The boss of Scottish women's football has heaped praise on Ayr United for putting their men's and women's team on an equal footing.
For the first time ever, both Somerset squads lined up before the same camera for their annual team photoshoot this year.
And the move, believed to be among the first of its kind in the Scottish game, has now been highlighted as a key step forward by the game's top brass.
Aileen Campbell, chief executive of Scottish Women’s Football, told the Ayrshire Post: “This is a fantastic statement of equity from Ayr United, and shows the journey the club has been on.
"Ayr United Women are going from strength to strength, having taken their place in Scottish Women’s Football’s new-look Championship, a fiercely competitive league which sits just below the Premier League and kicks off on the 14th.
"Ayr have joined several other clubs in taking a ‘one club’ approach and I look forward to seeing how this raises the profile and investment in the women’s teams.”
United managing director, Graeme Mathie, insisted the move was part of an ongoing strategy to develop the club's progressive vision.
He told the Ayrshire Post: "We’ve set out a vision to unite genders, races and generations in the town and announcing a joint home strip and front of shirt sponsor for the first time was a part of that vision.
"Also having the Men’s and Women’s First teams involved in the Open Day and now joining together for the squad photoshoot are further examples of our desire to promote the women’s game at the club.
"There is still much work to do here and across the country to help the female game prosper and these are small but significant steps step in that direction at Ayr United."
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