Inverness Caledonian Thistle Women announce partnership with Thistle Girls to give youngsters route to senior football
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Women have announced a partnership with Thistle Girls FC to provide a pathway for girls to continue playing football through to senior level.
Caley Thistle have been exploring options for a feeder system for a while as part of their new remit as a performance club in the Scottish Women’s Football pyramid as of this year.
Linking up with Thistle Girls always seemed like a solution that would benefit both sides, and now the partnership is official.
ICT manager Karen Mason said: “I’m delighted that both clubs have agreed to enter into this partnership. Working with local clubs is the best way to offer opportunities for players to develop and, most importantly, stay involved in the game.
“Whilst many clubs in the women’s game are focused on developing their own academies to bring through young talent, this form of partnership brings a very different approach to linking the grassroots and senior games.
“This joined-up approach will strengthen the options made available to girls of all ages throughout Inverness and the surrounding areas.”
Thistle Girls FC head coach Lee Murray shared Mason’s enthusiasm, and added: “Thistle Girls are delighted that our girls section is to join with ICT.
“Thistle Girls have gone from strength to strength over the past few years and we see this partnership as a natural progression that will allow us to continue to develop and grow as a club.
“First and foremost, linking with Caley Thistle gives our girls the opportunity to aim for the very top, with a pathway now open to both their development squad and ultimately their first team.
“With our teams ranging from Primary One pupils to under-16s, and numbers at around 70 girls at the club currently, this provides these girls with a fantastic opportunity.”
Read the full edition of today's Inverness Courier here.
