Latest news with #SWPL
BBC News
6 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- BBC News
'Real leader' Boyle extends stay at Hibs
Captain Rachael Boyle says "there is no place I would rather be" after signing a one-year contract extension with SWPL champions 33-year-old midfielder, who has 43 Scotland caps, joined Hibs in 2016 and helped the club end their 18-year title wait last season despite injuries restricting to her 14 appearances."I'm absolutely delighted that I'm extending my time at the club," said Boyle. "I've obviously had to miss a lot of football over recent years but last season's success, and the excitement building towards the new season, just made me want to be a part of it all."I'm desperate to put injuries behind me and be ready to help the team to more success this upcoming season."Head coach Grant Scott praised "real leader" Boyle and said: "We're all hoping for an injury-free campaign and it'll be great to have her involved in her first full pre-season in a few years. That consistency will be huge for both her and the team."
Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
At Hibs it's not just the first team celebrating a successful season
It's not just the Hibs first team that enjoyed a successful season. Hibernian Women claimed their first SWPL title in 18-years despite being massive underdogs due to the disparity of budgets with their main rivals. The title went down to the wire with Grant Scott's side needing a point at Ibrox on the final day. But Hibs took all three thanks to a Linzi Taylor strike that secured not only the trophy but Champions league football under the Easter Road lights next season. Speaking after the final whistle SWPL manager of the year Scott said: 'It's incredible. I'm a bit speechless. It's taking a bit of time to land this one. 'I'm immensely proud to lead this group. We've been on the page all season. We've had our moments and we've questioned one another at times but the consistency has been phenomenal.' 'I'm just so proud of the group, so proud of the players and staff. We're threadbare at the minute, there's a few walking wounded in there. In this modern era of Scottish women's football – it's a massive achievement.' And if that wasn't enough the Under 18s won the league title with a game to spare after a tremendous season. Darren McGregor's side have been immense and after lifting the trophy following a victory over Kilmarnock, he praised the players and coaching staff. He said: In academies there's a big thing about development and not necessarily winning, but I think that the closer they get to the first team the biggest the onus is on results. 'One or two of them usually train with the first team every day which is great and the ultimate goal is to get a couple of them into the first team full-time now. They're a great group and they always want to improve. 'I've got a fantastic staff team, with Guillem Beulezin, Scott Ross and Matty Fenwick, amongst other, and work with a brilliant Academy Director in Gareth Evans. 'It's all relative and for the boys, winning this league is the biggest achievement in their career so it's something to be proud of and celebrate. 'Winning anything in football is difficult and when you get older you look back at these milestones and it is a great achievement for them.' Hibernian U18s Photo Maurice Dougan Hibernian U18s Photo Maurice Dougan Like this: Like Related
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Leishman to leave Hibs after decade at club
Shannon Leishman will leave SWPL champions Hibs after over a decade with the Leith defender only made two starts this campaign before joining Motherwell on loan in January, helping cement their historic top-six made her debut back in 2014, aged just 16, and went on to make over 150 appearances for her childhood club, winning four domestic Cups in the follows fellow Hibs' stalwart Leah Tweedie out the door after her departure was announced earlier in the Leishman's exit, head coach Grant Scott said: "Shannon has been a dedicated servant to Hibernian over the past 11 years."Coming through our Academy, Shannon has from a young age always set an example for others to follow and her commitment to being the ultimate professional has helped us to many successes over the years."More than all of that, she's a great person whose presence will be missed. We thank her for her contributions and wish her all the best for the future."
STV News
6 days ago
- Sport
- STV News
'I've loved every minute': Emma Lawton reflects on a meteoric rise with Celtic
Scotland and Celtic defender Emma Lawton says she's still pinching herself after her achievements in her first season as a professional footballer. The 23-year-old has gone from part-time football to scoring for Scotland on her Hampden debut in a whirlwind of a season that ended with her as an award-winner lauded by her peers. Lawton started this season at Partick Thistle but sealed a dramatic deadline day move to the then SWPL Champions Celtic. In a season to remember, she established herself as a first-team player, gained Champions League experience, and then made a splash on the international scene with her first appearance for her country playing away against Austria in February. Days later, in her second international, the right-back opened the scoring against Netherlands at Hampden to continue her rapid rise. Little wonder the Celtic star was voted as PFA player of the year. 'It's been really enjoyable,' Lawton told STV as she reflected on a season to remember. 'Coming in, I didn't really have a lot of expectations of how it would go for myself. 'But I've loved every minute. I think, obviously, as a team, we had the highs of the Champions League in the first half of the season, and obviously second half hasn't been great. 'But personally, I have loved being a full-time football player, which is what I've always dreamed of being.' Lawton started out kicking a ball around in the garden with her cousin, but it was early experience as the only girl in a youth team that helped build resilience that's an important part of her game today. 'Starting out in a boys' team, nobody passed me the ball and stuff,' she revealed. 'But I just loved the game, and I just stuck it out. 'It was challenging at first, not getting the ball passed to you. But then I think as soon as they did, they realised 'actually, she can play'. 'It just built up that resilience in me. I think I always knew I could play, and it just gave me that inner confidence, and it kind of put me on a platform where I just had to believe in myself, and I didn't need anybody else to tell me stuff. 'I always just knew within that I could do it.' That grounding set Lawton on a path to the senior game with time at Partick Thistle before a brief spell at Manchester City in the Covid spell, and at Motherwell before a return to Thistle. On deadline day this season, an opportunity to step up came in the form of an offer from Celtic. Lawton said she couldn't sleep the night before making a move that came unexpectedly. Weeks later, she was playing in the biggest club competition in Europe. 'I'm going to be honest, it's all a bit of a blur,' Lawton admitted. 'I think I scored in the Champions League two weeks on from when I'd signed, and then we got into the group stage, obviously from that game. 'A month from that game, I was playing away at Real Madrid. It was a 'pinch me moment'. 'You dream of playing Champions League as a young player, but I never thought I would actually be able to do it. To do it so quickly in my Celtic career is a proud moment.' Scoring for Scotland was another treasured moment. Signing for Celtic, I never thought what would happen this season would happen,' she said. 'Getting picked for Scotland was an honour, but then to start both games, and then score at Hampden, it was special. 'I had all my family there, and it's something that will live with me for a very, very long time.' Now the international defender is setting new targets and having new dreams, as she hopes to help the national team and take her rise to new heights. 'I think the future is bright for Scotland and hopefully we can achieve that majors finals,' she said. 'It's what the country deserves, and we've got the players to do it.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
'Fantastic servant' Tweedie to leave Hibs
Lia Tweedie will be a "big loss", says Hibs head coach Grant Scott, after the SWPL champions confirmed the striker will depart this 27-year-old has scored 47 goals in 124 appearances across two spells at the made her farewell appearance in injury time of the title-winning victory over Rangers and has also won two Scottish Cups and four League Cups with Hibs."I want to thank Lia for her outstanding contribution to Hibernian. She is a great person who has deservedly picked up plenty of winners' medals with the club," said Scott."From coming through the Hibs academy to performing on the European stage and winning silverware, Lia has always remained a fantastic servant to this club and will be a big loss to the group – both on and off the pitch."
