Treble brewing

Billie Simpson has this evening been crowned Ulster Women’s Footballer of the Year.

Having already been named last season’s Danske Bank Women’s Premiership Player of the Year and Personality of the County Antrim Cup, the Cliftonville Ladies defender is celebrating a hat-trick after tonight seeing off competition from Ballymena United All Stars’ Rebekah Reynolds and Linfield Ladies’ Chloe McCarron to take the honour at Titanic Belfast.

The Reds’ first female recipient of the award, which was introduced 12 months ago, Billie is Cliftonville’s seventh Ulster Footballer of the Year.

Kevin McGarry was the accolade’s inaugural winner in 1951, with a further 33 years passing until Bobby Carlisle took the prize in 1984.

Marty Tabb (1998) and Chris Scannell (2009) were next to be recognised ahead of Liam Boyce (2013) and Joe Gormley (2014) enjoying back-to-back success more recently.

The congratulations of everyone at Solitude are extended to Billie, who will return to action when Cliftonville Ladies host Derry City in the Premiership on Wednesday evening.