland at June’s British Dressage youth inter-regional championships, finishing 12th of 50 in her section, and one for service to sport was given to Denise Richards, Peebles Golf Club’s first female captain and also president of the Border Ladies’ County Golf Association.
Leithe Vale Sports Club’s Jordan and Karis Sharp were jointly named as coaches of the year, and the junior version of that accolade went to Kids Innrerleithen Cycling Club’s Oenone Weild.
Peebles Boccia Club won this year’s disability sports award after being crowned as 2025’s Borders Boccia League champions.
Congratulating the night’s nine winners, ClubSport Tweeddale chairman Miller Milloy said: “Against the backdrop of a Commonwealth Games year, the launch of Scottish Borders Council’s sport, recreation and wellbeing strategy and with the region looking ahead to welcoming the Tour de France next year, it was fantastic to celebrate such inspiring local talent.
“The evening showcased the remarkable breadth of sporting achievement across our communities and the dedication of people involved in such a diverse range of sports.”