Celebrating cup success

A football coach is celebrating cup success north of the border.
Hibernian Ladies Assistant Coach Claire Ditchburn, of Whitley Bay, (left) with team captain Joelle Murray on the pitch after a dramatic injury time goal gave them victory in the Scottish Women's League cup final. Picture by North News & Pictures.Hibernian Ladies Assistant Coach Claire Ditchburn, of Whitley Bay, (left) with team captain Joelle Murray on the pitch after a dramatic injury time goal gave them victory in the Scottish Women's League cup final. Picture by North News & Pictures.
Hibernian Ladies Assistant Coach Claire Ditchburn, of Whitley Bay, (left) with team captain Joelle Murray on the pitch after a dramatic injury time goal gave them victory in the Scottish Women's League cup final. Picture by North News & Pictures.

Claire Ditchburn, of Whitley Bay, is assistant coach of Hibernian Ladies and helped the side the lift the Scottish League Cup after beating Glasgow City 2-1 thanks to a last-minute goal.

She has been at the club for two years, with the team losing out in the final last year when Glasgow City won.

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Claire, who played football for Whitley Bay High School and Northumberland Girls, has worked in Scottish football since moving to Edinburgh after gaining her sports degree.

She said: “I am absolutely delighted for everybody involved.

“Last season, we lost to Glasgow City in two cup finals, but Chris Roberts (manager) picked up the team fantastically well and our young players learnt from that.”

Claire is now working through her UEFA coaching badges and is part of the Scottish International set up, travelling around Europe to see best practice in the top European Women’s leagues in Germany, France and elsewhere.

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“I am grateful to Chris for giving me the opportunity at Hibs, but working with a squad of such talented and hard-working players is fantastic,” she added.

Later this year Claire will be with manager Chris Roberts planning their first appearance in the UEFA Champions League, thanks to last season’s second place in the SWPL, against the giants of the European game from France and Germany, Sweden and the English Women’s super league.