Scottish women’s football pioneer, Elsie Cook, is the latest inductee to the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the game.

The 79-year-old was a leading figure in the women’s game throughout 1970s and 80s, and an architect of the game as we know it today. Elsie started out in her career as a player in the 1960s with Stewarton Thistle before becoming the first honorary secretary of the Scottish Women’s Football Association in 1972.

Elsie oversaw the first ever international challenge match involving the Scotland Women’s National Team which took place against England at Ravenscraig Park in Greenock in November 1972.

 In 1974, after resigning as secretary, Elsie was appointed as the Scotland Women’s National Team manager. Elsie’s tireless pursuit of opportunities for girls’ and women to play football has saw her remain an advocate and activist for the women’s game in Scotland across the decades.

Last August, Elsie looked back on 50 years since the ban was lifted on women playing football in Scotland, you can watch Elsie’s story here.

Reflecting on her induction Elsie said: “Being inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame is incredible.

“It was a really emotional day and every time I think about it, I get teary. I feel really honoured and now I know that all the hard work in the past to gain recognition for women’s football was worthwhile.”

 As captured in Elsie’s new book, ‘A Kiss Fae Pele’, Scottish FA Chief Executive, Ian Maxwell, acknowledged the importance of Elsie’s resilience and dedication: “Elsie is a force of nature and what she has done for the women’s game in Scotland will never be forgotten.

“Elsie’s dedication and passion for the game is testament to the person that she is, her strength of character is inimitable. It’s so important that the players of today remember and recognise the trail that pioneers like Elsie and her team blazed.”