An Inverness girls’ football team has made a major signing – recruiting a Scottish ladies internationalist as ambassador for the club.
Hibernian Ladies fullback Rachel Mclauchlan, from Avoch on the Black Isle, aims to inspire youngsters as a role model for Thistle Girls Football Club, who train at the city’s Millburn Academy.
Rachel, 20, who has been selected to play for her country, said: “I am really excited by this and hope to inspire others to follow in my footsteps.
“I have already been to a training session with the girls and it is a really good set up.
“When I was younger there was not a set up like this available, so it is really good to see the youngsters get guidance from a really young age.
“I will try to make as many training sessions as possible as I am keen to help the club in any way I can.”
The player, whose former clubs include Aberdeen and Inverness Thistle, added: “Popularity and enthusiasm in girls and ladies football is definitely getting bigger and it is good a new club like Thistle FC is encouraging youngsters to get involved.”
Lee Murray, head coach for the club, said: “We are delighted to have Rachel joining us as she is a local girl who has shown commitment, hard work and desire to become a Hibernian Ladies first team player and also a Scotland Internationalist.
“We fully appreciate Rachel is based in the central belt but when her schedule allows she will come along and attend the training to give the girls encouragement.
“It is fantastic to have her join us and act as a real role model to the girls at the club.”
He added: “As a club, we only started recently but the interest from girls as young as five is hugely encouraging.”
