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Daily Record
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Hamilton Accies Women confirm New Douglas Park stay next season
The club are remaining in the South Lanarkshire town as the men's team look to Broadwood Hamilton Accies Women have confirmed they will play their games at New Douglas Park next season. The announcement comes amid a move by the men's team to relocated to Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, which is causing a lot of controversy. Hamilton Accies Women have split away from the men's team, and say they have done so to 'ensure the future of the women's club, independently'. The club won last season's SWPL2, bouncing back to the top flight at the first time of asking. Hamilton Accies Women say they're delighted to secure tenancy at the stadium, which they say 'has long been a home for women's football in the town'. A statement issued by the club this afternoon read: 'Hamilton Accies Women are delighted to confirm a formal agreement with Hamilton Stadium Ltd which will see the team continue to play home matches at New Douglas Park for the forthcoming ScottishPower Women's Premier League 1 season. 'Following our title-winning campaign n SWPL2 and promotion to the top flight, securing a stadium that meets elite-level standards was a key priority. 'New Douglas Park has long been a home for women's football in the town, and we are pleased that it will remain so, as we prepare for an exciting season ahead. 'Since 2013, Hamilton Accies Women have operated under the Accies name and ethos, while remaining a financially independent and separately governed organisation. 'This structure has allowed us to focus solely on the growth and sustainability of women's football in Hamilton – from youth development through to elite level.' The statement continued: 'While we had hoped to continue a collaborative approach with the wider footballing organisation in Hamilton, repeated efforts to establish strategic dialogue and shared planning have not progressed in recent seasons. 'As a result, our committee has taken the necessary steps to secure the future of the women's club independently.' Manager Robert Watson said: 'This is more than just a pitch to us – it's home. 'We're building something special here, and our players, fans, and staff deserve the platform to keep pushing forward. 'This agreement allows us to do that and ensures top-level women's football remains in Hamilton.' The club said: 'Our focus remains on representing the town with pride, integrity, and ambition. 'We will continue to raise funds and seek sponsorship that directly supports our players and their development. 'We welcome discussions with businesses and supporters who wish to join us on this journey. 'We look forward to competing in SWPL1 this season and continuing to represent Hamilton Academical in a positive and professional manner – on and off the pitch.'
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Hamilton Accies Women showed 'personality and bottle' to clinch SWPL2
Accies Women won the title, and an instant return to SWPL1, with a game to spare Robert Watson says his Hamilton Accies side showed personality and bottle to clinch the SWPL2 title with a game to spare. A Keira Ritchie header saw Accies beat Gartcairn 1-0 at MTC Park in Airdrie to be crowned champions by four points over a Kilmarnock side that beat Livingston 6-0 on Sunday. Bouncing back to the top flight at the first time of asking, with possibly the lowest budget in the division, is a source of pride for Watson, who was assistant to Gary Doctor when Accies last won it back in 2016. Watson said: 'There's a mixture of relief, because it has been a long season, and the last couple of weeks were probably quite nervy, but also a real sense of pride. 'As I said last season, when we got relegated, a league table doesn't lie, and you finish where you deserve. 'I feel we've been the best team in the league this season, and that's why we've finished top, and done it with a game to spare. 'One of the targets we set was to win every head-to-head, and we've done that, with the exception of one. 'When you do that, you give yourself an incredible chance to go and win something, and the players have shown real personality and bottle, especially after losing the games back-to-back against Boroughmuir and Kilmarnock, which is the only time all season we've lost two games in a row. 'It has been an incredible year, and I'm so pleased for all the players and the people who were with us last season, because it was horrible to be relegated. 'We looked at it then and said the main aim was to be promoted at the first time of asking. 'They've managed to do that, and they deserve all the credit that's going to be coming their way.' Watson is delighted to have bounced straight back and said: 'You set targets at the start of the season and you say you want to do that, but you obviously need to have a sense of realism and understand how difficult it will be. 'We didn't even have the biggest budget in Premier League 2, never mind Premier League 1, so it was always going to be very tough, but we signed really well over the summer. 'One of the biggest strengths we had was we stuck by those players. We made one signing in January, and that was only because a player decided to move on, and we were able to bring Chloe Muir back, but it has been the same 22 players we've used all season. 'That closeness and the experiences we went through in the first half of the season really held us together when maybe a couple of things started to get nervy. We didn't panic at any point we believed and stuck by the players and staff that we had, and that showed to be the right decision.'
