Laura Holden's Harrowing Journey: From Aberdeen Promise to Alleged Neglect
Laura Holden, the former Aberdeen midfielder now with Swindon Town, has broken her silence on what she describes as a deeply distressing period during her time in Scotland. In an exclusive interview, Holden opens up about the debilitating impact of suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and the subsequent challenges she faced with her club.
The Injury That Changed Everything
Holden joined Aberdeen in August 2023 with high hopes of establishing herself as a key player in the Scottish Women's Premier League. However, just six matches into her debut season, disaster struck during an away fixture against Hibernian. The midfielder ruptured her ACL, sidelining her for what would become an arduous 543-day recovery period.
"People need to know what happened," Holden states reflectively. "It's not all sunshine and roses. There are demons that just get brushed under the carpet without having the light shone on them."
Allegations of Neglect and Mental Health Struggles
What followed the injury, according to Holden, was a period of alleged neglect by Aberdeen Football Club that severely impacted her mental wellbeing. She claims that despite the club initially funding a scan, they subsequently expected her to join NHS waiting lists for surgery - a process that could have delayed her operation by months.
Faced with potentially missing much of her two-year contract, Holden made the difficult decision to fund the £8,000 operation herself. "I thought I was doing the right thing by not tarring the club with the fact that they wouldn't support one of their women's players," she explains, adding that she now regrets not setting up a crowdfunding campaign.
The rehabilitation process proved equally challenging. Holden alleges that the club's women's team physiotherapist provided minimal support, handing her a rehabilitation programme with little follow-up. "Your programme is in your book," she claims she was regularly told, leaving her feeling like a burden when seeking advice.
Breaking Point and Eventual Departure
Tensions reached a climax in autumn 2024 when Holden, believing herself ready to return to ball training, claims she was repeatedly denied by the physio. A heated confrontation on the pitch followed, witnessed by teammates. "I got myself into a bit of a state where I was crying so much I couldn't even speak," she recalls.
The appointment of new coach Scott Booth in October 2024 brought brief hope, but Holden says she was soon informed he wanted her to go on loan - a suggestion she found bewildering given her recent return from long-term injury.
After making just a 30-second substitute appearance against St Johnstone, Holden found herself consistently omitted from matchday squads. By April 2025, she had escalated her concerns to Aberdeen's HR department, alleging neglect and unequal treatment compared to other players.
Moving Forward with Swindon
In June 2025, Holden joined Swindon Town, leaving behind what she describes as both positive and painful memories of her time in Scotland. As of January 2026, she says she has received no update regarding her formal complaint to Aberdeen.
"The rehab mentally destroyed me without me even realising it," Holden reflects. "I was so naive to the fact that I was struggling, but when you think about it and you start to strip things back, I was depressed to the point where I did not even know it. That's how scary it was."
Her motivation for speaking out now is clear: "I don't want what happened to me to happen to anyone else." The Guardian contacted Aberdeen with detailed questions regarding Holden's recovery, but the club declined to comment.
Holden's story raises significant questions about player welfare in women's football, particularly regarding long-term injury management and mental health support. Her experience highlights the potential vulnerabilities players face when navigating complex recovery processes within professional sporting environments.
