University of the West of Scotland (UWS) has today announced a new partnership with Celtic Football Club’s Women’s first-team. The University will provide leading sports and exercise science expertise to the Team via a newly-created PhD studentship, as well as becoming one of Celtic’s official sponsorship partners.

PhD student, Andrew McKeown, was recruited by UWS in February to undertake the specialised role. He will work closely with the players, undertaking research into the science of elite women’s football, while gaining invaluable practical experience of applied sports science by being embedded within the Women’s first-team structure, and working alongside the coaching staff.

The partnership comes after UWS’s leading expertise in this field was recognised in July 2020 by Celtic, with the announcement of the University’s first collaboration with the Club, becoming its sports science partner for the men’s Youth Academy.

Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of UWS and Chair of British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), said: “I am delighted that UWS’s ground-breaking and life-changing work in the fields of sport and exercise science has once again been recognised by this new partnership.

"Promoting the importance of sport and exercise is a key focus for us at the University - not only via our leading research, but also in our student experience. It is fantastic to see the opportunities this partnership has already brought to the University and PhD student, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with the Club.”

The University has longstanding experience in working with elite sports organisations, with the Celtic Women’s team being the latest professional football team to work with the Division of Sport and Exercise at UWS. The team has extensive experience in working with elite football clubs in the UK and across the globe, including the English Premier League, the English Football League Championship, FC Barcelona and the German Football League.

As with the men’s Academy collaboration, this latest partnership is also led by Vish Unnithan, Professor of Sports Science at UWS. Commenting on the partnership, he said:

'Everyone within the Division of Sport and Exercise at UWS is absolutely delighted to be working with the Celtic Women’s first-team, building on the strong relationship we have with the Club.'

"We are thrilled to have been able to give our PhD student the opportunity to work closely with the team’s manager, Fran Alonso, and the experienced coaching, sports science and medical staff at Celtic Football Club. Andrew will play an integral role in supporting the players in the first-team.”

Gordon Kaye, Head of Business Development at Celtic Football Club, commented: “UWS is a University that is immersed in sport and having established a successful collaboration with our Sports Science team in 2020, we are delighted to build on our strong relationship to create a long term multi-faceted partnership to support the development of the Women’s first team and Academy.

"The benefits of which will accrue over the years ahead as the fusion of elite women’s sport and academia will undoubtedly enhance the development of the Women’s game.”

UWS announces new partnership with Celtic FC Women’s first-team