Former Celtic forward Rachel Donaldson, who left the club during the SWPL1 winter break, has joined fellow top division side Partick Thistle for the remainder of the 21/22 season, following a successful trial match against Hamilton Accies a fortnight ago. Rachel played the entire 90 minutes and clearly did enough to impress Jags manager Brian Graham who, speaking to PTFC.co.uk said of Donaldson:
“I’m absolutely delighted to get Rachel signed and part of the squad. She’s a player of real quality and the calibre of player we want to bring to the club to take us to the next level. She’s been there and done it at the top level and was playing champions league football as recently as earlier in the season.
“When she left Celtic at the start of the year there were several clubs chasing her signature so it’s a real coup to get her to Partick Thistle. I think that shows how this club is building something and players are paying attention to that.”
Donaldson was a popular player amongst the Celtic support, just as adept at playing as a striker Rachel as on the right wing she even occasionally filled a role as an attacking right full back, with her blistering pace and eye for goal the attributes that endeared her to the Celtic support.
Donaldson signed for Celtic from Stirling Albion in 2018 and was part of a squad who qualified for the Champions League qualifying stage scoring a memorable goal against Minsk, finishing off a blistering counter attack started by teammate Izzy Atkinson, as well as being involved in three top three finishes with Celtic in the SWPL1.
Rachel commented yesterday on her decision to sign for Partick Thistle, a side who have impressed many in the Scottish top flight this season.
“I’m really happy to become a Partick Thistle player. When I left Celtic I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue playing but Brian and everyone else at Thistle really sold the club to me. I have seen what Thistle have been doing so far this season so knew this was the place for me.
“I loved being part of a big win against Hamilton as a trialist and now I’m looking forward to more of that feeling between now and the end of the season and seeing where I can help take this club.”
For Rachel to consider leaving football altogether shows the disappointment the player must have had in leaving Celtic. However, as a former Scotland youth international it would have been a loss to the game had Donaldson not found a new club.
Donaldson was one of three attacking options to leave Celtic at the end of last year with Kathleen McGovern moving to SC Sand in the Bundesliga and London Pollard a surprise permanent transfer to Motherwell. To date Celtic have not sought to replace any of the attacking players who left the club, a decision highlighted as concerning with the recent injury to top scorer Charlie Wellings.
Congratulations to Rachel Donaldson on her move to Partick Thistle and save the goals for the other teams in the SWPL1 please, Celtic are playing catch up!
Niall J
