Over sixty of the most promising young footballers gathered at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld earlier this month for the Women’s under-16s National Talent ID Day. Now in its third year, the showcase brought together elite youth prospects hoping to take the next step in their international development.

Players representing 20 different clubs took to the pitch, bringing a diverse range of playing styles and domestic experiences to the national setup.

The event served as the culmination of an extensive, nationwide scouting and development process. Throughout the summer, four regional talent ID days were hosted across Scotland to ensure no stone was left unturned in the search for future international stars.

Those regional sessions saw more than 140 players participate, hailing from 49 separate clubs. Crucially for the grassroots ecosystem, 37 of those represented clubs are embedded within the Scottish FA's NextGen programme, highlighting the vital, working link between domestic youth academies and the national team pipeline.

Over 50 of the players who were involved in the 5 events have been involved with our Emerging Talent or Developing Talent Centres highlighting the Scottish FA’s commitment to the national player pathway.

On the day, the technical and tactical sessions were led by Women’s Under-16 Head Coach Nichola Greig, Under-17s Head Coach Michael Tuohy, Under-19s Head Coach, Gary Doctor and Celtic and Scotland international, Natalie Ross. Performance Pathways Manager and Under-23s Head Coach, Angie Hind, was also overseeing the day.

As the women's game continues its rapid upward trajectory, platforms like National Talent ID and the NextGen programme remains a cornerstone of the Scottish FA's strategy. By identifying, nurturing, and challenging the best young talent, the pathway ensures the future of the Scotland Women's National Team remains exceptionally bright.