After Aberdeen Women ended 2025 with a loss at home to Rangers, captain Hannah Stewart took time to reflect on the afternoon and the year that was.

“It sounds weird coming away from a 3-0 loss, but I actually felt like we played some really good football and caused them a lot of problems.

“I come away from that game quite proud. Proud of everyone for doing their jobs and sticking to the task. I genuinely felt proud of the girls.

“What the manager said at the end to us was spot on. We turn up in these games, we make it difficult, we play football and we have the ball. That is what we have to take into the games against the teams around us in the league.

“I think it comes down to mindset, believing in ourselves in the games against the teams around us that we are good enough to get the results. That has not quite happened in the first half of the season, but it is something we recognise as players and something we need to look at as a whole team and implement in the new year.

“Overall, it has been a tough year. There were changes at the start of this season with personnel coming and going, but I think we have gelled together.

“You can see how much of a team we are in games like this, where you have to fight for everything. You have to fight to stay on the ball because the pressure comes quickly. I think we have learned a lot as a group in this first half of the season, and hopefully we can use that to put in better performances in the new year.

“There has been highlights in 2025 for sure. Hampden stands out straight away. That was a special one for everyone involved, staff and players, and for me personally. I did not think it was something that would happen at this stage of my career. To have my family there and to lead the girls out at Hampden is one of my most special football memories.

“Scoring at Pittodrie for the first time as well, that was special. I wanted to play first and foremost, and then to score on top of that, in front of my friends and family, was something I will always remember.

“It is nice to look back on these memories, but we want to do it again. That is the fight we are trying to instil, that these things are possible and that we want more of them, we want to get back to Hampden, we want to be part of these occasions again.

“That is the fight we need to show on the pitch every week. We want results, we want games, especially in front of our friends and family.

“The crowd today was a big one, and it makes such a difference. It is brilliant to see that support and hopefully we can keep putting in performances that bring people back.

“Now it is a proper break, from both football and work! It is deserved for us all and I think it is much needed.

“Hopefully we can switch off for a bit, put our feet up, and come back refreshed, full of energy, and ready to go again.”