Emma Louise Lawton (born 26 July 2001) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a right back for Celtic of the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL), and for the Scotland women's national team. Her previous clubs include Partick Thistle (two spells) and Motherwell.

Club career

Raised in East Kilbride,[1] Lawton played for Celtic as a youth player but joined Partick Thistle aged 15, immediately participating at senior level albeit in the SWFL First Division South (the regionalised amateur third tier); she helped Partick gain promotion to the Scottish Women's Premier League-2 in 2018.[2] In late 2019 she joined Manchester City, although only featured for the English club's development side in a spell which was also interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In July 2022, Lawton returned to Scotland and signed for SWPL-1 team Motherwell,[3] where she spent one season before re-joining Partick Thistle, now also members of the top tier.[4][2] During the 2023–24 season, Partick reached their first major final – losing 4–1 to Rangers in the SWPL Cup[5] – and finished in the league's top six, with Lawton named in the PFA Scotland SWPL Team of the Year[6] and as the club's Player of the Year.[7] She agreed a new contract with Partick and began the following campaign with the Jags, but joined Celtic on a full-time contract on 12 September 2024 (transfer deadline day) along with Motherwell's Morgan Cross.[8][1][9] She quickly impressed with performances in the SWPL and the UEFA Women's Champions League.[10]

International career

Lawton was selected for the Scotland under-23 team, which plays only friendly matches, in 2023 and 2024.[11][12]

She received her first call-up to the senior Scotland squad in February 2025,[13] making her debut as a starter in a 1–0 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League defeat away to Austria,[14] and scoring her first international goal four days later in a 2–1 loss to the Netherlands at Hampden Park.[15]

Personal life

Lawton has studied and trained as a sports coach, achieving a BA in Football Coaching and Management from the UCFB in 2022, and holding a UEFA B licence by 2024.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Celtic return 'a humbling moment' for East Kilbride star after academy days, Paul Thomson, Daily Record, 23 September 2024
  2. ^ a b Partick Thistle ace returns to 'make more history' in SWPL, Paul Thomson, Daily Record, 14 July 2023
  3. ^ Emma Lawton Joins Motherwell FC, Motherwell FC, 2 July 2022
  4. ^ Emma Lawton Returns To PTWFC, Partick Thistle FC, 7 July 2023
  5. ^ "Rangers Women 4-1 Partick Thistle Women: Jo Potter's side retain Sky Sports Cup with comfortable win at Tynecastle". Sky Sports. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  6. ^ Rangers most featured in SWPL team of the year, BBC Sport, 21 April 2024
  7. ^ Emma Lawton Signs For Celtic, Partick Thistle FC, 12 September 2024
  8. ^ Celtic swoop on rivals for deadline day double transfer, BBC Sport, 12 September 2024
  9. ^ Emma Lawton, Celtic FC
  10. ^ a b Lawton living the 'surreal' dream, Amy Canavan, BBC Sport, 27 September 2024
  11. ^ Emma Lawton, Soccerdonna
  12. ^ Emma Lawton, FlashScore. Retrieved 6 January 2025
  13. ^ Scotland Women's squad: Interim boss Michael McArdle makes 10 changes in first squad with six uncapped players included, Sahil Jaidka, Sky Sports, 6 February 2025
  14. ^ Scotland beaten by Austria in McArdle’s first game in interim charge, STV News, 21 February 2025
  15. ^ Scotland 1–2 Netherlands, BBC Sport, 25 February 2025
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Lawton
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