As Celtic FC Women completed a historic domestic cup double, after winning their first Scottish Cup with an incredible extra time win over Glasgow City – when down to ten players – at Tynecastle yesterday, Charlie Wellings also picked up a player of the match award.

It was a just reward for a player who ran herself into the ground, as she alongside her Celtic teammates played 80 minutes of football with a numerical disadvantage, following the harsh sending off of Jodie Bartle.

READ THIS…League Cup and Scottish Cup Champions – That’s Who We Are

For Wellings her goal, the opening goal for Celtic, was her 40th strike of the season. A remarkable record for a player who was in her debut season for Celtic, having only signed last summer, to do so in only 34 games is simply outstanding, but the historical landmarks don’t stop there.

Wellings goal in yesterday’s cup final also means the Celtic goal machine has scored in both the Scottish Cup Final and the FA Cup final, having found the net for Birmingham in the 2017 FA Cup Final.

Quite an achievement, I’m sure you’d agree. And this time a winner’s medal was hung round her neck, as a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City saw Wellings only pick up a runner up medal at Wembley.

READ THIS…Oh When The Celts Went Up To Lift The Scottish Cup

Prior to signing for Celtic had played for Bristol City after breaking into Birmingham City’s first team at just 17, where she scored that FA Cup winner at Wembley. The 24-year-old also played in the England youth setup, winning six caps and scoring four goals for the Under-21s, as well as winning the third-place playoff in the 2018 Under-20s World Cup. This is the sort of talent that attracts young fans to watch women’s football and ensures they return, again and again. It’s also the kind of talent that inspires future generations.

Wellings performance at Tynecastle yesterday epitomised what Celtic have in this striker. 40 goals could well indicate someone with a strong drive to hit the net in every game she plays, and it certainly seems Wellings has that drive to chalk up the goals, but Wellings is also tireless worker. For every run she makes where the ball is received there are ten more where the ball doesn’t reach her. The work ethic in Wellings is as remarkable as her goal return, indeed she’s what Gordon Strachan would call ‘a right good teammate’.

Sàr-chluicheadair a’ gheam @cwellings18

Today’s player of the game#ScottishWCupFinal pic.twitter.com/Jh1elkDFnq

— BBC ALBA (@bbcalba) May 29, 2022

Celtic’s Cup Double of season 20/21 will go down as a historic achievement, but this team will now be determined to push on for a genuine title challenge next season.

To achieve that Charlie Wellings is an essential component for Celtic’s future plans. And as the club made the welcome announcement of both captain Kelly Clark and Caitlin Hayes signing contract extensions at Celtic, so too do we want to hear that Charlie Wellings has done the same.

READ THIS…Reflections on Celtic’s first ever Women’s Scottish Cup Triumph at Tynecastle

If Celtic have genuine ambitions as a club to qualify for Champions League football – and challenge for league titles – having Charlie Welling tied to the club for the foreseeable future is absolutely vital if those ambitions are to be realised. After all, 40 goal strikers don’t come easy, so when you get one you move heaven and earth to keep them.

It’s time to sign Charlie Wellings up Celtic – it’s simply a case of common sense.

PS Charlie Wellings had a few injury problems at the start of this year which kept her out of the team, without that she could have equalled Henrik’ magnificent 50 goals in one season for Celtic

Niall J

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