University of the West of Scotland’s pioneering partnership with Glasgow City Football Club and Athlete Focused has been celebrated with a Scottish Women in Sport Award.

The partnership, which is committed to advancing women in sport by promoting and supporting female athletes and sports scientists, has been awarded the Most Valuable Partnership of the Year accolade at the 2023 ceremony.

Discussing the award win, Dr Laura Forrest, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at University of the West of Scotland, said: “We are delighted that our partnership with Glasgow City Football Club and Athlete Focused has been recognised with this award. Our partnership evidences the dedication we have as a University to equality in sports.

These partnerships not only improve the career prospects of our talented female sports scientists, but we also shine a light on the importance of research which directly supports the advancement of women’s football and sport more generally.

Dr Laura Forrest, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at UWS

Through the tripartite partnership with Glasgow City Football Club and Athlete Focused, UWS’s Sport and Exercise Science students benefit from unique placement opportunities, which not only provide the Club with sports science support, but has also paved the way for job opportunities, with two paid roles now held by female UWS postgraduate students.

Collaborative research also takes place between UWS and Glasgow City Football Club, which is breaking new ground in female sport and exercise science literature. The research, led by Dr Laura Forrest and her team at UWS, focuses on the impact of menstruation in football and the influence of maturation on football outcomes.

Dr Laura Forrest added: “The research we are undertaking at Glasgow City Football Club promises real-world impact beyond just this Club. We want to revolutionise training and coaching methodologies worldwide and contribute to a deeper understanding of female physiology and performance.”