Equality matters.
That’s the unequivocal message from St Mirren Women’s captain Karen McCabe after the Buddies announced a huge new sponsorship deal that will see the women’s team pull on the same kit as the men’s this season for the first time in the club’s history.
Digby Brown became the club’s principal sponsor in June, with McCabe significantly becoming the first player from the women’s team to be involved with the new shirt launch back in July.
Now the women’s team have taken another massive step towards a more level playing field after Digby Brown decided to sponsor their shirts for the 2021/22 campaign.
While something as simple as a new shirt sponsor and a full provision of kit might seem insignificant to some, skipper McCabe is adamant it’s a huge step forward for her team as they strive to become more professional and inspire more young girls to lace up their boots.
McCabe told Express Sport: “Something as simple as a strip actually makes a huge difference.
“We’ve had to wear kit that’s two, three, sometimes four years old and players have sometimes been scrambling to find the right pair of shorts or a matching pair of socks.
“To have the full home and away kit provided for us now is massive and visually it makes a big difference as well.
“Now kids will see the men’s team playing on a Saturday and us playing on a Sunday in the exact same kit. That equality matters.
“For young girls especially, hopefully they’ll see it and realise the opportunity is there for them to represent as big a club as St Mirren.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to attract more players to the squad and for us the fact it’s a professional sponsorship is significant. It’s not just a family member’s company who are doing us a favour.
“It’s a well-known business, and the fact they approached us after seeing the interest in women’s football in the Paisley Express after the shirt launch was important.
“That was the first time St Mirren have used a player from the women’s team and it was a great experience. I felt valued to be involved.”
St Mirren Women’s head coach Kate Cooper shares her captain’s belief that the new deal is another significant step on the road to women’s football being taken as seriously as the men’s game.
She revealed her players have been over the moon to now be seen as on par with their male counterparts and feels they’ll become even more confident as a result.
Cooper said: “It’s a really great move for the players. It’s a mentality change for them because they all now feel like they’re on a level playing field.
“It’s going to make a huge difference for the players and they’re overjoyed with it. It’s something to be proud of and hopefully it’ll make them even more confident on the pitch.
“For the men’s and the women’s teams to play in the exact same kit shows we’re being supported across the board.
“When we play our games now people will recognise us as St Mirren much more immediately, which is a huge improvement.
“It gives the women’s team that equality that we’re pushing for all the time.”
Saints legend and CEO Tony Fitzpatrick feels the new deal strengthens the club’s unity, with the youth development sides also gaining Digby Brown as a new sponsor this week.
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He added: “We are happy to announce this new sponsorship deal with Digby Brown Solicitors.
“Whether it is the first-team, women’s team or youth development squads, we are all St Mirren and to have all these levels sponsored and supported by the same organisation helps show that.”
