On Sunday Kelly Forrest will be presented with the SWFL Division 1 North trophy. The AFC Women’s skipper spoke to Mark Gordon.

 

In the lead up to the Aberdeen FC’s first ever senior women’s side kicking off their inaugural season, Kelly Forrest was named team captain.

As with many of the current squad, central-defender Forrest had been playing in the Aberdeen Ladies side prior to the club taking on the team and she reflected on the news of the club establishing their first women’s team.

“It was good news at a bad time for us when we found out Aberdeen were coming in. It was off the back of our unfortunate relegation to the league we’re in now.

“I remember it well and it was great news at the time and I thought it was just what we needed to get us going again. We knew that we had to bounce straight back up and having the backing of the club just amplified that. It was a real buzz to find out that Aberdeen were finally getting involved”.

Kelly had been with Aberdeen Ladies for some time and welcomed the news the club had decided to form their first senior women’s team.

“I’ve been involved in this spell for about five years and I was involved for a few years before that and I was away with work in between.

“I think previously under Alan and Vicky, they were really ambitious coaches and wanted us to get involved with the club and I think they probably laid the foundations by being the first to knock on the door.

“The club have got involved now at a time when there is potential in the sport and there are young girls there who want to get inspired and with Aberdeen’s buy-in it definitely allows for that”.

The AFC Women won the Scottish Women’s Football League Division 1 North title with plenty to spare to confirm not only a league title in their first season, but promotion to SWPL 2 for next season. Promotion was the target at the start of the campaign but Kelly felt it was important not just to win the league, but to win it well.

“For me it was about winning the league and winning with conviction and I’m delighted to say we’ve done that. We’ve not just won it but we have done it with that conviction and that puts us in good stead for next season. I think the best thing about this season is that we couldn’t be more prepared now for next season”.

Although many of the players had played together prior to the season, the management team of Emma Hunter and Harley Hamdani were new additions and the captain was full of praise for their role in the league winning season.

“I think everyone can say, individually and collectively, we have improved. When we’ve played teams for the second time we’ve went back and looked at the videos and we can see how we’ve progressed and think that is a huge credit to Emma and Harley who have come in, taken their experience and taught us well”.

Forrest is one of the most experienced players in what is a very young squad of players, she enjoys having a role in the development of the youngsters who she feels have a bright future in the game.

“I think the growth of the youth in the team is exponential, it really is brilliant. It’s enjoyable to help the younger players, especially when you can see such potential in them. There is five or six of them that I think can make it big time if they maintain the attitude that they have and they continue to listen like they have”.

It’s not just the youngsters who have benefitted from the new regime as Kelly feels the more experienced members of the squad have improved too.

“You’re never too old to learn to be honest. I think it’s more about being habitual and knowing what is being asked of you in your position at all times and I think a discipline comes with that. I think that is the case with Loren Campbell and why she was given the players player of the year award because of her consistency and doing what was asked of her all the time”.

The club’s involvement has brought with it access to video analysis which has been another key tool in the improvement of the players.

“The video analysis has helped and allowed Emma and Harley to teach us and show where we can fine tune things and also show us how we have improved. I think it is important to reflect in a positive way and the video analysis is bang on the money for allowing you to do that”.

As she looked back over a league campaign with so many high points Forrest struggled to pin-point a specific highlight from the season.

“There are no particular moments that stand out for me, it was just continually winning with conviction that pleased me. I think the league form has been one long highlight, I think that is what I have enjoyed the most about it.

“People say it’s easy when you’re winning but you also learn so much more and you push yourself further and further with that confidence to do so. We’ve had our sticky moments and I think those moments came at good times, like when we had gone on a long winning streak then drew four-four with Cove, who have been a tough team for us this season. I think those wake-up moments came at the right times and we’ve always reflected then gone out the next week and buried the next team we’ve played”.

Promotion to SWPL 2 will bring with an improvement in Aberdeen’s opponents next season, something which the captain feels they will be ready for.

“I think from our experience against Spartans and Kilmarnock this season and we’re not naïve to that league having played in it before, we know that the physicality will be a big thing. I don’t think capability will be a problem as we know we can compete but I think we’ll need more discipline and maturity. We’ve been winning a lot of games so we’ll see how we deal with those sticky situations and hopefully we react to them in a positive way like we have done this season”.

Forrest is looking forward to leading the young Aberdeen squad into the new campaign with a sense of pride.

“I think something I ‘ve learned about myself this season has been to make that leadership more of a habit rather than just a title and realise when those around about me need that bit of leadership. It’s something I’m really proud of and I’ve never invested my time into anything as much as I have Aberdeen and it’s something that I’m really proud of.

“We all put a lot of time into football, after work hours and for me it’s really rewarding to be recognised as captain of such a big club which hopefully has a great future ahead of it”.

The game on Sunday against Dunfermline Ladies will kick off at 2.00pm at the Aberdeen Sports Village. The girls would really appreciate your support so if can, please come along after the Dons game v Celtic at Pittodrie and see the trophy lift.