Following loan moves for six of our brightest young girls academy players, Hearts Women manager Eva Olid and Head of Girls Academy Emma Hunter provide an update on the process and bridging the gap between youth football and first-team football.
Kate Fraser and Olivia Chomczuk have joined Jack Beasley’s Spartans, Ashley Robertson, Beth Rennie and Freya Brien have made the move to Dundee United and Gracie Robertson will join Colin Bell’s Aberdeen.
All six players have progressed through the Hearts Academy and can return to compete in friendly matches with Under-20s squad, which will take place sporadically across the season.
The Under-20s squad will consist of our high performing Under-17s, our loan players and 1st team players, who may require minutes or returning from injury.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website, manager Eva Olid said:
“Firstly, I’d like to wish all of our players good luck in their respective loan moves. They have all now progressed through the Hearts Academy and are at a stage in their careers where they need to play on a regular basis.
“That wasn’t something we could guarantee at the club at the moment, but for every player to have the opportunity to join a fellow SWPL1 club and get regular game time in the top-flight is an option we simply couldn’t turn down.
“I have no doubt all of our players will work so hard for their new clubs and return to us next summer, all the better for the experience.”
Head of Girls Academy Emma Hunter added:
“As a club we wanted to ensure we retained some of our high performing youth players, whilst also ensuring they were given the opportunity to play women’s first team football within the SWPL. This is part of our bridging the gap strategy that we feel will help players with the step from Under-17 onto our women’s first team. To see all six loan players going to SWPL 1 sides is evidence that our Academy is producing players capable of competing at the highest level in this country.
“As part of the loan agreement, the players will return to compete in friendly matches with our under-20s squad, which will ensure the player continues her development within the environment here at Hearts. This will provide opportunities to play alongside first team players and also still feel connected and valued at the football club.
“Not only will this provide a different pathway for our players, but also inspires our younger players within the academy that there are opportunities to continue their development at the club and be challenged in our under-20s squad.
“There has been a lot of hard work to ensure we accelerated on this move within the club to which I am very grateful for.”
