RANGERS Football Club are delighted to announce Andy Thomson has been appointed the new assistant coach of the women’s first-team.
Thomson brings to the Gers a wealth of experience and knowledge of the Scottish game, having played professionally for 19 seasons and then spending time as assistant for the Scotland women’s national team between 2017 and 2021. He joins the club in place of Jay Bradford who departed for Birmingham City at the end of the year.
Born in Motherwell, he firstly signed for Dumfries club Queen of the South, as the striker enjoyed a prolific five seasons in front of goal at Palmerston Park.
Spells in England with the likes of Southend United, Oxford United, Gillingham and QPR were to follow before a return to his home country as he made the switch to Partick Thistle ahead of the 2003/04 season.
He spent a single campaign at Firhill before a move to Falkirk occurred where he won the first division title in 2005. Thomson then re-joined his first side in 2006 spending a year before a move to the final club of his playing career in Stenhousemuir where he scored five goals in 18 appearances before announcing his retirement on March 18, 2008.
His coaching career began as a head coach of the University of Strathclyde’s men’s football team where he led them to the British Universities and College League Championship in both 2014 and 2015.
He also spent time in charge of now Lowland League side Caledonian Braves before joining up with former Scotland head coach Shelley Kerr firstly as her assistant at Stirling University before joining up again with Kerr as Scotland’s assistant coach remaining with both sides until 2022 which included the 2019 Women’s World Cup. He was then appointed as Football Development Manager at Motherwell FC Community Trust.
A UEFA A-Licence holder as of August 2017 Thomson will now join up with Jo Potter’s coaching staff as they target silverware and a strong end to the campaign.
Speaking after joining Rangers, Thomson said: “I am delighted to join the club, it has been a really good decision for me.
“I have only been in a one day but I have been made to feel very welcome straight away.
“It is a great group of players and I know some of them and the staff and I am really looking forward to the rest of the campaign and hopefully it will be a successful season as well.”
Women’s head coach Jo Potter added: “It is great to bring in someone of Andy’s wealth of experience in the Scottish game to the club to replace Jay.
“The work he has done with the Scotland’s women’s national team was impressive and his qualities stood out as soon as I spoke to him, I am confident he will be a brilliant addition to my staff as we target a successful end to the season.”
Women’s and Girls Managing Director, Donald Gillies, also said: “I am delighted to have somebody with Andy's experience join the club and the work that he has done prior with the Scottish women's national team was fantastic.
“Having worked with him at national team level I know the quality that he can bring and hopefully he will support Jo, the staff and everybody else to push the players on to the levels we know that they can aspire too.”