Cup Final Fever
After an action packed November we finally have a team clear at the top of SWPL1, we know the identity of our SWPL Cup finalists, and the SWPL2 promotion push is still wild.
It’s been a wild month in Scottish women’s football (as it always is). Some good, some amazing, some really confusing, events have taken place and we’re going to try and cram it all into one newsletter.
Tynecastle Here We Come
The semi-finals took place right at the beginning of November with the final, taking place in a stadium Scottish women’s football fans have gotten to know quite well over the last few years, on the 11th of December.
Debbi McCulloch will curse us for calling them this but, plucky underdogs Spartans had a big test up against Rangers. They had home advantage and were coming off of a high after knocking out Celtic in the quarter finals. However, it wasn’t to be. The young side will have learnt a lot from the encounter but they fall one step short of a big final in their home city. Rangers were absolutely excellent, a side at their ruthless best in this competition to date, 14 goals unanswered in their 3 games so far. Tynecastle could be in store for a show. Yates may look back on Cornet’s chip and think she could have done more as she was stranded in no-woman’s land when the midfielder lifted it over her and into the net but that would really be nit-picking. It was a stunning finish to open the scoring. The penalty decision really the only mark on the game as a theatrical tumble from Kayla McCoy following a corner was awarded, there were hands on her back but it was absolutely nothing compared to some corner shenanigans that go on. 2 pinpoint crosses from Brogan Hay followed as she racked up a hattrick of assists and Rangers walked into the final 4-0 winners. They now have a shot at SWPL Cup glory for the first time.
In Glasgow, two giants of the Scottish game battled. Hibernian away to Glasgow City, two teams that have faced each other in the final on 5 separate occasions, the two sides with the most SWPL Cups between them (Hibernian 7, Glasgow City 6). A huge game. Hibernian’s recent seasons have been (self-admittedly) not good enough and they went out with a point to prove. Glasgow City uncharacteristically sloppy against Hibs’ high press. Freda grabbed the first after a mistake from Jenna Clark, poking the ball through the legs of Lee Gibson as she rushed out. In the second half some nice play from Hibs unleashed Lucy Parry down the left hand side, her form has been on a real upturn in recent weeks as she shows the talent that Liverpool have high hopes for, her cross found a combination of Freda and, former Hibee, Muir. The ball crossing the line, spotted by the eagle eyes of the assistant referee, before being launched away by Walsh. City fought back and Chinchilla is always the likely suspect to give them an edge. She found space on the edge of the box, laid it back for Fulton who unleashed a shot from just over 20 yards out. Haaland was beaten, although she will most likely be disappointed as it was fairly central. Hibernian were not to be moved though, and thanks to some incredible defending they booked their spot at Tynie. How sweet it would be to win a cup in their neighbours back yard.
You don’t need to break a sweat or have elite attacking talent to book your place in the final though, tickets are available here. Rangers fans in sections N, P, and Q. Hibees in R, S, and T. We’re hoping for another record crowd, don’t let us down.
Have you Heard the News? The SWPL is on Fire
A team is finally clear at the top of SWPL1, just before December hit. Rangers have only played 2 league games this month, their two biggest of the season. Glasgow City and then Celtic. They come out of it unbeaten, but with only 2 points. After City’s win against Celtic at the end of October (thanks to a very late Hayley Lauder strike) the league was wide open for City to take advantage. After a 0-0 in the Old Firm that would have sent either side top had they found a winner, Glasgow City beat Partick 4-1 to become the first side to sit alone at the top of the league this season. There was more refereeing controversy in that one with Brian Graham, once again, demanding better standards for the league. It’s hard not to agree with him, and you’d probably find similar complaints from managers across SWPL1 and 2.
In England they used the WSL to push the development of female referees, something we’d be very supportive of here. It’s not just a women’s football issue of course, referees are under huge scrutiny across Scotland (and the world) with mad conspiracies, opaque decision making, and more abuse than they deserve going along with the job - which it is worth mentioning is not full time. We need referees to play the game, but we do also want them to get the basics right. Something that the SWPL and SPFL need to think about going forward.
Attendance records were smashed for an SWPL game played at a “men’s” stadium and for an SWPL game played at a regular venue. The Edinburgh derby, again, setting standards with 8,066 at Easter Road. However, questions have to be asked after it was reported that 13,000 tickets were claimed - making tickets free makes it too easy for fans to just not show up. Is it more important getting as many in as possible by making it free, or should clubs put more value on the ticket which might mean lower numbers in the stands? It’s a debate that has been had all over the world, we can look at the WSL and see that free tickets can lead to bigger paying crowds at the regular stadiums. Navigating rapid growth causes these tough questions to be necessary, which realistically is a good thing whichever direction clubs go in. Rangers hosted the Old Firm at Broadwood and saw a big turnout with 3,328 showing out for them, slightly short of their Ibrox attendance last season but very pleasing to see a regular SWPL game sell that number.
In SWPL2 the promotion race won’t hold up. Gartcairn sit 5 points clear at the top (thanks in part to Montrose’s points deduction). Below them are Montrose with 20 points, they look to be the favourites for the playoff now and with London Pollard’s imminent arrival they could yet push for the title. Behind them sit St Johnstone on 17, Killie and Queen’s Park on 13, and Boroughmuir Thistle on 12. It really is anyone’s guess how the race for that second place promotion playoff spot will go. Queen’s Park looked like they might be in a relegation fight after 7 games played, now on 10 they have beaten Killie, St Johnstone and Boroughmuir Thistle and look to be right amongst it. Definitely one to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
The bad news from the SWPL comes in the form of Emma Hunter and Gavin Beith resigning at Aberdeen, coming off the back of a 2-1 win at Tannadice against Dundee United. They’ve had a tough season to date but you could easily see them picking up the points required to avoid a relegation play off. Emma Hunter has revolutionised a club that were playing third tier football when she took over - 2 titles in her first 2 seasons with a young, homegrown side followed. We hope she returns to the game in some form soon. She’ll always be an Aberdeen legend to us.
We made Friends Across the Sea
Scotland flew to Spain to make two new friends in Panama and Venezuela (that’s why they’re called friendlies, right?). The two games came out of the blue, and then an announcement that the Panama game would be our first U23 international followed a few days before the game. Realistically it was pretty much the regular team with a little rotation but hopefully a sign the SFA will finally be making good on their promise of a step between U19 football and the senior women’s national team.
We won both games fairly comfortably but they haven’t stopped questions lingering over PML and his tactics or player choice. We are also no clearer as to who may be departing the SWNT as we look forward to qualifying for and competing in EURO 2025. Anyway, enough doom and gloom. We won! Abi Harrison and Jenna Clark scoring against Panama, we absolutely dominated them from minute one. A very different style of opponent than we’re used to, Panama are a physical side who thrive under pressure and love to make it hard for teams to break down (with a little bit of dark arts as all good teams do). Abigoal was on hand to open the scoring, good work from Cuthbert got the ball under control and out wide right for Kerr, she delivered a perfect low cross which was dispatched into the far corner with expert precision. The game’s pace was slow in general, both sides looked a little disjointed in their pressing and forward play. No surprises that it is 3 regular Scotland internationals to get us going. In the second half it was all Scotland, even with numerous changes there was a fluency in the play that hadn’t been on show in the first half. Jenna Clark with a wonderful volley on a corner gave us a second. While we didn’t add to that, promising signs after the break.
A couple days later against Venezuela it was a similar story. This time we opened the scoring with a corner, Kelly Clark’s first international goal. Cuthert in a deeper role in this one had less of an impact (it was also just days after she played 90 vs Panama) but Caroline Weir was on her game in her new home country. The second was an Emslie header, after good work from newly crowned Damallsvenskan champion, Fiona Brown. Really good work from her on the right hand side, getting a fantastic cross away under a lot of pressure. Deyna Castellanos pulled one back with a wonderful goal from the halfway line. Scotland will be disappointed with the lack of pressure on her and the weak challenge on Flores who got the assist. Fife also won’t be happy with how it went in, she’s struggled for minutes at Rangers this season and this was a chance for her to impress.
News of the World
Scottish players continue to be absolutely class outside our borders.
The big news from England comes from Chelsea who gave Erin Cuthbert a new deal, keeping her at the club for the foreseeable (bizarrely using 500 miles to announce it when Erin is from Irvine and The Proclaimers are famously an East coast band, but that’s not the point). She followed that big news up with a goal at Stamford Bridge in the derby against Spurs and a goal against Real Madrid in the Champions League, see what happens when you don’t play her as the deepest midfielder? Eartha Cumings has had a huge increase in minutes for Liverpool with, regular number 1, Laws out injured. She’s had a pretty tough go of things with Liverpool’s defence leaking far too many good chances, she could maybe have kept a couple more out if you really want to be critical but a solid job overall. Lucy Graham continues to thrive at right wing back for Everton, we certainly love a versatile queen.
Overseas the NWSL is still in the off season so nothing there from Emslie, a couple murmurings of transfer rumours but no update to be had. In Italy, Sassuolo finally won a game. Their season has been absolutely bizarre with the hugely talented side failing to put consistent performances together. Now they are 2 wins on the bounce and unbeaten in 4. Our Lana scored the winner in the first of those, a 2-1 win over Pomigliano, because of course she did. Christy Grimshaw has been at it for AC Milan as well although a 3-3 draw against Como won’t have been in the plans. In sunny Spain Caroline Weir is a baller, no news there. She was awarded the October player of the month from Real Madrid, one look through the replies to her tweets show how much of a fan favourite she is. Finally in Germany with SC Sand and Kathleen McGovern. Sand are comfortably midtable, there will maybe be some internal disappointment to be off the promotion pace. She’s played in 501 of the 810 available minutes this season recording a goal and an assist, last season’s injury disappointment well behind her we’re very happy to see her back out there regularly. Sidenote: can SWPL sides please take a look at SC Sand’s website and get on their level please? So much info, it’s amazing.
We Love to See it
Finally, the section that you’ve all been waiting for. A bit of positivity and a celebration of the fantastic goings on in women’s football as a whole.
Starting off with a new part of our weekly routine. Flo Lloyd-Hughes has a new podcast, Counter Pressed. Out every Monday, it has become a staple of our week.
The commentary stylings of Michael McCann for the FA Player. A good commentator can really make the experience of watching a game better. While we scouted the WSL we were very happy to hear him on comms. A really impressive knowledge of the players and women’s football and such enthusiasm for the action. Big fans.
Kate Abdo showing off her language skills with a live bilingual interview and translation with Rocky Rodriguez’s parents. very jealous of this skill.
The Top 30 SWPL Players list by Graham Falk in the Scotsman (not just because we got to play a part on the voting panel as “respected voices). Coverage of the amazing players in the SWPL is our favourite thing in the world and Graham has smashed this with the work put in to get all the voting in.
The cherry on the icing on the cake that is this section of the newsletter. Greenock Morton and Renfrew’s donation to Inverclyde foodbank. Football as a force for good, as it always should be.
