Dundee United Football Club Honours: Scottish Women’s Football League One North 2018 Scottish Women’s Football League Two East 2016 Scottish Women’s Football League Two League Cup 2016
Chairperson Colin Stewart Secretary Susan Batten
Head Coach Gavin Beith Coaching Staff Graeme Hart Bartek Bacik Kenny Strachan
Captain Keira Johnstone Physiotherapist Craig Reynolds Media Manger Lee Smith Media Team Drew Orr Josh Grimes
Welcome to the Regional Performance Centre for today’s Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup opener with Queen’s Park.
Last weekend’s game provided us with a lot of highs and lows. It was fantastic to get off to a winning start in the league and get three points on the board. We did very well for long spells in the game, going forward we were a real threat and we were good in possession. A little bit of slackness crept in but the players will learn from that and sharpen up with the more we play competitive football.
Today’s game will provide another stern test for the squad. Like Boroughmuir, Queen’s Park were promoted this year back into SWPL2. They have experience at this level and are fresh of the back of a very good performance against Rangers. They will arrive here full of confi- It was a good start for our new addidence and we will have to be on our tions. Danni got a lot of the headlines game to get a positive result. and quite rightly so for her five goal debut, Robyn Smith & Holly Napier also It’s great to finally get our League Cup both performed very well on the day. All campaign up and running. It’s been far three will play a huge role this season for from ideal having our two previous the club. Our existing players have done games postponed due to the weather. a great job welcoming the girls and The new format is an excellent addition making them feel comfortable in our to the Scottish Women’s Football struc- environment. The team dynamics are ture and one we hope to have a good very good and everyone has a part to run in. We have a tough group but it is play this season. one we are looking forward to competing in. Enjoy today’s game, Gavin
Good afternoon and welcome to the Regional Performance Centre for our opening Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup Group B tie as we host Queen’s Park.
Last weekend was a positive start to the season with us coming away with three points against Boroughmuir Thistle. Scoring eight goals in 90 mins was great as it shows we can be a threat going forward. However, there are things needing tidied up defensively as we were disappointed to have conceded four goals. This is something we want to prevent and have been working hard this week to ensure we are hard to break down.
This afternoon’s game against Queen’s Park is an exciting one for us, they are a team that we haven’t crossed paths with before so it’s always interesting to play a new opponent. We started the season last week with a convincing win so we will look to do that today and start the League Cup off with all A massive positive from last weekend’s win three points. was Danni McGinley on her debut perforQueens Park are newly promoted into the mance. She was fantastic and managed to SWPL2 and have since then signed a few bag herself five goals which had a massive new players. Looking at their midweek re- impact on our win. Holly Napier and Robyn sult against Rangers, it was a tight scoreline Smith were also brilliant with both being at half time shows their ability to compete involved in the goals and were consistently against top teams. I’m sure it will be a com- good throughout the full 90 minutes. All petitive match and hopefully if we repeat three girls bring lots of experience onto the last week’s energy and performance we can pitch and it shows, they have fit in with the come away with a win. squad fantastically and I’m sure they will play a massive part in our success going forThe girls can’t wait to get the League Cup started, it’s an exciting cup to be part of, ward. getting to compete against all the top teams I hope you all enjoy today’s game and thank in the SWPL. Unfortunately, we have been you all for coming along to support the club. delayed in starting due to weather with our two games being postponed. Our game Keira against Hamilton has been rearranged for next weekend and we will also be playing Rangers at a TBC date. Today’s aim is to start off with a win.
Sunday 23rd February Regional Performance Centre 2.15pm Dundee United 3 | GOAL 1-0! Robyn Smith puts United ahead with an easy finish after Tammy Harkin’s low cross evades the keeper. 6 | Danni McGinley hits the outside of the post after turning her marker inside the box. 9 | GOAL 2-0! Smith turns provider for McGinley who beats the defender twice before a looping effort finds the net. 21 | GOAL 3-0! It’s a second for McGinley following Isabella Rosalina’s solo run towards goal provided the striker with an empty net. 26 | GOAL 4-0! Rosalina grabs her first senior goal in Scotland ; sliding in at the back post to meet Smith’s cross. 32 | GOAL 4-1! Helen Templeton pulls one back for Boroughmuir with an excellent free kick. 36 | McGinley comes close to a first half hat trick but she finds the crossbar with the keeper beaten. 51 | GOAL 5-1! It’s a hat trick for McGinley with a powerful effort that hits the bar as it goes in. 56 | GOAL 5-2! Ashley Carse reduces the deficit for Boroughmuir as she is allowed time inside the box to finish. 60 | GOAL 5-3! Carse is involved in another goal, this time lofting the ball into the danger zone for Brogan Anderson. 67 | GOAL 5-4! It’s a third goal in eleven minutes for the visitors, this time for Beth MacLeod. 76 | GOAL 6-4! Harkin finds the top corner with a 20 yard strike to create some daylight between the sides again. 83 | GOAL 7-4! It’s seven for United and four for McGinley as she slips the ball past the keeper. 88 | GOAL 8-4! A twelve goal thriller is finished with another McGinley goal, taking her tally to five on her debut.
Aaliyah-Jay Meach Laurie Ross Jade McLaren Robyn Smith Ellie-Jai Reid (Steffi Simson 75) Danni McGinley Holly Napier Nakia Graham (Philippa McCallum 58) Keira Johnstone (Allie Crum 58) Isabella Rosalina (Neve Guthrie 58) Tammy Harkin Subs Crum, McCallum, Guthrie, McMillan, Simson, Carter, Nachman
Boroughmuir Thistle Katie Moodie Fiona Gibson Ashleigh Clark Kimberly Goodchild Caitlin Lynch Addie Handley Hannah Markley (Kim Guthrie 82) Brogan Anderson Helen Templeton (Maria Novou-Torrente 64) Beth MacLeod (Alix Wilkinson 82) Ashley Carse Subs Wilkinson, Novou Torrente, Guthrie, Durand-Watson, Brown, Coppel, Paton
AN INTERVIEW WITH…
AALIYAH-JAY MEACH The goalkeeper has not long turned 17 but is entering her third full season in senior football after spending her youth career at Monifieth and Forfar Farmington. Last season saw the teenager win the Scottish Women’s Football Save of the Season and she hopes she can continue to progress with United as well as Scotland U19’s when she travels to represent them next week. This weekend sees the side host Queen’s Park in the League Cup, are you looking forward to getting the cup underway after the recent postponements? I am looking forward to getting the cup matches started, it’s been a long wait and it should be a really good challenge. It is always exciting to play against a team I haven’t played before.
You represented Monifieth for the majority of your youth career, how was it playing for them? I thoroughly enjoyed playing with Monifieth and I wouldn’t be the player I am today without the support of the coaches there, especially Justine Simpson who pushed me to play for the older age groups of Monifieth.
The side started their league campaign last Sunday with a win over Boroughmuir Thistle, were you delighted to get the three points? Yeah I’m glad we got the three points in the first game of the season, it’s not the way I hoped for us to get the three points but it’s still a win and we can learn from that game and move onto the next one stronger.
You left them in 2016, was it a difficult decision to do so? It was a tough decision to leave because I spent the majority of my career there and Monifieth was the first club I ever played for, but I knew I was making the right decision for me to grow as a player.
You joined Forfar Farmington that season, what made you decide to sign for them? It was a thriller for those on the sidelines, I joined Forfar because they offered me the but what was your thoughts on being in- chance to be coached by a goalkeeping coach volved in a 12 goal match? which Monifieth at that time could not provide It was great for the team to score eight goals, goalkeeping facilities. but I am disappointed in the way we lost the four goals. We can develop these areas as a In your second season at the club you were team and it will allow us to move onto our next involved in the senior squad training under game stronger. Mark Nisbet and Kev Candy, what was it like training with the squad? Looking at your career, how and when did At the time it was an honour to train with the you first get into playing football? seniors especially when I was so young and to I got involved playing football at school with be coached by senior coaches which allowed the boys in my class. I always went in the goal me to develop as a goalkeeper. as I just loved getting muddy, and through that one of my friends suggested for me to May 2017 saw your introduction to senior come and play for Monifieth. football in a sense that you were named on the bench against Glasgow Girls, although
you didn’t get to play, how was the experience? It was a great experience to be involved with the senior team on a match day and it gave me an insight of the high levels I wanted to reach and to play at.
At the time of the interview, you’re just a few days away from linking up with the Scotland U19 squad, are you excited to be involved at the highest level of youth international football? I am extremely thrilled and honoured to be selected for Scotland U19’s, especially beYou then signed for United later that season cause I know it is such a hard squad to get and it wasn’t long before you made your picked for and it is really exciting to represent senior debut, do you remember much about my country. It is great to see my hard work the game? paying off. I remember the game clearly, it was against Aberdeen away from home. I knew they were You’ve been in a number of youth squads going to be a tough side to play against so I for Scotland, what was it like when you had to play to my best ability. During the found out you were given your first ever call game I made crucial saves, especially one af- up? ter half time, where the Aberdeen player had It was a surreal moment to have my first ever a shot from outside of the box and I tipped the call up as it is a huge honour to represent my ball onto the bar. country at any age level. Your first full season at the club saw the side win the SWFL1 North title at Tannadice, how did it feel to win a senior championship before you had even turned 16? To have not even turned sixteen and to win such an important championship after a tough battle with East Fife for the league title, it was a huge achievement for myself personally and for the club and my teammates. Was it difficult to fit in at a new club when you joined United or did it help that there were a few players around your age group? I didn’t feel it was hard to settle into United as I had been coached by their goalkeeper coach, Kenny Strachan when I was younger, so by the time I signed for Dundee United I already knew some of the girls. Going into your third full season of senior football, what’s your aims for the year ahead? My aims for this season is to be the best I can be in each game and to keep learning and progressing as a goalkeeper. I’m also hoping to keep as many clean sheets for my team as I can.
What team did you support when you were younger and why? The male team I support is Manchester United as I look up to their goalkeeper David De Gea as a role model and someone to learn from. If you had to pick a game you’ve played in, which is your favourite? I have two favourite games that I have played in so far. The first was last season against Hearts as we played at Tynecastle and it was brilliant to have won that game 1-0 and even better personally to have kept a clean sheet. My second favourite game came in October 2018 as I played for Scotland U17s against Slovakia, we drew the game 0-0, it was a great achievement to have kept a clean sheet and to also be awarded player of the match for that game.
Who are the best players you have played with and against? The best player I have played against has to be Jamie-Lee Napier in a squad match with Scotland U17s. The best player I have played with is Eirinn McCafferty who has went abroad to play in America.
Player Sponsorship - £200 - You will receive a signed and framed shirt at the end of season presentation evening - Two complimentary tickets to the end of season presentation evening - Social media announcement - Your name/company name/logo in our online matchday programme and on our goal graphics Match Sponsor - £50 per match - Your name/company name/logo in matchday programme of sponsored match - Your name/company name/logo in social media posts regarding the game prior to and after full time - Photograph of you and your selected Player of the Match presenting them with their award
Player of the Month - £50 per month or £400 for the entire season - Promotion of sponsorship via social media channels and matchday programme - Player of the Month trophy to be presented by sponsor to winning player Goal of the Month - £50 per month or £400 for the entire season - Promotion of sponsorship via social media channels and matchday programme - Player of the Month trophy to be presented by sponsor to winning player Social Media Sponsorship - £480 - Your name/company name/logo on all social media graphics for the entire season - A large reach on social media means more people will see your name/company name - Two complimentary tickets to the end of season presentation evening - Your name/company name in our online matchday programme
Match Highlight Sponsor - £480 - Your name/company name/logo included in all highlight packages (there is a minimum of 30 matches to be played in 2020) - Two complimentary tickets to the end of season presentation evening - Your name/company name in our online matchday programme To select any of these sponsorship packages, please contact enquiries@dundeeunitedct.co.uk
DATE
OPPOSITION
STARTING XI
16/02
Rangers (LC)
H
P P
23/02
Boroughmuir Thistle
H
8 4
01/03
Queen’s Park (LC)
H
08/03
Hamilton Acad. (LC) A
15/03
Kilmarnock
A
22/03
Stirling University
H
05/04
Queen’s Park
A
19/04
Glasgow
H
29/04
St Johnstone
A
03/05
Hamilton Accies
H
10/05
Aberdeen
A
24/05
Partick Thistle
A
31/05
Boroughmuir Thistle
A
03/06
Kilmarnock
H
07/06
Stirling University
A
14/06
Queen’s Park
H
28/06
Glasgow
A
02/08
St Johnstone
H
09/08
Hamilton Accies
A
23/08
Aberdeen
H
30/08
Partick Thistle
H
06/09
Boroughmuir Thistle
H
27/09
Kilmarnock
A
30/09
Stirling University
H
11/10
Queen’s Park
A
18/10
St Johnstone
A
28/10
Glasgow
H
01/11
Hamilton Accies
H
08/11
Aberdeen
A
15/11
Partick Thistle
A
Meach
Reid
HARKIN
McLaren
L. Ross
KEY | Scorers in BOLD | Sub used 1 | Sub used 2 | Sub used 3 | Sub used 4 | Sub used 5
Graham
SUBSTITUTES
ROSALINA
Napier
McGINLEY 5
Johnstone
SMITH
McMillan, Carter, Guthrie, Simson, McCallum, Crum, Nachman
Statistics Starts 0
Sub 0
Goals 0
Assists 0
Bookings 0
Red Cards 0
Georgia Carter
0
0
0
0
0
0
Allie Crum
0
1
0
2
0
0
Nakia Graham
1
0
0
0
0
0
Neve Guthrie
0
1
0
0
0
0
Tammy Harkin
1
0
1
1
0
0
Keira Johnstone Philippa McCallum
1 0
0 1
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
Danni McGinley
1
0
5
0
0
0
Jade McLaren
1
0
0
0
0
0
Rebecca McMillan
0
0
0
0
0
0
Aaliyah-Jay Meach
1
0
0
0
0
0
Caroline Nachman Holly Napier
0 1
0 0
0 0
0 1
0 0
0 0
Ellie-Jai Reid
1
0
0
0
0
0
Rachel Robbie
0
0
0
0
0
0
Isabella Rosalina
1
0
1
1
0
0
Erin Ross
0
0
0
0
0
0
Laurie Ross
1
0
0
0
0
0
Steffi Simson
0
1
0
0
0
0
Robyn Smith
1
0
1
2
0
0
Megan Burns
Scottish Building Society Scottish Women’s Premier League Two 1 Hamilton Accies
Played Won 1 1
Drawn 0
Lost 0
For 5
Against 0
GD 5
Points 3
2 Dundee United
1
1
0
0
8
4
4
3
3 St Johnstone
1
1
0
0
4
2
2
3
4 Partick Thistle
1
1
0
0
2
0
2
3
5 Aberdeen
1
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
6 Kilmarnock
1
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
7 Queen’s Park 8 Glasgow
1 1
0 0
0 0
1 1
2 0
4 2
-2 -2
0 0
9 Boroughmuir Thistle
1
0
0
1
4
8
-4
0
10 Stirling University
1
0
0
1
0
5
-5
0
DUNDEE UNITED
QUEEN’S PARK
Head Coach Gavin Beith
Head Coach Mark Kirk
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
C MacKinnon S MacPherson T Harkness S Davies M Porter F Fern S Wardlaw L Coleman M Fyfe M Anderson A McKeown H Coleman F Hopgood J Cameron L Kerr H MacLeod N Mullen L Ray
Aaliyah-Jay Meach Rachel Robbie Rebecca McMillan Laurie Ross Georgia Carter Jade McLaren Neve Guthrie Erin Ross Robyn Smith Ellie-Jai Reid Danni McGinley Holly Napier Caroline Nachman Nakia Graham Steffi Simson Keira Johnstone Megan Burns Isabella Rosalina Philippa McCallum Tammy Harkin Allie Crum
MATCH OFFICIALS REFEREE KEVIN HIGGINS ASSISTANT REFEREE ABBIE HENDRY ASSISTANT REFEREE SHAUN TELFORD