Aberdeen Football Club Girls Academy Coach Laura Whitfield Joins The Russell Anderson Foundation to Champion Education Through Sport.

The UEFA B Licence holder will lead transformative programmes blending sport, learning and opportunity for children in Aberdeen’s most underserved communities.

The Russell Anderson Foundation (RAF) today announced the appointment of Laura Whitfield as Education and Development Lead, bringing her proven track record in grassroots-to-elite coaching and SQA-accredited pathways to drive life-changing programmes for Aberdeen’s young people.

Currently a Coach with Aberdeen FC Girls Academy, Whitfield has spent 16 years bridging sport and education. She joins RAF from Aberdeen FC Community Trust, where she designed award-winning initiatives that boosted confidence, wellbeing and academic outcomes for hundreds of participants.

"I've seen first-hand how the right blend of sport and structured learning can unlock a child’s potential," said Whitfield, who will continue in her Academy role. "RAF's commitment to inclusion and long-term impact is where I want to make a difference. Together we’ll help every child in Aberdeen thrive—on the pitch, in the classroom and beyond."