Docherty: No Place I'd Rather Be

NICOLA DOCHERTY says there’s no place she would rather be after agreeing a new contract at Rangers.

The captain, who has been with the Light Blues since rejoining for a second spell back in 2020, has put pen to paper on a one-year deal to extend her stay in Glasgow.

Speaking to RangersTV after signing on, she commented: “I have obviously supported this club since I was a young kid.

“If you had asked me when I was that young kid would I ever have been playing for Rangers I probably would have said no.

“The opportunities for young girls back then just wasn't possible but the backing from the club that they have shown the women's team over the last few seasons has been unreal, there is genuinely no place I'd rather be.

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“Year after year it has got better, I will always continue to drive the standards as a player and also drive the standards within the club.

“I want what is best for the team and I will always continue to fight that.

“The club has been excellent so far in terms of their support for us and hopefully that continues to grow.”

The Scotland international has heaped praise on Head Coach Leanne Crichton for the impact she has had on the squad this season, highlighting the gametime she has regularly given to the young players in the group to allow them to make the step up.

She continued: “To be honest Leanne and I were actually speaking the other day and it genuinely is a full circle moment.

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“It doesn't seem that long ago that I was still playing alongside her internationally and at club as well.

“A full circle moment but she has been incredible since she has come in the door.

“I think the opportunities that she also given young players is massive.

“She has just been a breath of fresh air since she has come in. It is obviously tough when a new coach comes in, you are trying to then adapt to their style of play but I think credit to the girls and the group of staff around Leanne.

“We have all really gelled really well together and we have come into really good form when we have come into the split as well.

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“There was a lot of uncertainly at the beginning and I think every club does go through that.

“Obviously losing the players that we did and a change in manager but that then also puts pressure and opportunities on other people to then step up.

“You have got Lily Boyce, May Cruft, Sophie Black, the next generation of young players coming through. Jodi McLeary and Eilidh Austin, I could name all the young players that have honestly stepped up this, they have all been excellent.

“It was a tough start at the beginning of the season but I feel like we have really started to take on that role within the club and we are starting to play some really nice football as well.”

Docherty has had a trophy laiden career with the Gers so far, winning several honours to date including a league title back in 2022 and cup doubles in the previous two campaigns. She insists the drive is still there to achieve more as the team look to end the season on a high by collecting silverware in the final two outings this season.

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She added: “It is hard to sum up and put into words. When you think of Rangers Football Club it is built on winning trophies and we are trying to emulate that as much as we can as the women's team.

“Yes we have got a league title in there and the back to back cup doubles but we always want more.

“We are always striving for more; we want as many trophies as we can.

“I want to look back on my career playing for Rangers knowing that we have won X amount of trophies, so we will continue to do that as a group and staff and hopefully there is more to come from this season.

“To be honest I am really proud of this group and what we have been through this season.

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“If you had asked me at the beginning this is where we would be at that at the end I would have bit your hand off for it.

“To be in for the title on the last day is massive, all we can do is control our result against Glasgow City and hopefully we get the three points there.

“If something else happens in that other fixture it is a complete bonus. If it doesn't, regardless I am still really proud of the group and everything that they have achieved this season facing that adversity as well.

“Nobody at Rangers likes finishing in second place, we always know that being a part of this club but there is still hope and a chance that we can still do that, but we have also got that Scottish Cup final come the end of May as well that we are really looking forward too.”


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