Former Rangers and Northern Ireland forward Kyle Lafferty was back in the national spotlight recently as he, and his side, won one of Scotland’s oldest and most prestigious honours.
Lafferty, now at West of Scotland Premier Division side Johnstone Burgh, was doing his media rounds after the side captured the Scottish Junior Cup earlier this month, defeating Tranent 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw, with the former Ibrox hero converting the winning kick for his side.
Johnstone Burgh are a club on the rise, and the presence of Lafferty epitomises this, with the club growing on all fronts, ground improvements are underway this summer, and there is significant progress across all academy levels.
They are also planning to introduce a women’s side within the next year, signalling a commitment to inclusivity and growth in the game.
Rangers have been at the forefront of the development of women’s football in Scotland in recent years, pioneering the first fully professional women’s team in the country. Lafferty, who has a daughter that shares his passion for football, is a vocal supporter of this progress.
He said: “Having a daughter, that’s crazy about football as well, is really important. I’ll push that all 100%. You’ve seen it in the last 10 years; it’s a growing project.
“I went and watched the Rangers game when I did my medical at the training ground at Rangers. The whole facility that the girls have, they’re now a part of the club.
“When I was at Rangers before, there was no sign of that. I couldn’t even have told you one name of one of the players from the girls’ team. I think everything has been knitted together now.
“No matter what club you’re at, they’re a part of the actual club. They’re not a wee team on the side. I think it’s important.
“Everyone loves football, it’s probably the best sport in the world. It brings so much happiness. Sad times as well, but it brings everyone together. You see that today, this is what football is doing.”
Lafferty’s endorsement underlines the wider cultural shift within Scottish football, where the women’s game is no longer an afterthought but an integral part of the club’s identity and future.
Johnstone Burgh’s plans to launch a women’s team is a clear reflection of this momentum, promising an exciting new chapter for the club and the community.
Rangers may have helped kick off the growth in the women’s game, but that is now being replicated at all levels, and the endorsement of a Scottish football icon in Lafferty is exactly what the women’s game needs and deserves.