Dons move to semi-pro with deals until 2024

Aberdeen Women have made a move towards becoming semi-professional, with five players given contracts until 2024.

Young talents Bayley Hutchison, Eva Thomson, Jess Broadrick, Eilidh Shore and Francesca Ogilvie are the first female players to sign paid contracts in Dons history.

The milestone in the Reds women’s side’s development coincides with the elite women’s game moving from the SFA to SPFL control this summer, something which SWPL interim managing director Fiona McIntyre previously said she hoped would “accelerate” women’s clubs moving to semi-professional and professional status.

In their first season back in the top flight following back-to-back title successes,

Aberdeen are currently fifth in SWPL 1 – and making players semiprofessional is a clear step in investing in further progress.

Alongside the five parttime, semi-professional contracts, further investment will be made to “enhance operations off the field, improve standards and infrastructure, while ensuring there is a clear pathway to professional football for female footballers across the north-east”.

Aberdeen director of football Steven Gunn is delighted to see the club’s vision – set in motion three years ago when the women’s side were fully intergrated into the Dons – take another step forward.

He said: “Ever since we took the decision to bring the women’s team under the Aberdeen FC umbrella in 2019, we have been on an incredible journey winning the SWFL Division 1 North, SWPL 2 and now consolidating our place in SWPL 1.

“We’ve enjoyed several ‘firsts’ including the first AFC women’s match at Pittodrie recently.

“Now we’re pleased to have rewarded this group of players as we embark on the next part of our journey with women’s football in the region.”

Meanwhile, Gavin Levey, AFC academy director, who oversees Aberdeen Women, added: “We feel it’s the right time to move forward and professionalise.

“It’s a big step for us, but it’s also a step that’s been taken with a lot of thought behind it and it fits both our long-term football strategy at the club and our financial model.

“Interest in and support for AFC Women has grown dramatically.”

The Dons will join Rangers, Glasgow City, Celtic, Hibs, Spartans, and Hearts, who will all have players on professional or semi-professional contracts from next season.

The five players who have been signed up are some of the Dons’ most promising talents, and Levey hopes being offered a contract will help their development at Aberdeen.

He said: “These players were selected because they are all young, promising players.

“We feel their performances and, in particular, those at international level, merit the chance to develop to be the best they possibly can, like we would do for any young player here at Aberdeen Football Club.

“The rest of the players in the squad will have the opportunity to become professional as they progress and develop further.

“More importantly, we’re going to enhance what we do for them as well, for each individual that’s not on a professional contract.

“We’ll improve what we do for them to help take us to another level and work our way up the league, but more importantly to become a sustainable side in the top flight.

“It’s ultimately about giving young girls in the north-east and beyond the chance to fulfil their dreams of becoming professional footballers here at Aberdeen FC.

“These five players will clearly demonstrate what is possible for aspiring female footballers making their first moves in the game.”

REWARD: Bayley Hutchison is one of the five players who have been signed up by Aberdeen Women on contracts until 2024.