Female players from across Scotland gathered at Hampden Park for the ScottishPower trailblazing day of competition and career inspiration.
Organised by ScottishPower, Principal Partner of Scottish Women’s Football (SWF), fronted by acclaimed sports broadcaster Eilidh Barbour, the event welcomed over 50 players from Stirling Albion Juniors, East Fife, Murieston United and Holytown Colts.
They were joined by leading SWPL player, Rachel Donaldson, who spent the day connecting with the next generation both on and off the pitch.
Overlooking the historic Hampden turf, players took part in an immersive careers workshop designed to spark interest in STEM pathways.
Led by SWF Chief Executive Aileen Campbell and ScottishPower’s recruitment specialists Paula Irvine, Stevie Faulds and Fraser Wilson, the session gave young athletes a hands-on look at future careers in engineering, technology and energy.
The afternoon then saw a fiercely-contested football session at nearby Toryglen Regional Football Centre with girls from the grassroots game being cheered on by their SWPL heroes.
The Hampden gathering marked the latest stop in ScottishPower’s nationwide “Game of Two Halves” initiative, now in its third year.
Previous events in Dumfries, Glasgow and Edinburgh have already helped hundreds of girls connect the dots between football and future careers – spotlighting transferrable skills such as leadership, teamwork and problem-solving.
Julie Keough, Brand Director at ScottishPower, said: “We’re now three years into supporting women’s and girls’ football across Scotland, and the growth has been nothing short of remarkable. Football teaches confidence, resilience and leadership – skills that matter both on the pitch and in the workplace.
“As a major employer in Scotland, we’re passionate about helping girls see the breadth of opportunities available to them, especially in STEM. The energy and ambition they bring to these sessions is inspiring, and it shows exactly why this programme matters.”
TV presenter Eilidh Barbour was on hand to talk careers with the girls too.
She said: “Days like this at Hampden show just how powerful football can be in opening doors. The girls I met today have the talent, drive and teamwork you see at the top level of the game and those same strengths can take them into brilliant careers in STEM too. I really hope everyone who took part leaves with something positive from the day, whether it’s a new confidence boost, a fresh ambition, or simply a clearer sense of the opportunities out there beyond the pitch”
