Author: David Smith

Stirling excited to work with youngsters at Farmington

New signing Melissa Stirling admits she is excited by working with the younger players who are coming into the 1st team picture at Farmington. 

Stirling, 29 arrives at FClub with Premier League experience in her locker at Glasgow City & Aberdeen alongside a recent spell at Cove Rangers where she built up a fantastic relationship with current Forfar striker London Pollard. 

The winger is keen to replicate her link-up with Pollard at Forfar alongside helping the younger players, “There is a lot of young players in the club at the moment, I am looking forward to working with the younger players at the club and leading my experience onto the youngsters. 

“Part of my decision to join Forfar was to go & work with London again, myself & London built up a good relationship at Cove and I am looking to do the same here at Forfar, until last week I hadn’t been doing any football activity for 8 months, I have a lot of work to do and I recognise that. 

“In terms of my awareness just now it’s a bit delayed however it will come with time, coming back into the SWPL1 will be a massive transition for me, the tempo and the standards is completely different and it’s a step-up. 

“I am up for the challenge here at Forfar though and I am looking forward to working with Ryan McConville (Head Coach) & Kevin McGreskin (Assistant Coach).”

Cattanach pleased with positive change

Erin Cattanach admits there has been some changes in the operations both on and off the park at Forfar Farmington but implies that they are for the good of the club leading into the league season which begins in 4 days at home to Motherwell (18th October).

Cattanach spoke about pre-season and how positive it’s been to continue training again after lockdown by saying, “There has been a lot of positive changes throughout pre-season, we have been working on a lot of tactical stuff and the physical aspect has been tough. 

“We have signed some players that will strengthen the team which will hopefully make us better, it’s been great seeing everyone again as I lost a lot of motivation through lockdown. 

“I would like to finish mid-table at least, Ryan McConville (Head Coach) has been very positive for us as players, things are slowly progressing however we are showing what we are capable of. 

Erin has been part of the FClub for a number of years now coming up through the youth pathway and will be influential with the new recruits to the club.

Erin Sponsored by Pert Bruce Construction

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Ramsay excited to be part of Farmington

New recruit Molly-May Ramsay is excited to be apart of the club after arriving in Scotland from Australia. Ramsay is a former product of the youth academy at Farmington having started playing for the Under 13s set up just over a decade ago aged 10. 

Now, the 21 year old right wing back admitted she was always keen to move back to the UK & has been happy with how welcoming everyone at the club has been since her arrival to Forfar. 

Ramsay said, “I started playing football aged 10 years old here at Forfar when I was involved in the Under 13s set-up & I played in either an attacking midfield or strikers role, I moved back over to Australia a short while after that & played for various clubs prior to coming back to Scotland. 

“I wanted to come back to the UK for a while & when I heard about the opportunity to join Forfar Farmington I thought it would be a good move for me, I am really excited to be apart of the club. 

“Everyone has been absolutely amazing with me from the players to the staff around the club, it’s a professional set-up & the training pitch at Market Muir looks amazing. 

“I’ve had a great impression of Ryan McConville (Head Coach), I would say the Scottish Women’s Premier League is a set-up to what I was used to in Australia.”

Kirsty Fraser grateful for opportunity to play in SWPL1 with Farmington

Recent signing Kirsty Fraser is excited about playing in the SWPL1 after signing from Hamilton Accies. Fraser 21, admits she has experienced a positive atmosphere within the club. 

Fraser spoke about her time at Farmington so far when she said, “I’m really grateful for the opportunity to play in the SWPL1 with Forfar Farmington, I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead with so many good players around the league. 

“I trained a few times with the team before signing and the 1st impressions of the Head Coach Ryan McConville were really good, he has good plans in the way he wants the team to play and I am excited to be a part of that. 

“All the girls have been welcoming since I arrived, everyone is pushing each other on in training just now, it’s all been positive and am really enjoying my time here, I was already familiar with some of the girls before joining Forfar 

“I am using pre-season as a means to get fitter & stronger prior to the new season alongside looking to impress Ryan & his coaching team, I am looking to establish myself as an important member in the team.”

McConville praises club for hard work during lockdown

Head Coach Ryan McConville has praised the work done by all at the club during the COVID-19 pandemic in what McConville described as a “gruelling few months.”

Farmington have been back in pre-season action for a few weeks now and have some practice games upcoming in preparation for the commencement of the SWPL1 on the 18th October at home to Motherwell. 

McConville said, “It’s been great to get back on the training field to be honest, it’s been tough for us all with the circumstances we have faced this year however thanks to the work of those around the club alongside the protocols in place by the SWF and SFA, we have everything in place to get the girls back up and running on the field. 

“We are looking forward to getting some minutes into the minutes prior to that Motherwell game in October, because of the situation we’ve been in then it’s pretty much been two pre-seasons in 1 year. 

“We’ve had new players come into the club alongside some fresh recruitment, it’s a transitional period and a settling in process and we have players returning to pre-season at different times. 

“I’m pleased with the squad and the efforts they have put in to date, pre-season this time around has been a lot better for me as everything was rushed when I took the job last December. 

“We will be ready for the Motherwell game in a month’s time, pre-season will be all about bedding the new players in and getting a good observation of those players alongside getting some fitness into the whole squad.”

Pender looking to challenge at Farmington

Kathryn Pender admits she has come to Forfar Farmington to challenge in the SWPL1 when the season gets underway on the 18th October when Motherwell come to Station Park. 

Pender spoke about the challenges awaiting Farmington in the new season when she said, “We are looking to challenge in the league this season and compete with the top teams in the league with the aim of getting a top half finish. 

“Pre-season so far has been hard however it’s important to get the graft in which will hopefully do us well when the season begins, a lot of us were guilty of being lazy during lockdown. 

“We have been doing a lot of ball work & getting the fitness up, training has been good amongst the group & we have added a bit of sharpness to our game each week. 

“It’s a good squad here at Forfar Farmington, I know the Assistant Coach Kenny Gammie having worked with him at Montrose before speaking to the Head Coach Ryan McConville after a couple of sessions and I just wanted to go for it. 

Pender is reunited at Forfar having spent 2 seasons with the Development squad in season 2015/16. 

Smith excited with Farmington project

Forfar Farmington’s new media officer David Smith is excited about the upcoming project that is evolving around the club prior to the season starting in 3 weeks time at home to Motherwell on 18th October. 

Smith has experience working in football clubs during his 9 years working in the media department at clubs in both the mens and womens game and is looking forward to sharing his experiences at Forfar Farmington. 

“I am happy to be joining such an exciting project at Forfar Farmington, I am ambitious and jumped at the opportunity to work in a professional environment again something which Forfar Farmington provide. 

“Everyone within the club has been really welcoming and have been a big help for myself who has a lack of knowledge at present regarding the club especially Ryan McConville (Head Coach) and Nicola McBride (Club Development Officer) who have been very transparent with any issues or questions I have had. 

“Forfar Farmington is a positive and progressive club who do fantastic work in the community and are respected in Women’s football circles which was a big draw for me, we have work to do to reach good standards in a media perspective prior to the Motherwell game however things are progressing well. 

“Women’s football in this country is going from strength to strength and I am very happy to be apart of that.”

McGreskin happy to be back in Scotland

Forfar Farmington recently appointed Assistant Coach Kevin McGreskin, Kevin  is happy to be back in Scotland having been involved in various different adventures around the world including coaching stints at Cook Islands & the Bahamas. 

McGreskin has been involved in both men’s & women’s football during his time in coaching & came back to Scotland a few months ago, McGreskin has a lot of knowledge to pass onto the women of Forfar Farmington & admitted he is excited by this latest challenge. 

“It’s great to be back in Scotland, I’ve had a few adventures around the world & I had a chat with Ryan McConville (Head Coach) who offered me the Assistant Coach role here.” 

“It’s great to see the Women’s game in Scotland going in a positive direction, some of the clubs around the country have now went full time & with that we have managed to attract a better quality of player to the club as well, it’s a really good group of players who have shown a willingness to learn & take our new ideas on.” 

“Lockdown was hard so it’s been good to get the balls back out again & on the grass, we are looking forward to upcoming games we have in place, pre-season is all about getting into our stride & game model we are trying to implement.” 

“We will probably need to throw away a few cobwebs because of lockdown so we can get into the swing of things, it’s important we keep our own house in check & we are ready for the Motherwell game on the opening weekend of the season.”  

Perry delighted with another call-up to Northern Ireland squad

Lauren Perry – Available for sponsorship

Forfar Farmington new signing Lauren Perry is delighted to be called up to the Northern Ireland squad for the upcoming UEFA Women’s Championship qualifier against Faroe Islands on the 18th September. 

The 19 year old goalkeeper reflected on another positive landmark by saying, “It’s brilliant once again to get called up for your country & an absolute honour, it is going to be exciting again for myself & I can’t wait to meet up with the team. 

“It’s always healthy competition with the goalkeepers at Northern Ireland & I am looking forward to that, I am looking forward to meeting up with the girls again. 

“This week will be a big week at training prior to going away & training with the squad next week in preparation for that Faroe Islands game, I need to make sure I am ready & prepared for camp.”

Looking back on her time at Forfar Farmington since arriving, she reflected & said, “It’s been really exciting for myself, the girls have all been welcoming & Forfar as a town is really nice as well, I am keen to progress my game ahead of the Motherwell game in October. 

“The standard of the league was what enticed me to come to Scotland, the SWPL is going in a positive direction & it’s improving all the time, various teams around the league have now gone professional. 

“I also knew the head coach Ryan McConville from back home in Northern Ireland who was able to persuade me that moving to Scotland was the right decision to make. 

“A professional contract is always something i’ve wanted, hopefully we can go & make a good account of ourselves in the league this season.

“I am looking to help the team out as much as possible when we get back playing, the aim is to have as much clean sheets as possible alongside picking up some points, we are looking for a good league finish. 

“I’m only 19 however I have a good football CV & loads of experience such as Champions League, Internationals, I am looking to bring that experience to the team which would in turn help the team out when possible. 

“There is healthy competition in the goalkeeping department at present, it’s something I am enjoying & hopefully we can bring each other on, I can’t wait for the new season to begin

Lisa Ryan enticed by the professionalism at Farmington

Lisa Ryan – Available for sponsorship

Forfar Farmington new signing Lisa Ryan has enjoyed her 1st week at the club & is really excited about the season ahead in the SWPL1 citing that the professional culture that is being developed into the SWPL was a big factor in her decision to join Farmington. 

Ryan said, “It’s been a great 1st week & the girls have been really welcoming, the coaching has been great & there is a lot of experience in that coaching as well, the standard of the players has been high as well, I am excited to get back onto the pitch & get playing again & we are hoping for a good season. 

“The leagues getting redeveloped at the moment with a lot of teams around the league making some big signings & more teams are becoming professional now so the game is growing in Scotland, playing in the SWPL1 gives me a great opportunity to develop as a footballer & also Forfar is a fantastic place. 

“I have heard some great things about the club & the people around the club, we have players coming in who have International & World Cup experience. 

“It’ll be great to play alongside & against those players, I am looking to improve as a player this season & hopefully do well against the bigger sides in the league although the main aim is to get some points on the board & stay up. 

“I am looking to use pre-season as a means of getting to know the players, we are looking to bond as a team & get to know everyone’s style of play alongside getting used to the coaching staff’s style of play, it’s all about creating those bonds & building prior to the season starting in October. 

“The competition in the team is very healthy, every position on the field is covered so you always have competition which will bring out the best in the players & bring our standard as a team higher.