Ladies Football ...how it started

In 2003, Queen's Park expanded its football family even further with the inclusion of its first ever Ladies Team, who had formerly been known as Glasgow City Wellpark FC. Frank Reilly had been tasked with finding a suitable club to bring under our famous umbrella and he met with Caroline Jamieson to see whether Wellpark would meet the relevant criteria necessary for the Oldest Club in the World.

Frank and Caroline saw eye to eye on every issue and Wellpark became Queen's Park (ladies section). The first coach of the Ladies section Colin McFarlane took the club to its first appearance at the Scottish Cup Final in 2004, unfortunately losing out to Glasgow City FC. Earlier that year the club had been promoted to the Premier League after finishing 2nd in the First Division. Unfortunately, the next season would prove to be a disappointing one as the club found itself relegated back to the First Division.

The club had forged ties with Baillieston Girls U17 team, who were made up of some of the most talented young players in the country, and Terri Donnelly, Stephanie Handley, Lauren MacMillan, Christie Murray and Cheryl McCulloch joined old heads like Michelle Pasnik, Lorna Gray and Nicky Black in catapulting the Spiders to the top of the League, whilst mid-season recruits like Lesley Condie and Jennifer Beattie helped provide the final push towards the title. New coach Vincent Bryson with the help of Dylan Kerr had successfully coached Queen's to dominate the First Division for the entire season. They won 18 out of 20 League matches and clinched the championship with 5 games to spare.

And so to the return of Premier League football for the Spiderwomen in August 2007. Having retained the key players and strengthened both the playing and coaching staff the squad is in good shape to hopefully cement a place in the Premier League for years to come.

However there is one personality at the club who deserves more than just a passing reference. Caroline Jamieson (Commonly known as CJ) is along with Tina Ferguson the longest serving player at Queens, but she is responsible for so much more. Having successfully helped create Queen's Park (ladies) CJ has now helped the club move along so well that we are now considered one of the Elite Clubs within the womens game in Scotland, having successfully adopted and created many methods of "good practice" regarding training, coaching and publicity. Whilst she has recruited several coaches, her selfless nature and total commitment to the club, its players and staff leaves her as someone whom the whole of the club and womens football owes a great debt. Although now retired, CJ still attends every session and game and somehow manages to kick every single ball with the players from the side of the pitch.

 

 

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