Our Women’s Player of the Season: Natalie Haigh

It’s award season as we celebrate the best players and biggest moments across Aston Villa this season.

Words: Regan Foy | @findfoy

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As we’ve reached the end of the Aston Villa Women season and are close to the end of the men’s campaign, it’s time for awards season, as we at Under A Gaslit Lamp celebrate the best players, the biggest moments and more in the world of the Villans.

Women’s Player of the Year: Natalie Haigh

Our Women’s Player of the Year is Natalie Haigh, who has been a steady part of the Aston Villa Women defence throughout the season and an ambassador for both the Aston Villa Foundation and Villa & Proud. She also openly discussed mental health during Mental Health Awareness week this month.

Haigh recovered from a tough start to the season to be a stalwart in the defence that lead to Aston Villa Women’s survival in the Women’s Super League this season.

The defender has also picked up coaching experience through the Regional Talent Centre and Player’s Pathway and will surely progress into a coaching or managerial role when she calls time on her career.

Haigh was a vital part of Aston Villa Women’s unbeaten promotion season, and remained as such in their debut season in the Women’s Super League.

The centreback also scored her first professional goal, connecting at the end of a well-worked set-piece routine against relegation rivals Bristol City.

A leader on the pitch and off it, and an important cog in the side that managed to remain in the league at the first time of asking.

Congratulations, Natalie!