Former Aberdeen midfielder Laura Holden has spoken out about her harrowing experience at the club after a knee injury forced her to leave, revealing a culture of neglect and lack of support from the coaching and physiotherapy teams.
Holden's ACL injury was just six matches into her first season with the Dons, but what followed was a lengthy and difficult rehabilitation process that left her feeling isolated and unsupported. Despite being told she could have joined the NHS waiting list for surgery, Holden chose to pay for it herself, a decision she now regrets.
The midfielder claims she was repeatedly denied opportunities to return to training with the ball by the physio, who allegedly said she wasn't fit enough to progress. The tension culminated in a heated row outside on the pitch, where Holden broke down in tears.
In October 2024, Aberdeen appointed new coach Scott Booth, and Holden began to rejoin training sessions. However, just a few weeks later, Booth told her he wanted her to go out on loan to another club - a move that felt like a betrayal, given her months of hard work to return from injury.
Holden eventually made her comeback as a substitute in a match against St Johnstone but was left out of future squads by Booth. The midfielder has since joined Swindon Town, where she is determined to establish herself as a key player and prove that she doesn't deserve the negative experiences she had at Aberdeen.
As for Holden's experience, she says it's a warning sign that other players may be going through similar struggles in women's football. "The rehab mentally destroyed me without me even realising it," she admits. "I was so naive to the fact that I was struggling... That's how scary it was. The elements throughout the rehab and the people I was dealing with was just not a good experience at all."
Holden's account raises serious questions about the culture and support systems in place for women's football players, particularly those who suffer injuries. Her story serves as a stark reminder that no one should have to go through what she endured alone.
"I don't want what happened to me to happen to anyone else," Holden says firmly, her voice laced with determination. "I hope my experience can serve as a warning sign for other players and help bring about change in the industry."
Holden's ACL injury was just six matches into her first season with the Dons, but what followed was a lengthy and difficult rehabilitation process that left her feeling isolated and unsupported. Despite being told she could have joined the NHS waiting list for surgery, Holden chose to pay for it herself, a decision she now regrets.
The midfielder claims she was repeatedly denied opportunities to return to training with the ball by the physio, who allegedly said she wasn't fit enough to progress. The tension culminated in a heated row outside on the pitch, where Holden broke down in tears.
In October 2024, Aberdeen appointed new coach Scott Booth, and Holden began to rejoin training sessions. However, just a few weeks later, Booth told her he wanted her to go out on loan to another club - a move that felt like a betrayal, given her months of hard work to return from injury.
Holden eventually made her comeback as a substitute in a match against St Johnstone but was left out of future squads by Booth. The midfielder has since joined Swindon Town, where she is determined to establish herself as a key player and prove that she doesn't deserve the negative experiences she had at Aberdeen.
As for Holden's experience, she says it's a warning sign that other players may be going through similar struggles in women's football. "The rehab mentally destroyed me without me even realising it," she admits. "I was so naive to the fact that I was struggling... That's how scary it was. The elements throughout the rehab and the people I was dealing with was just not a good experience at all."
Holden's account raises serious questions about the culture and support systems in place for women's football players, particularly those who suffer injuries. Her story serves as a stark reminder that no one should have to go through what she endured alone.
"I don't want what happened to me to happen to anyone else," Holden says firmly, her voice laced with determination. "I hope my experience can serve as a warning sign for other players and help bring about change in the industry."
. I mean, what kind of support system is that? A girl's gotta shell out her own cash for surgery and still can't get back on the pitch. That physio sounds like a total buzzkill 
. And now she's off to Swindon Town to prove a point... like that's gonna make up for everything 
. Why can't women's football have a better system in place? It's just not right 
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I'm so upset when I hear stories like Laura's. It's just not right that she had to go through all that alone. I mean, ACL injuries are tough enough, but add to that the lack of support from the coaching and physio teams... it's just heartbreaking 
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. Laura's story needs to be heard loud and clear - we can't keep letting players like her go through this alone 
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And it's not just her physical health that suffered, but also her mental well-being 
I mean, can you imagine having to deal with all that stress and pressure on top of a serious injury? 
That's some harsh drama right there 
I'm so glad she found a new team in Swindon Town where she can finally prove herself and find the support she deserves 
As for her message, I completely agree - we need more awareness about the mental health struggles that athletes face, especially women's football players 
It's time for change in the industry! 
omg can u believe this?? Laura Holden's story is like something out of a nightmare 
Laura Holden's story is literally heartbreaking... I mean, who wouldn't want to support their player back from injury? 
. We need more clubs like Swindon Town that actually care about their players' mental health and well-being 
. And the fact that they made her pay for surgery herself is wild... Like, why didn't they offer to help with the costs? 
. We need better support systems in place, especially for players who are already dealing with physical trauma. I mean, rehab should be about helping you heal and get back on your feet, not mentally destroying you 
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I don't blame her for being upset and feeling isolated during rehab - it sounds like a really tough time for her mentally 
. Laura Holden's story is a wake-up call for the whole industry, and I hope it leads to some real change 
she went through so much trauma because of her injury and the lack of support from the coaching and physio teams at Aberdeen. I mean, can you even imagine feeling isolated and unsupported during your rehab process? 
. But what really bothers me is that her experience might be a warning sign for other players out there who are going through similar struggles 
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. It's like they didn't even care about her well-being anymore.
. I mean, an ACL injury is already tough enough to get through, but to be told you're not fit enough to play again? That must have been super discouraging 
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. I hope it sparks some real change in the way we treat injuries and mental health in sports 
️. I mean, who wants to go through a tough recovery process without having a support team behind them? 
. This is a big wake-up call for everyone involved!
That physio's behavior is completely unacceptable! 
fingers crossed for laura to make a comeback and show those boys what's what 
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