Edinburgh Uni Thistle: New club offer more playing opportunities as Hibs player joins Boroughmuir staff

Newly founded club Edinburgh Uni Thistle are aiming to help develop players across the capital, with Boroughmuir manager Suzy Shepherd insisting that it will be a ‘terrific opportunity’.

The capital club came into existence late last year as Boroughmuir Thistle and Edinburgh University joined together to found the development team. Competing in the SWFL East, their season kicked off last Sunday and they got off to a wonderful start, beating Falkirk Development 7-2. Boroughmuir and Edinburgh University signed a partnership at the start of the season with many players from the university joining up with the SWPL2 side. The establishment of the new club shows more positive developments in their relationship.

“It’s another great opportunity”, Shepherd told the Edinburgh Evening News. “It's providing the chance for girls that maybe can’t commit to SWPL football or are maybe not at the level we play. It's an opportunity to play football that is perhaps not taken as seriously, and they can play with their friends. It’s recreational and good for social as well. It's going to be terrific.”

As the club were only established in the middle of December, a head coach is yet to be appointed with applications still open for the role. Philine Rouwers, club president of Edinburgh University, believes the establishment of the new club could help encourage more people to get involved in the sport, especially with the relaxed environment the team aims to promote.

Ailey Tebbett joined Hibs last year and now coaching Boroughmuir Thistle. Credit: Boroughmuir Thistle

“We want to give more playing opportunities for Boroughmuir and Edinburgh Uni players,” she stated. “There are quite a few players who don’t get much playing time and also the university season only runs for half the year. It gives people a chance to play outside of that as well.

“We’ve got a good range of players, and I think everyone is looking forward to hitting the ground running. We have got Boroughmuir Thistle who play in the SWPL2, so our aims are more looking to get people to play more and not necessarily try and compete up the leagues.

“We haven’t appointed a head coach yet, applications are still open. At the moment the university first-team and second-team coaches are managing the team.”

Meanwhile, Boroughmuir also appointed three new staff members this week to join their National Academy Programme. The most notable of the three is Ailey Tebbett, who is currently a goalkeeper for Hibs. The American has been out with a long-term injury this season since joining from Edinburgh rivals Hearts. The 23-year-old will now join as an age group goalkeeping coach at Boroughmuir as she nurses her way back to recovery as a Hibs player.

Also joining the coaching team is Jack Murray, who will be assistant to Chris Summersell at the under 16s team. Murray is formerly of Bo’ness United and Spartans and is currently a lecturer in sport at Borders College. Ross Manchip is joining the under 14s as assistant to Paul Weir. Manchip boasts many links including one to Falkirk foundation and will be aiming to help progress more players through the purple pathway in years to come.