After two decades in red, Aberdeen Women captain Loren Campbell decided to call time on her career at the end of the 2022-23 season. Where do you even begin to look back on a career spanning 20 years?
There have been highs and lows – relegations and promotions, caps for the Scotland youth teams, playing in local parks to playing at the biggest stadiums in the country, and, in February, the defender became the first player to reach 100 appearances for the Dons Women since they became part of Aberdeen FC in 2019.
To mark what was a terrific career, the Press and Journal dug into the archives and invited Campbell, 32, on a trip down memory lane to reflect on time as a player through a series of significant pictures.
Below are the series of pictures we discussed with Campbell in the interview – which you can listen to above.
1 – Aberdeen FC Ladies in 2006 ahead of trip to Sweden to play in the Gothia Cup
Loren Campbell, second from left, as part of the Aberdeen FC Ladies U15s squad in 2006 ahead of the Gothia Cup in Sweden, alongside coach and dad Graham, left.
2 – In 2007 ahead of the U17s European Championships
North-east footballers, from left to right, Rebecca Dempster, Loren Campbell, Angela Waite and Rachael Small (now Boyle), pictured ahead of their trip with Scotland to play at the U17 European Championships in 2007. Image: DC Thomson.
3 – A SWPL 1 clash against Forfar Farmington in 2009
Loren Campbell in action for Aberdeen Ladies against Forfar Farmington in 2009.
4 – RGU graduation in 2015
Loren at her RGU graduation in 2015 after achieving BeNG Electronic and Electrical engineering degree. Image: DC Thomson.
5 – SWPL media day at Hampden in 2016
Loren, second from left, was Aberdeen’s representative at a 2016 SWPL photo call at Hampden. Image: SNS.
6 – Aberdeen FC Ladies become Aberdeen FC Women after being taken over by Pittodrie club
Loren at Pittodrie in 2019 alongside Emma Hunter, Kelly Forrest, Natasha Bruce and Harley Hamdani when the women’s team became part of Aberdeen FC. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson.
7 – SWF Division One North title-winning squad in 2019
The Aberdeen Women squad who won the SWF Division One North trophy in 2019. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson.
8 – SWPL 2 trophy day in July 2021
SWPL 2 title celebrations: Kelly Forrest with former Aberdeen Women manager Emma Hunter, centre, and Loren Campbell, right.
9 – Being named Aberdeen Women captain ahead of 2022-23 season
Aberdeen Women named Loren Campbell captain ahead of the 2022-23 season. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson.
10 – Skippering the women’s team to their first win at Pittodrie
Loren skippered Aberdeen Women to their first win at Pittodrie in October 2022. Image: Shutterstock.
11 -Final Aberdeen home game in May 2023
Loren takes pictures with a fan after her final home game for Aberdeen in May. Image: Shutterstock.
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Listen: Former Aberdeen Women captain Loren Campbell reflects on memories spanning two decades
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