Jessica Broadrick and Eva Thomson join up

The Aberdeen FC Women’s team have made two new signings during their summer break. Jessica Broadrick and Eva Thomson have joined the SWFL Division One North leaders and will hopefully play a part in the promotion push when the team returns to action in August.

Jessica joins AFC Women from AFC Ladies’ U19s National Performance League team, having played a key role in their recent League Cup success. The defender has represented Scotland at Youth National Team level, including captaining her country at the U16s age group.

Eva Thomson joins AFC Women from fellow SWFL 1 North side Westdyke Ladies, where she has come through their youth teams. The attacking midfielder has also represented Scotland at Youth National Team Level, at the U16s age group.

AFC Women’s joint Head Coach Emma Hunter gave us an insight into the new players and the long term strategy which is being put in place.

“We have taken in Jessica Broadrick. Jessica was part of the 19s squad for Aberdeen Ladies so she is obviously a player we have been keeping an eye on and someone we have known about in the past. She has represented Scotland at U16 age group and also skippered the team.

“Jess is a perfect fit in terms of our philosophy and how we want to play. She will also add strength and quality to an area of the pitch that will be really positive for us. Most of all she has got the right attitude and she is a player who really wants to develop in the women’s game and that to us is critical.

“It is important that we bring in these young players at the right time and for us as we need to make sure we are developing as a team as we go along. So it vital we bring in the key people at the right time.

“Eva Thomson is another international player at a young age group. She is also an U16 national squad player. Eva again is someone we know well because she plays in our league for Westdyke Ladies and has played against us a couple of times now. In the two games we have played she has been a standout. She has probably been one of the best players in the league so far. Again she is someone we have been keeping a close eye on.

“Eva is part of the SFA Performance Hub so does extra training and over the last year we have really seen her develop as a footballer. Again it is about timing, bringing her in at the right time.

“She will add some real quality to our squad in a forward position. Eva can create and score goals, she has done that consistently for Westdyke and we think she will do that for Aberdeen.

“Another young player with a great attitude who is really aspiring to be something in the Women’s game and as I said that is really important to us.

“It is still really early in the relationship between Aberdeen FC Women and AFC Ladies. What we hope for was, that young players see a pathway has been created so they start with the Ladies sides and then they have an opportunity to move up. We are always looking at that group of players.

“Equally with the other signings that we have made, with Eva and Francesca Ogilvie, it is about building relationships with other clubs and making sure we are bringing in the best players in the area. If girls are performing at different clubs and at a good level, then we will look at them as well.

“So it is desirable that we have both avenues open to us.

“We have to take in who we feel will fit into our squad as we are looking to build for the future.

“We look at this Aberdeen side as a new fresh squad.

“It is important that we do develop and we do bring in young players. We could go and look to sign players that have got a bit of experience but we need to make sure we have got these players for the future so we can build something long term.

“In the past we have seen that struggle of going up in the league one season and then going down the next. It is important that we have a really strong foundation for years and years to come.

“Harley and myself don’t just look at what is happening next week, we need to look at how we win games in a few yéars time so we can climb into the Premier League and stay there.

“We have got really good young players in the North-east who are in national squads. So we are not just thinking selfishly about Aberdeen. We want to develop them so one day they can reach their full potential and be the next Rachel Corsie and play for the full national side.

“Also in the women’s game the development stages are slightly different from men’s football. Young women develop slightly earlier than boys so you might see more girls who are maybe 16, 17 years of age being able to hold their own at the top level of women’s football.”

Good to luck to Eva and Jessica!