PARTICK THISTLE WOMEN'S FC have announced a new partnership between the club and Drumchapel United that will allow girls to take their first steps into the highest level of women's football in Scotland.

Discussions between the two clubs have been ongoing since last summer and the agreement means that female footballers playing for Drumchapel will have a clear path to first-team football from under-nine's level.

Drumchapel United, who are launching their own women's team in 2021, currently have over 70 female players at the club enjoying regular football. As a result of the official partnership with the Jags, the age groups for girls and young women to play in will be under-nines, under-11s, under-13s, under-15s and under-17s, when players will have the opportunity to step up to Partick Thistle Women's FC.

"Drumchapel United is delighted to be part of a footballing partnership with Partick Thistle, building on our club’s success developing girls from our local area over the last four years," said Drumchapel United club secretary and coach Scott Bland.

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"This partnership now gives our girls a full player pathway from our girls’ academy to the Partick Thistle first team as well as providing our volunteer coaches an opportunity to observe and coach in a professional club set-up."

Partick Thistle Women's assistant manager Beth Adamson spoke of her delight after the deal was finalised.

"This exciting new partnership will be great for both sides moving forward," she said. "Drumchapel United has carried out some exceptional work in the community over recent years and we’re very pleased that they’ve joined up with us to form this pathway.

"We look forward to working with everyone from Drumchapel United during the upcoming season and years ahead."