Pictured at Oriam in Edinburgh: Rachel Corsie, Scotland Women’s National Team captain with Robin Mitchell, real estate partner in the Edinburgh office of Shoosmiths. 

Rachel Corsie, Scotland Women’s National Team captain recently met Robin Mitchell, real estate partner at leading law firm Shoosmiths as the Scottish FA and law firm celebrated the impact of their four-year partnership.

Statistics from the Scottish FA reveal that since 2019 there has been a marked increase in the number of female coaches enrolling on Level 1 courses across Scotland. In 2022 alone, 622 individuals participated, an increase of almost 200 based on a yearly average. In addition, support from law firm Shoosmiths has helped drive the increase in the number of female referees in Scotland, with over 100 introduced into the game since January 2019.

These figures far exceed the initial target Shoosmiths set itself of supporting the training in women’s youth and senior football of 200 new coaches and 20 new referees over the 2019-2023 period.

Rachel Corsie, Scotland Women’s National Team captain, commented: “Our increased enrolment levels of female coaches and referees over the past four years has underlined the significant contribution of a number of factors, including the commitment Shoosmiths has made to the development of the women’s game north of the border.”

Robin Mitchell, real estate partner at Shoosmiths in Edinburgh, added: “Equality, diversity and inclusive working practices are embedded in our culture. We feel very privileged to have had the chance to further apply these values in women’s football through our four-year partnership with the Scottish FA.

“Shoosmiths is very proud to have supported the training and resourcing of hundreds of female coaches and 100 female referees in the women’s game since 2019. Looking to the future, we are confident that our contribution will serve to further strengthen the grassroots structure of the sport and ensure more young women can play football and enjoy being active throughout Scotland.”

As part of its support of the women’s game, during Shoosmiths partnership with the Scottish FA, a total of 650 match-day tickets for a dozen of Scotland’s home international women’s football fixtures were distributed to schools, soccer centres and grassroot girls football clubs throughout the country. The lucky recipients of tickets included young players from Westerton United, Heston Utd, Glenburn & Houston Utd in Glasgow.