Lindsay Anfield named BWSL Coach of the Year in League Express Poll

Anfield has now twice been voted as the Women’s Super League Coach of the Year, having also taken home the accolade at the RFL’s End of Season Awards night in October.

The achievement comes at the end of an unforgettable season, in which the Valkyrie made history after they became the first team to claim back-to-back League Leaders’ Shields, remaining undefeated along the way.

That preceded a first Grand Final triumph against rivals Leeds Rhinos in front of a record crowd at the LNER Community Stadium, seeing them become the first sporting team in York to claim a national title.

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Anfield received a staggering 47.4 per cent of the vote, with St Helens’ Matty Smith (24.8 per cent) and Barrow Raiders’ Amanda Wilkinson, who led her side to promotion, in third with 20.2 per cent of the vote.

Fellow nominees, Leigh Leopards’ Kieran Purtill and Featherstone’s Marie Colley, received 4.2 per cent and 3.3 per cent respectively.

Sinead Peach was awarded the prestigious Woman of Steel at the RFL's End of Season Awards in October. (Image: Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com)

Sinead Peach missed out on the Women’s Super League Player of the Year by just 0.7 per cent to St Helens’ Emily Rudge.

The Valkyrie hooker, who took home the prestigious Woman of Steel in October in her debut season as captain, received 28.3 per cent of the vote to Rudge’s 29.

Fellow York ace, full-back Tara-Jane Stanley, finished third with 22.6 per cent, ahead of St Helens’ Shona Hoyle (10.2 per cent) and Leeds Rhinos hooker Keara Bennett (9.8 per cent).

Anfield’s side also finished as runners-up for the Club of the Year award behind Betfred Challenge Cup winners and Betfred Super League surprise package Leigh Leopards.

The Valkyrie received 26.4 per cent of the vote and Leigh 33.7 per cent, with double-winners Wigan Warriors receiving 19.4 per cent of the vote in third.