Championship and League One transfer updates

Let’s take a look at the latest comings and goings at SWF’s national leagues, the Championship and League One. Last update 21 July.

Dryburgh Athletic

The exit of club captain Laura Boag and established ‘keeper Chantelle McKay to Arbroath means a new-look Dryburgh for the new season. Last season’s top scorer Derrian Gollan takes on the skipper’s armband. Rebecca Scobie and Denver Hopkins step up from the development squad to show the effectiveness of the club’s pathway.

Highly-rated creative midfielder Aoife Gauld has joined from League One newcomers Inverurie Locos, while Gabby Watt, Emily Burns, Olivia Jones-Burns, Katie Hassett and Daisy Hutchison have re-signed for the new season. Influential defender Rachel Robbie, Rebecca Lonie, Clara Laing and ‘Brechin Busquets’ Hayden Coutts also remain.

East Fife

East Fife GWFC have advertised they are recruiting for the 2024/25 season as they look to improve on a strong third-placed finish and good end-of season form. Influential playmaker Brodie Rigby-Wilson and freescoring skipper Teri Skivington have extended their stay at Bayview, as well as talented youngster Tyler Thomson.

Juliana Bennett Luna has arrived from the Hamilton youth academy, and scored a 30 yarder in a pre-season friendly. Winger Fallon Burke has made her loan move from St Johnstone into a permanent transfer, and Fern Newbigging arrives from Gartcairn.

Falkirk

A number of experienced players have left the Bairns since they won promotion, including skipper Lauren Shaw, veteran attackers Helen Templeton and Suzanne Wyatt and 9-goal Kirsty Gilbert, as well as Daisie Donegan, Taylor Johnston, Carly Lauder, Aimee Lenathen, Lauren Simmons and Kirsten Treanor.

PPOTS nominee Iona Bridges is back for the Championship run, alongside fellow stalwart Ellie Roberts, Erin Sludden, Fiona Walker, Gemma Mason, Aimee Docherty, Ella Stewart and veteran Vicky Wood. Kayla Wilson and Ali Strike also remain at the club.

The Bairns have brought in Anna Murray from St Johnstone and former St Mirren skipper and defender Karen McCabe. Edinburgh Caledonia’s top scorer Natalie Brown also joins, alongside experienced winger Shannon Todd, Brogan Anderson and keeper Cerys Williams from Rangers.

Forfar Farmington

Forfar Farmington have advertised they are recruiting for the 2024/25 Championship season. Four players depart, including Libby Freeburn, Haley Kern, Rachel Neave and Claire Hendry who chipped in with a whopping 15 goals last season. Hendry is joining an ambitious-looking Arbroath in the SWFL North.

Glasgow Girls and Women

Since being pipped in the SWPL2 play-off by Ayr United, Glasgow Women have been busy recruiting for life in the Championship, signing 15 players to date including key players from league rivals.

While loanees have departed to rejoin their parent clubs, former Hutchie Vale captain and top scorer in the 2022/23 Championship Angyl Learmonth joins, alongside 12-goal former Renfrew starlet Holly McIndoe and Morton’s top scorer Gracie Cairney and number one Cesc Millar. Two former Bonnyrigg Rose talents are also joining, in prolific defender Ruth Gorman and set-piece specialist Aimee Dilworth. Kacey Black rejoins the club after a spell at Livingston and Carrie McGorm joins from Stirling University.

Mandy Adams and Laci Torrance step up from the club’s ScottishPower Challenge Cup-winning 18s team and they are joined by Abbie Wright among three players arriving from Glasgow City’s academy and Alana Meechan from Celtic. Charlie Mccallum has joined from Motherwell and former Glasgow Uni player Alix Sadler.

Hutchison Vale

Hutchison Vale are rebuilding under new head coach Ashley McBride and have advertised that they are recruiting. The club have announced 8 players have joined the club but has yet to name them.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Caley Thistle have been quiet on the transfer front but look to have retained their promising squad from last season. Kayleigh Mackenzie shock move to Ross County in the SWFL has raised eyebrows, but skipper Kirsty Deans returns, alongside Charlotte Simpson, Iona MacArthur and the dependable Natalie Bodiam.

Unfortunately last season’s top scorer Rhea Hossack has left the club because of work commitments, alongside youngster Lois Stewart who has left for university.

The club has advertised that they are recruiting, while Connie Bell and Zoe Rankin join Megan Scott in stepping up from the youth game.

Morton

Morton finished the season strongly, beating local rivals Renfrew as they promoted young players from the pathway into the squad. Top scorer Gracie Cairney has departed to join Glasgow Girls and Women, but there has been no news of transfers in as yet.

Renfrew Ladies

Longstanding goalkeeper Sam McQuillian has hung up her gloves and promising midfielder Holy McIndoe is set to join Glasgow Girls and Women. Niamh Kinsella has signed after impressing on loan last season, and the club have advertised for recruitment and open trials. Sophie Millar graduates into the first team from the academy. Becky Downs has joined, while Nikki Simonette made her loan deal from Glasgow Women permanent.

Stenhousemuir

Clare Wilson, Erika Eadie, Emma Meaney and Zoe Richard-Campbell have all departed at the end of their contracts, while the League One champions look to have retained much of their title-winning squad.

Stirling University

As always Stirling University’s squad will be bolstered by students attending the university itself, and they have already put a call out to students joining in the summer, as well as holding open trials. The club also has a new partnership with Riverside FC to provide opportunities for local young players.

Westdkye

No ins or outs announced from the Aberdeenshire side as yet.

Airdrie Ladies

Airdrie have retained the services of top scorer Sophie Harrison, but former club captain Maggie Wright has hung up her boots, joining fellow skipper and regular goalkeeper Stacey McCallum in leaving the club. Some rebuilding ahead for the new head coach.

Armadale Thistle

The SWFL East Champions have unsurprisingly retained the bulk of their squad, including skipper Megan Williamson and top scorer Khya McGurk, as well as Mirren Rennie, Emma Macintyre, Kodie Butt, Katie MacGregor, Neve McGuigan, Tiffiny Sharp, Chloe McGarry, Meg Reilly and Hannah Maben. The club are advertised they are recruiting a goalkeeper but have retained number 1 Jamielee Donoghue.

Bonnyrigg Rose

Ruth Gorman and Aimee Dilworth have joined Glasgow Girls and Women, the Rosey Posey also bid farewell to Amy Horn, Sophie Douglas, Lauren Watters, Kayley Robinson, Alexis Curry and Eilidh Weir, while Erin Rodgers is taking an enforced break due to injury. Midfielder Kayla Burgess has arrived back at the club after two years with Boroughmuir Thistle’s academy.

Dundee West

Veteran Laura-Anne Johnston has pledged one more season before retirement, having missed much of last season through injury. But it promises to be a youthful Dundee West side for the new season with several youngsters breaking into the team towards the end of last season, including Kaylee Nicol, Rheanne Howie and twin sisters Hannah and Katie MacFarlane.

Dunipace

Longstanding skipper Natalie Oliphant has hung up her boots, and the club has advertised for recruitment for their first season of national league football.

Edinburgh Caledonia

A strong start to last season was then blighted by injuries, and Caley have advertised they are recruiting via open trials for the 2024/25 season. Losing top scorer Natalie Brown to Falkirk will be a hard gap to fill.

Giffnock SC

No ins or outs announced from Giffnock Soccer Centre as yet, but the club has retained the services of skipper Natasha Reid and Carly Brown for the new season, while Emily Millar returns from injury.

Inverurie Locos

Talismanic midfielder Aoife Gauld has departed to join Championship side Dryburgh Athletic, but Aberdeen FC academy graduate Leigh Walsh joins.

Louise Proctor, Charlie Elliot, Vicki Riddell, Bethan Wood, Catriona McKerell, Courtney Shirran, Abbie Gordon, Niamh Anderson, Daisy Wilson, Sofia Ross, Beth McPherson and Lily Graham have re-signed. Locos have advertised they are recruiting for the 2024/25 League One season

Kilwinning

Kilwinnng have advertised they are recruiting for the 2024/25 League One season

Queen of the South

Queens have advertised they are recruiting for the 2024/25 League One season, but retain the bulk of their squad, including skipper Charlotte Smith, top scorer Holly Ovens, Leona Smith, Freya Brown, Maisie Copland, Alexandra Connon, Jordyn Gallagher and Lois Geddes. Former players Megan Murray, Sonya Carruthers, Siobhan Hodgson and Megan Hodgson return to the club for the new season and Lois Kerr and Demi Torrance have joined.

St Mirren

Big changes at the Buddies as skipper Karen McCabe and top scorer Ceara Macintyre depart, alongside Jen Caldwell, Loren Christie and Caitie MacKenzie. Keeper Sophie Cannon, Maxine Fury, Helen McLeod, Naomi Clark and Hannah Coyle have re-signed with the club alongside youngsters Layla Philip and Abbie Warren. Kirsten Treanor arrives from Falkirk.