Morgan Cross and Natalie Bandura have scooped the first of the SWPL Player of the Month awards for season 2025/26, supported by Park’s Motor Group.
Cross’s inspired form kicked off her and Celtic’s season, earning this award for the first time in her career. The forward contributed 4 goals and 2 assists to elevate Celtic to the summit of the table come the end of the month.
The Scotland youth international scored in all three of Celtic’s opening matches and has cemented her place as one of the first names on the teamsheet so far this season.
The forward played a pivotal role in Celtic’s opening day victory away to Hearts, scoring the important opening goal. A further goal and an assist came against Hamilton before an impressive brace and assist in Celtic’s big win over Partick Thistle at the end of the month helped to seal maximum points in the month for the Hoops.
In the Scottish Women’s Premier League 2 (SWPL 2), Natalie Bandura wins the award for the first time in her career. The youngster, on-loan from Rangers, has taken to life in SWPL 2 quickly, helping cement Spartans’ place at the top of the league.
Spartans started the month with a convincing 3-0 away win over the University of Stirling. Bandura scored the opening goal of the game and added a second in the game to round off a dream competitive debut for the north Edinburgh side. This impressive double also earned the striker a place in the first SWPL Team of the Week of the 2025/26 season.
Natalie also scored the crucial winning goal late on in the game against Dundee United, in what could turn out to be an important moment come the end of the season. Natalie’s performances supported Spartans to finish August on maximum points.
The other nominees for the August 2025 SWPL Player of the Month award, supported by Park’s Motor Group, were Katie Lockwood (Glasgow City), Kathleen McGovern (Hibernian), and Katie Wilkinson (Rangers) and for the SWPL 2 award were Ellie Kane (Queen’s Park), Tara McGonigle (Gartcairn), and Abby Robinson (Kilmarnock).
