Wednesday 23rd January, 2019 at 11:38am
Thistle Weir Ladies will start the 2019 season as Partick Thistle Women’s Football Club, it was announced today. The team, newly promoted to SWPL2, previously played under the auspices of the Thistle Weir Academy. However, PTW will now operate as a club within the Thistle family, with its own management committee and chairman. It will use the Partick Thistle crest as its own.
Thistle Ladies was officially founded as part of the Thistle Weir Academy in 2014, having previously existed as part of the Charitable Trust for one year prior to that, and has gone from strength to strength every season since. Having been promoted twice in three years and attracted many talented players, the squad is set for a bright future and one which the Partick Thistle Family is extremely supportive of.
PTW will continue to be managed jointly by James McCafferty and Beth Adamson, alongside a new set of key staff including a goalkeeping coach, physiotherapist and social media manager. They will work with the Academy to create a development pathway for girls from under 11s through to the women’s first team. Girls are currently being recruited for the 11s, 13s and 15s. First team players have already signed contracts with the new club.
There will be a transitional period, where existing funding will be transferred to the new club. In parallel, PTW will start to generate income through sponsorship and other funding.
Head Coach, James McCafferty, said:
“This is a great step for the women’s team as it joins SWPL2. To be fully integrated into the Club and to now have a clear pathway for girls to reach the first team is significant. This is an important time for women’s football, especially in Scotland as the national team head to the World Cup. There’s going to be a big upturn in interest in the women’s game and we will be well-placed to capitalise on that.”
Thistle Chairman Jacqui Low added:
“Having talked about this over the last year, it was time to see the Club fully embrace the women’s game. The women’s team has done so well to get where they are in such a short time. They play in Thistle colours and they wanted to be recognised as a Thistle team – with all they have achieved, they have earned that right. On behalf of all associated with Partick Thistle, I wish them every success for the coming season.”
