DUNDEE United's elevation to the top flight, six years after the team's first-ever match, came more quickly than even the players and coaching staff expected. They were heading to Kilmarnock for a for a potential SWPL 2 title-winning game when St Johnstone's unexpected win over second-place Glasgow Women did the job for them.

“It was a bit of an enjoyable journey down when we found that out,” head coach Graeme Hart confirmed. His side went on to win 4-0, with Tammy Harkin scoring a hat-trick to become the club's record goalscorer.

The promotion realises the dream of the team's founder Justine Mitchell, who at the time was co-owner of Dundee United following the death of her father, the much-admired Eddie Thompson. Realising that her club had to move with the times she announced plans for a women's side in April, 2015.

Two months later Gavin Beith was appointed as head coach and started to recruit players, but it wasn't unitl March the following year that they played their first game in SWFL Division 2 East. They beat Dunfermline Athletic Development 6-0 on the way to an emphatic title win.

The SWFL Division I North title followed two years later, opening the door to SWPL 2 football. After finishing only a point behind promoted Partick Thistle in fourth place last season, United have been in a league of their own this time, with 17 wins and two draws from their 19 games to date.

Ironically, neither of the original driving forces is still involved. Mitchell resigned as a United director in 2016 and sold her shares the following year, while Beith joined Aberdeen as Emma Hunter's co-manager last July.

Nevertheless, Mitchell was a very happy woman last Sunday. “It's brilliant. I felt very fortunate that I could set up the team, and to watch them grow and blossom has been great,” she told me.

“To get promoted within a few years, and by such a huge margin, is a fantastic achievement. I'm so chuffed for them all. It was always the aim of Gavin Beith and I that the team would get promoted to the top division.”

Hart was Beith's assistant and eventually replaced him as head coach. “When Gav left it was a bit of a shock,” he admitted

“I took the job on a short term basis, but we did quite well in the League Cup and it was quite an easy decision for all parties to continue with it.”

The arrival of Cassie Cowper and Lauren Perry from Forfar Farmington, plus Rachel Todd from St Johnstone, strengthened an already strong squad featuring stalwarts such as Harkin, Laurie Ross, Jade McLaren and Danni McGinley. Some have been with the club for the entire journey.

The title win followed some momentous personal news for Hart just two days earlier when he was given the all-clear after two operations for thyroid cancer.

“It came out of the blue,” the 33-year-old said.. “Hearing the word cancer is probably the worst part of it.

“I had a lump in my throat, and went for tests which didn't reveal anything. Then eventually they found out it was cancer.

“I had my right thyroid lobe removed and then a few months later the left one. Just at start of last week I had radioactive treatment and then a scan which revealed it was all clear.

“I got that good news on Friday and we won the league on Sunday. It was a fantastic weekend.”

Hart says the support of women's club chair Colin Stewart in addition to his backroom staff and players helped him through the ordeal. “It might sound ridiculous, but I wanted to carry on as normal,” he pointed out.

“It meant I could take my mind off everything and just focus on football.”

United's next home game is not until May 8, at which point they are expected to be presented with the SWPL 2 trophy.

And another thing

CELTIC'S 4-0 win over Hibernian at Celtic Park yesterday made it three games in four days played at SPFL grounds.

Hibs played at Easter Road on Wednesday – for the second time this season – beating Partick Thistle 1-0. On the same night history was made at Pittodrie when Rangers beat Aberdeen 2-0 to go back top of the league in the first-ever women's match played at the stadium.

The atmosphere and the attention to detail of the home club was appreciated by both sets of players and coaching staffs. For those at Aberdeen who have been life-long supporters of the club it was a very special night indeed.