THE Rangers Women’s and Girls’ squad returned to training and Amy McDonald, who oversees the operation at the training ground, says all the players and staff are working tirelessly to be ready for the start of the new campaign.
Malky Thomson and Kevin Murphy, who returned to the club as a coach recently, will manage the team in 2020/21 and were thrilled to get back out on the training pitch on Monday for the first time since lockdown in March.
The opening Scottish Women’s Premier League for the Light Blues is against Hearts at the training ground on October 18 and Amy can’t wait for season to begin.
She said: “It’s been great to have the girls back.
“They have been training by themselves during lockdown but now they are back and have that extra motivation to get ready for the start of the season on October 18.
“We are all driven and motivated to be in the best condition possible for our opening game against Hearts.
“Everyone is back with us now and the key thing is everyone is safe and well. We will make sure that continues by following all the protocols that have been put in place by the Scottish Government and SFA.
“We are all looking forward to the first game against Hearts and it can give us a proper gauge of where we are at.
“It’s a unique situation for everyone to go so long without football. Everyone has worked hard to keep themselves fit but there is no better feeling than getting back out on the pitch doing something you love. Everyone is excited.
“When you go without something you love for so long you appreciate it a lot more when it returns and we are all driven and motivated to do well this season.
“The girls have all come back to the training ground in good condition and are determined to make to make the most of the opportunities they have.
“There is a lot of work to do though ahead of the new season.
“We hope to bring in a couple of more signings. Sam Kerr and Kirsty Howat won’t join us until their contracts end with Glasgow City so it will be great to get them on board as well.
“Kevin Murphy is back with us and has fitted in seamlessly. He has obviously been at the club before and the experience he has and his personality has made the transition really smooth.
“You wouldn’t know he has only been back a few weeks as he has fitted in so well. That’s testament to Malky and all the staff. Kevin has a great nature and a tireless work ethic and he and Malky are a great team.
“We are delighted to have people with their knowledge and experience on board.”
The Women’s and Girls’ squad are now fully integrated into the club’s football department and will play their home fixtures at the training ground.
It is another positive example of the one club ethos embraced by everyone at Rangers and Amy, who also acts as an ambassador for our diversity and inclusion initiative Everyone Anyone, is grateful to the Rangers Board for investing so heavily in the women’s game.
She continued: “We are really fortunate that the club have invested so much in us and we will never ever take that for granted.
“We are extremely thankful to Dave King for being a real driver and really backing us following the Women’s World Cup last year.
“My thanks go to him, Stewart Robertson and the rest of the Board for the increased investment.
“It is now up to us to work as hard as possible to make the club proud and thank them.
“We are focusing on the process and we have a relentless drive in every training session and game to improve.
“We just need to take each game as it comes and go from there. Our focus at the moment is on maximising our knowledge of each other as six months is a long time not to be part of a group and not to see each other.
“But everyone at the training centre has been absolutely amazing. Having great knowledge and experience in so many departments with Craig Mulholland and Ross Wilson driving the programme is a huge help for us.
“Graeme Murty has also been in to help us so it is a real team effort and we want to continue to build on that and make it the best environment possible for all the players and staff.
“Malky and I often talk about how great the environment is at the training centre. When you drive up to the blue gates, there is not a day that goes by when you don’t appreciate what a great facility you are going in to.
“The pitches are in unbelievable condition and the infrastructure is there.
“It’s a huge attraction. Rangers is one of the most successful clubs in the world and we want to build our reputation in the women’s game as well.
“We want to be seen as a destination that top players would love to come to.
“Things are moving forward and when it is safe to welcome fans back to watch us at the training ground again it will be great for us all.
“The new stand and pitch and surroundings are amazing and it is a great place for our players to train and play. I often walk past the pitch and think ‘if you can’t play on that you can’t play at all’ as it is so perfect.”
Amy, a former Scotland international, joined Rangers as a coach in 2017 before moving to her current role of Women’s and Girls’ Football Manager last year.
It is a position she relishes and one she says all top clubs require.
She continued: “It has been a really interesting role for me.
“The role was needed and it has been great to get Malky, Kevin and the rest of the staff on board.
“We also have Emma Traynor our sports scientist and Michael Gallagher our performance analyst and they can all take care of the day-to-day operations.
“This allows me to look at strengthening other aspects of our department.
“It’s more of an administrative, strategic role and I will work as hard as I can to really drive our programme on and off the pitch.
“I miss playing and coaching but I know the programme is in great hands so I am not afraid to not be on the training pitch every day.
“There is no better feeling than being on the pitch and I can appreciate that as I played myself. The spirit and camaraderie is great but it was the right time for me to take a different role and it is one I really enjoy.”