Hamilton Accies believe they are reaching the top of the women’s club game in Scotland, despite having to overcome a massive financial barrier.
The senior team were pipped to the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) 2 league title by Hearts on the final day, with the Edinburgh giants investing £100,000 ahead of next season.
Similarly, Celtic and Rangers are spending big ahead of their campaigns, but Accies coach Bobby Watson believes they are punching well above their weight.
“If we look at SWPL2 just finished,” said Watson, “Hearts are investing £100,000 solely into the team set-up, but we are still right there fighting to the very end of the season.
“Having the correct infrastructure and support mechanisms can be worth just as much as a six-figure sum as well. Ultimately, regardless of the money you have, if you don’t have the right people it won’t matter – for me that is more important than anything.”
Bobby added: “All things considered, it is another year where we have built a little more and moved the club forwards again.
“We will have 15s and 19s National Performance League teams next season, and that is a marker set down to how serious we are.
“I think we are a leader when it comes to women’s football in Scotland, and we will continue to innovate, demand better, and get the right people in to make that happen.
“While we can’t offer financially what Rangers, Celtic and Hearts are doing at the moment, we excel in giving opportunities to players to make a name for themselves and give them profile with our excellent media team.
“If we continue to get things right in the background, I have no doubts we will be back at the top table soon.
“We have had some really positive meetings with Hamilton Accies chairman Allan Maitland, Academy head George Cairns and Marcus Nash, who is head of media. Their support is incredible and the facility they can offer for matches and training is one of the best in the whole country.”
While the senior side came up just short, going down to the last day, the club’s under-13s clinched a domestic treble, and their under-15s won a league and League Cup double, which all shows the club is heading in the right direction.
“When you look at the landscape of SWPL2, with hindsight we can say it was a good season but ultimately we just didn’t have quite enough to get us over the line,” said Watson.
“That can happen in football, but it just makes us want to make sure we don’t miss out next year. There are some good sides in SWPL2 to overcome, however, and we will be taking nothing for granted.
“Amy Anderson won the SWPL2 Player of the season and, personally, I am so proud. She is one of the finest players I have ever worked with, and her desire every year to do better is remarkable.
“To also have Kirstie McIntosh nominated and Dionne Brown as top scorer in the league shows we had a good season, even if it is with that disappointment of not picking up the title.
“When we look at everything together, 2019 has been fantastic for Hamilton on and off the field. Obviously we will point to on-field success but we have also made some big strides internally with the club’s structure and forging closer partnership with Hamilton Academical FC.
“It has been very positive, and I am looking forward to seeing how we grow in 2020.
“Our under-13s won a treble, and to win a treble at any level of football is magnificent, but to win an incredibly tough league, the League Cup and the full national Scottish Cup takes something very special.
“Our under-15s have won a league and League Cup double two years in a row, which is a testament to their consistency over a prolonged period, not just a few months.
“Their coach, Lynsey Hogg, who always heads up our Academy, won the Youth Coach of the Year at the Scottish Women’s Football awards and I’m really pleased for her, it is long overdue.
“We have seen several 15s play for the 19s this year, and they will be a big part of the club in years to come.
“That habit they have of winning is something we want to foster as we push to be better every year.”
