Elsie Cook is inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame as autobiography launches

Elsie Cook has been inducted to the Scottish Football Hall of Fame for her outstanding contribution to football, as a player but also as a pioneering administrator and champion of the girls and women's game. The celebrations took place at the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park today, Thursday 7^th August 2025, as her autobiographical book, ‘A Kiss Fae Pele’ was launched.

Elsie's book launch was hosted by journalist, author and great friend of Elsie, Hugh MacDonald, who spoke of his own admiration for Elsie and welcomed friends and former colleagues to the stage to share stories and tributes to the woman of the hour.

Elsie’s induction marks a new chapter in the Scottish Football Hall of Fame, as the Board and team at the Scottish Football Museum relaunch the project to bring the cohort of women inductees into balance.

An outstanding impact

A player with the successful Stewarton Thistle team of the 1960s and 1970s, Elsie was a leading figure in the creation of the Scottish Women’s Football Association in 1972. A driving force behind the development of the women’s game during a crucial era in the overall history of the sport, she stepped up to become the inaugural secretary of the organisation at a time when the Scottish FA did not even recognise women’s football.

She was instrumental in organising the first official international football match involving the Scotland Women’s National Team. That historic game took place in November 1972 at Ravenscraig stadium in Greenock when Scotland faced England. Elsie resigned as secretary and was appointed Scotland manager in 1974. She took the team on a tour of Italy, playing in Ravenna and Milan. She also played an important role in the formation of the Strathclyde League during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Through Elsie’s determination, the women’s game in Scotland emerged as a more structured sport.

Words of thanks to a legend of the game

Friend and publisher of ‘A Kiss Fae Pele’, Tom Brown, has been an integral part of Elsie’s book reaching publication. In true Elsie style, the book is written in the Stewarton vernacular (complete with a glossary of Scots words) as she wanted to maintain authenticity and is a comprehensive look back through meticulous records and photos kept by Elise over the decades and organised by Tom. Speaking of the respect and admiration Tom has for his great friend, he said: “When I say Elsie is a remarkable woman, it feels like I am not doing her justice. Her greatness is well camouflaged for, if you were to meet her and talk to her, she remains humble and understated. Her mission in life in life was to give all women of all ages the opportunity to play football.”

On the importance of the work Elsie has done, Richard McBrearty, Curator of the Scottish Football Museum said: “I cannot think of anyone who has fought more for the women’s game in Scotland than Elsie Cook. As a player, coach, administrator, advocate and activist, Elsie has been an inspirational presence within women’s football from the early 1960s to the present day. The much-advanced game of today has been built upon the shoulders of pioneers, many of them unsung heroines. Standing at the front is Elsie – she is truly as colossus of the women’s game.”

Speaking of the new wave of change to bring the Hall of Fame into a new era, Robert Craig, Chair of the Museum said:

"We are delighted that the Scottish Football Hall of Fame has entered this new chapter to address the balance within the roster and to induct women who have made a outstanding impact on the game. We are thrilled to honour Elsie today, surrounded by her family, friends and admirers, and her place on our walls is very well deserved. Her commemorative plaque is now officially installed in our new look Hall of Fame display which celebrates the women who have made the game great, a fantastic new attraction for our visitors to admire and learn more about these incredible women.”

The Scottish Football Hall of Fame 

The Hall of Fame aims to celebrate the successes of those in football who have made a significant, positive impact to the game in Scotland. The Scottish Football Museum team and its Board wish to revamp and refresh the Hall of Fame, to bring its suite of inductees into a new, modern era and to reflect a more inclusive and current view of the game.

New panels were formed in 2024 to discuss and review female candidates for potential inclusion in the Hall of Fame; these panels were formed of experts in football history, commentators, authors, football administrators, SWPL Club Captains. A shortlist of candidates was drawn up to be inducted in 2025. 

In order to be inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame, a candidate must:

Be a retired Coach, Manager, Player with a minimum of 5 years’ experience.

Have made a positive contribution towards Scottish football (not necessarily being Scottish-born or of Scottish heritage themselves) based on any/all of the following 3 principles:

·       Achieved significant success with a Club, League and/or national programme

·       Changed the game for the greater good

·       Pioneered or championed inclusion and/or diversity

There is no minimum requirement of caps for players to be considered for induction to the HOF.

Plans are in place to continue to diversify and grow the Hall of Fame. For more information on the Hall of Fame, please contact: info@scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk and title your email 'Hall of Fame'.