Scotland captain presents shirt to hometown museum

A football shirt worn by top European footballer and captain of the Scotland Women’s National Team Caroline Weir has been presented to her hometown’s museum.

The framed shirt went on display at Dunfermline Library & Galleries (DCLG) on Monday (5 October).

Caroline said: "It's always special coming home to Dunfermline, to see my family and catch up with friends. It's a real pleasure to have been asked to donate an item to the museum and to feature alongside historic figures from the city's history.

“I'd be delighted if it helped to inspire the next generation of footballers from the area and encouraged them to dream big."

The champion midfielder wore the shirt during a match against Switzerland played at Dunfermline’s East End Park last October.

During her illustrious career, Caroline, who started out playing for Dunfermline’s Elgin Star, played with the Hibernian Youth System before joining Arsenal in 2013 after leaving Dunfermline High School.

She went on to play for Bristol Academy then Liverpool and Manchester City, winning multiple FA cups and player accolades along the way, including two Scottish Player of the Year awards.

In 2022 she joined Real Madrid, becoming their women’s all-time top goal scorer and the first Scottish woman to play in Spanish top-flight football. She currently plays for OL Lyonnes in France.

She was called up to play for Scotland in 2013 and is the only Scottish woman to be nominated for a prestigious Ballon d’Or award. At the Euros in 2017 she scored the decisive goal in Scotland’s first major tournament win.

She was given the honour of becoming captain of the national team in February when she said: “As a little girl I never imagined that I would represent Scotland so many times, never mind take on a leadership role of this magnitude.”

And she has again been nominated for the Ballon d’Or award this year.

As well as her extensive playing career, Caroline is a staunch supporter and ambassador for women’s football and sport.

Her fantastic achievements were captured in a mural painted by Lesley Barnes in Pittencrieff Street, Dunfermline, near to where she went to primary school. It was commissioned to mark the Women’s World Cup in 2019.

“Caroline's success should be rightly celebrated in her hometown,” said Kirke Kook, Collections Curator. “It is wonderful to know that she still has strong links with the town and is an ambassador of the Pars Foundation.

“We’re proud to have one of her shirts on display in DCLG so people can come in and see it for themselves, and, like Caroline, we hope it will inspire other young players to aim high and follow in her footsteps."

From left, Kirke Kook, OnFife Collections Curator, and Scotland captain Caroline Weir beside the shirt now on display at Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries. (Picture: Andrew Beveridge / OnFife.)