Caitlin Crichton signs professionally in Finland: “Guelph United helped me further my development“
The string of Guelph United players moving up to the professional level continues, with the announcement that Caitlin Crichton will join Finnish club FC KTP. She signed a 2-year contract with the club based in Kotka, Finland, and is eligible to make her debut this Sunday, May 4th.
Caitlin was one of the most important pieces of our 2024 women’s team, appearing in 19 matches last year. In an interview this off-season, she was identified by our GM Keith Mason as the most likely of our women’s team’s players to turn pro - and that happened today.
“I’ve just finished 4 years of U Sports soccer at STFX University and knew that I wanted to continue with the sport, but I wasn’t sure what that looked like for myself. After being approached by MAD Sports Management while I was in Guelph last summer, it really set in stone that the ambitions I had could become achievable. The agency has tons of connections and was able to generate some interest from different teams. Ultimately FC KTP was the best choice for me after being able to have multiple video calls with the coach and learn more about the club”, says Caitlin Crichton.
FC KTP currently plays in the second-tier of Finnish soccer, the Kansallinen Ykkönen, and is one of the favorites to achieve promotion to the top division. Their men’s team did just that last season, and is now in the top tier - where they were many times in the past: FC KTP is a two-time Finland champion and 4-time Cup winner, mostly in the 50’s and 60’s.
Despite the recent lack of success, KTP still remains one of the most supported teams in Finland. They play their home matches at an arena of nearly 5000 seats, in the picturesque town of Kotka.
“It will be my first time in Kotka, and Finland for that matter, and I am going in quite blind but I have only heard great things. I’m ready to embrace and learn more about the culture and country itself. Although I don’t know any other players within the Finnish League, it is well regarded as a competitive and strong league for women – which excites me. I look forward to being challenged by teammates, coaches and opponents who have been in the league for longer and I think it is a great spot to start my professional career“, says Crichton.
Finland plays in a spring-fall format, like North America, so the 2025 season in Finland just started - just like the Northern Super League season did, in Canada, another league that is now an important option for Canadian players turning pro.
“I think the NSL is amazing for women’s soccer, I’ve been able already to catch a few games and it’s just amazing what is being done and I am so happy that Canada has its own league for all the talent we have! Right now I am focused on the task at hand but if it was ever an opportunity for me to play in my own country and be a part of the NSL, it is certainly something I would be excited about. I think I am very fortunate to be able to play overseas as well, and it offers different experiences and challenges that can push me“.
As for Guelph United, her former team-mates, and her former coach, Randy Ribeiro, with whom she worked even before GUFC, while playing for Electric City FC, Caitlin only has words of praise.
“The team I was lucky enough to be a part of is something that still makes me happy thinking about to this day. The girls that were a part of the organization are some of the most talented, humble, kind and extremely fun people I have ever met. Playing for the organization itself, you just get this sense of shared belief, walking into a game you know that everyone – owners, coaches, fans – all believe in the capabilities you have as a player”.
“After games seeing everyone come together to rally through wins, or games that just didn’t go our way, always motivated me for the next challenge. Guelph helped me further my development and pushed me in a difficult league to really compete to stay in the top division. It was also a great lesson of leadership – I have never been in such a leaderful locker-room of girls who were willing to share their ideas and uplift one another.
Coach Ribeiro has played one of the biggest roles in my journey as a player. He led me and pushed me to become the player I am today. Starting with Electric City, he encouraged me coming out of my rookie University year to enter a highly competitive League1 even when I didn’t have the experience. He has sometimes seen potential in me that I overlooked myself. I will forever be grateful for how he stuck with me through difficult times and had faith in me even in the mistakes I made along the way. I still look to him for advice even if I won’t always be his player and I know he’s supporting me as I start this journey“.
Guelph United fans will, for sure, follow Caitlin’s path as a professional athlete - just as she is still up to date with our own. As for any parting words for Guelph United fans?
“I just want to say thank you for being so supportive! The interactions that I was able to have with everyone made me feel so at home and welcomed within your community. I’ve been keeping up with the new season so far and I hope everyone is ready for another exciting season from the amazing women that play for YOU!!”