Albert's Ghost Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 Almost made it to HT. Sadly not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fawlty Towers Posted March 18 Author Report Share Posted March 18 A 4-1 defeat tonight, we got it back to 2-1 just after the hour mark but ultimately Hearts' extra quality made the difference. It is Celtic at Petershill on Sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fawlty Towers Posted March 21 Author Report Share Posted March 21 The team are playing at home against Celtic tomorrow with a 1pm kick off. A decent performance midweek against Hearts so hopefully we can follow that up on Sunday. https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-fixture/partick-thistle-wfc-v-celtic-22nd-march-2026/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert's Ghost Posted March 22 Report Share Posted March 22 Something about weans and closes😒 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert's Ghost Posted March 22 Report Share Posted March 22 Yay! 1-1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert's Ghost Posted March 22 Report Share Posted March 22 Stanwayesque! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert's Ghost Posted March 22 Report Share Posted March 22 And undone by a late corner. Need to work on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fawlty Towers Posted March 22 Author Report Share Posted March 22 (edited) An absolutely gutting last minute defeat 3-2 but so proud of how we played today and the players should take a great deal of confidence from that. Edited March 22 by Fawlty Towers 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fawlty Towers Posted March 28 Author Report Share Posted March 28 Just to say that with the Sky Sports Cup final on Sunday there are no league games so we are not back in action to Wednesday evening away to Rangers (at Broadwood). Also, Addie Handley has again been called up to the Scotland under 23 squad. I think she has the potential to go on to bigger things like Emma Lawton did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a f kincaid Posted March 29 Report Share Posted March 29 We're cash-strapped. Why are we paying something in the region of £80k a year to subsidise the women's team just to develop players for the top 3 or 4 in that league so that the gap between them and the also-rans gets wider every season? Discuss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagfox Posted March 29 Report Share Posted March 29 I asked AI about PTWFC in answer to the above questions. It sounds like you’re frustrated with a dynamic that a lot of clubs—especially outside the WSL elite—are wrestling with: the cost of running a women’s programme versus the competitive return you actually get from it. Here’s the short version: you’re not wrong about the financial imbalance, but the purpose of a women’s team isn’t only to produce first‑team stars or close the gap with the league’s top four. The value sits in several different buckets, and clubs often underestimate some of them. --- 🏟️ Why clubs end up “subsidising” their women’s teams Even at the top of the pyramid, women’s football is still in a growth phase. That means: - Revenue is limited (gate, sponsorship, prize money) - Costs are rising (facilities, staff, travel, medical, compliance) - The competitive structure is top‑heavy, so mid‑table clubs often feel like feeder teams for the elite So yes, £80k a year can feel like you’re funding development for other clubs. But that’s only one lens. --- 🔍 What that £80k is actually buying Most clubs justify the spend through a mix of: - Community and participation obligations Many clubs see the women’s team as part of their identity and social responsibility. It matters for funding, reputation, and local engagement. - Long‑term brand value Sponsors increasingly expect a women’s programme. Some won’t even talk to clubs without one. - Talent pipeline Even if the top 3–4 poach the best players, you still build a reputation as a development club, which attracts more talent. - Future-proofing Women’s football is growing fast. Clubs that invest now are better positioned when the financial landscape improves. - League requirements In some structures, having a women’s team is part of licensing or compliance. --- ⚽ Why the gap keeps widening This part of your point is absolutely fair. The top clubs have: - Full‑time setups - Better facilities - Bigger budgets - Stronger recruitment networks - Higher visibility So the cycle becomes self‑reinforcing: best players → best results → more investment → more best players. For smaller clubs, it can feel like you’re paying to keep the machine running. --- 🧩 The real question: what’s your club’s goal? If the club’s aim is: - Competing for titles → £80k won’t get you close - Developing players → then yes, you’ll lose some to bigger clubs - Community presence and long‑term growth → then the spend makes strategic sense - Bare-minimum compliance → then it’s a cost of doing business The frustration comes when the club doesn’t articulate which of these it’s trying to achieve. --- 🔥 A non‑obvious point The women’s game is at a stage where the clubs who stick with it through the unprofitable years will be the ones who benefit when the commercial boom hits. Right now it feels like a subsidy. In 5–10 years it may look like foresight. --- A question for you Do you feel the club is investing with a clear plan, or does it feel like they’re just doing it because they “have to”? Can running PTWFC sustainably help form a strategy for the Men's Team and Acadamy? The short answer is yes — running the women’s team sustainably can help shape a smarter, more resilient strategy for the men’s team and the academy, but only if the club treats it as part of a joined‑up footballing model rather than a cost centre that sits off to the side. Most fans only see the £80k line item. What they don’t see is that a well‑run women’s programme forces a club to build the kind of structures that benefit every department. Let’s break it down. --- 🎯 1. Sustainable operations in the women’s team = a blueprint for the whole club Women’s teams operate with: - Smaller budgets - Tighter staffing - More reliance on development - Greater need for efficiency - More creative recruitment If a club can run a women’s team sustainably, it’s already learning skills that apply directly to: - Men’s first‑team squad building - Youth development pathways - Sports science and injury prevention - Community integration - Commercial partnerships In other words: the women’s team becomes a low‑risk testing ground for smarter football operations. --- 🧬 2. Shared infrastructure makes the whole club stronger A sustainable women’s programme encourages the club to invest in: - Better training facilities - Shared medical and sports science staff - Unified coaching philosophy - Data and analysis tools - Community and commercial partnerships These are things the men’s team and academy also rely on. If the club builds a proper multi‑team structure, the cost of the women’s team becomes part of a shared ecosystem rather than a standalone expense. --- 🌱 3. Youth academy benefits: more pathways, more minutes, more development A women’s team creates: - Additional coaching roles - More match minutes for young players - A clearer pathway from youth to senior football - A broader talent pool for the club - More justification for investment in youth facilities Even if the men’s and women’s academies are separate, the principles of development are the same. A club that learns to develop female players efficiently is learning to develop all players efficiently. --- 🧩 4. Commercial and community strategy becomes more robust Running a women’s team sustainably forces the club to: - Build new sponsorship packages - Engage with different demographics - Strengthen community programmes - Improve brand perception - Work more closely with local councils and funding bodies These are areas where many Scottish clubs struggle. A strong women’s programme can open doors the men’s team alone cannot. --- 🔥 5. The non‑obvious benefit: cultural alignment Clubs with successful women’s teams tend to have: - Better internal communication - More modern governance - More professional structures - A clearer long‑term plan - Less reliance on short‑term gambles These are exactly the traits that help a men’s team avoid boom‑and‑bust cycles. --- 🧠 So what’s the real issue at Thistle? From the outside, it feels like: - The women’s team is run adjacent to the club, not integrated - Fans see cost, not value - The club hasn’t articulated a joined‑up strategy - The benefits aren’t being communicated - The men’s team and academy aren’t visibly linked to the women’s programme The problem isn’t the £80k. The problem is the lack of a clear narrative about what that £80k is building. --- A question for you. Do you think fans would view the spend differently if the club showed how the women’s team fits into a long‑term footballing plan, rather than looking like a bolt‑on cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagged Edge Posted March 29 Report Share Posted March 29 "If a club can run a women’s team sustainably, it’s already learning skills that apply directly to:" We can't run a women's team sustainably. They overspent their budget last season, yet (mysteriously) nobody has been called to account for this. Which defeats a lot of the AI points above. Mixed in with the overall Club overspend, an AI response gets us nowhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAG1970 Posted March 29 Report Share Posted March 29 (edited) Let’s imagine the club will break even this season (still waiting for the TJF to summarise the AGM?), then what could Wilson have done with an extra 80k? Perhaps brought in another quality player that meant we could be less than 3 points behind St J, or maybe ahead of them. What would be the financial benefit to the club being in the SPL next year (which may still happen) versus another year in the championship? If the club needs to break even each year (or break even over x years period), then surely the women’s team should be the same? Is there a plan to make that happen or is it a case of “see how it goes” but for how long? Edited March 29 by JAG1970 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagfox Posted March 29 Report Share Posted March 29 I would think by moving tge women's ream to a sustainable model we could apply some that strategy to the rest of the club. The main tangible benefits seem to be it is a big part of securing use of Petershill for all the teams. Women's football is in a relative infantile state certainly on a money making level but it does attract a faithful following especially families and obviously girls. I see it as having a foothold as the game expands a d becomes more lucrative for the clubs. I can see the issue with it costing 80k. Maybe some clarity from the club would be beneficial to those interested? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenziejag Posted March 29 Report Share Posted March 29 1 hour ago, jagfox said: I would think by moving tge women's ream to a sustainable model we could apply some that strategy to the rest of the club. The main tangible benefits seem to be it is a big part of securing use of Petershill for all the teams. Women's football is in a relative infantile state certainly on a money making level but it does attract a faithful following especially families and obviously girls. I see it as having a foothold as the game expands a d becomes more lucrative for the clubs. I can see the issue with it costing 80k. Maybe some clarity from the club would be beneficial to those interested? You are right about the clarity. It seemed to me at the time that the reason for bringing the women’s team financials into the club was because they broke even that particular year - might even have been a slight positive impact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty Posted March 29 Report Share Posted March 29 5 hours ago, a f kincaid said: We're cash-strapped. Why are we paying something in the region of £80k a year to subsidise the women's team just to develop players for the top 3 or 4 in that league so that the gap between them and the also-rans gets wider every season? Discuss. The argument that we are developing players for the top (full-time) teams is valid but that is an argument for reform of the league organisation not one to say we shouldn't have a womans' team. Unless you go back in time and take the point of view that women shouldn't be allowed to play football as it is a game for men, then subsidising a womens' team is the only way to go. Encouraging a wider interest in the game can only be positive. The rise of the Ultras phenomenom is bringing a cohort of young men to games. The obvious lack of girls faces amongst the Ultras probably means that young women need a different form of encouragement. Womens' football seems to provide that. We could always "live within our means" and scrap the support for the women but at the same time we could always cut back on the playing budget and settle for a mid to lower championship place each season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert's Ghost Posted March 29 Report Share Posted March 29 4 minutes ago, scotty said: we could always cut back on the playing budget and settle for a mid to lower championship place each season. Some would have us do just that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandy Posted March 30 Report Share Posted March 30 That AI is pretty verbose. Could it learn to be more succinct I wonder?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaggernaut Posted March 30 Report Share Posted March 30 (edited) 16 minutes ago, sandy said: That AI is pretty verbose. Could it learn to be more succinct I wonder?! After using ChatGPT a few times I told it to be concise and stop repeating. It told me that it would remember to be brief the next time, and since then it has been, unless I ask it to expand/go into more detail. I find it useful, but it makes factual mistakes, so caution is definitely required if you're relying on it for accuracy. (Philosophical question: Could you call its mistakes lying, given its authoritative tone? Fabrication?) Edited March 30 by Jaggernaut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandy Posted March 30 Report Share Posted March 30 9 minutes ago, Jaggernaut said: After using ChatGPT a few times I told it to be concise and stop repeating. It told me that it would remember to be brief the next time, and since then it has been, unless I ask it to expand/go into more detail. I find it useful, but it makes factual mistakes, so caution is definitely required if you're relying on it for accuracy. (Philosophical question: Could you call its mistakes lying, given its authoritative tone? Fabrication?) I am a Luddite when it comes to AI. It produces a lot of slop 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fawlty Towers Posted April 1 Author Report Share Posted April 1 The team are back in league action tonight away to Rangers at Broadwood with an 8pm kick off. Another tough game but if they can play as they did against Celtic last time out that would be good. https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-fixture/rangers-wfc-v-partick-thistle-wfc-1st-april-2026/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fawlty Towers Posted April 1 Author Report Share Posted April 1 A narrow 1-0 defeat tonight against Rangers which is a definite improvement in terms of the heavy defeats we got from them earlier in the season. Next game is away to Hibs on Sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norgethistle Posted April 2 Report Share Posted April 2 On 3/29/2026 at 4:33 PM, Albert's Ghost said: Some would have us do just that! If we don’t start to break even, then sooner or later we have no club Womens team, like academy need to either balance or pay back into club (transfers etc) to off set those losses. Main team also needs to be balanced I’d say over a rolling 3 year basis 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fawlty Towers Posted April 3 Author Report Share Posted April 3 There is a Race Night taking place at Petershill on the 17th April, tickets are £12: https://ptfc.co.uk/product/ptw-race-night/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fawlty Towers Posted Saturday at 06:04 PM Author Report Share Posted Saturday at 06:04 PM The team are in action on Sunday with an away game against Hibs, kick off 1pm. We had two good performances against Celtic and Rangers so if we can replicate those it will be an interesting game. https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-fixture/hibernian-wfc-v-partick-thistle-wfc-5th-april-2026/ Also, reminder that there is a Race Night at Petershill on the 17th of April: https://ptfc.co.uk/product/ptw-race-night/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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