Club captain Rachael Boyle’s inevitable, much-anticipated return to the football pitch for a second time has been more than a year in the making.

After giving birth to her second daughter in September 2022, her return to action in February 2023 was bittersweet. Subbed on to rapturous applause against Glasgow Women, she scored with her first touch and also with a last-minute penalty. But just two weeks later, she ruptured her cruciate ligament. 

In happier times, Rachael started her career in the north of Scotland, playing for Aberdeen where - like current team-mate Mya Christie - she excelled and became a standout performer. 

Joining Forfar Farmington in 2010, she played an integral role in helping the club secure a runners-up place in the 2012 SWPL season. She joined Hibernian in July 2016, winning the Scottish Cup later that year and repeating the feat in 2017. 

Throughout her glittering career she has also racked up an impressive 43 international caps for Scotland. After captaining the U19s in their UEFA EUROs campaign in 2010, she featured regularly throughout European and World Cup qualifying matches for the ‘A’ squad. She made her debut in 2010, coming on as a sub in a 2-1 victory against Poland.