Watching the Women of Glasgow City FC

I love our national game but there is a strong argument that Scottish football is in decline at all levels. The Scotland side was once packed with world class talent, qualifying for five World Cups in a row. Today the squad of decent to mediocre players at best hasn’t been to a major tournament in 20 years. From the 60s to the 80s Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen all lifted European silverware while Dundee, Dunfermline, Dundee United and Kilmarnock had some fine runs in continental competition, claiming the scalps of some major teams. This season Celtic fought bravely but were outclassed by infinitely better sides, Rangers lost to nobodies and for the Dons the Europa League group stage is just an ambition. Perhaps most startling decline is in the Junior ranks where in 1951 77,650 packed Hampden for the SJFA Cup final. In 2017 just 6,144 went to Rugby Park to see Glenafton Athletic defeat Auchinleck Talbot. Not a season goes past when someone declares to have a tonic to reinvigorate the game in this country but no cure for our football’s ills has yet been found.

There is one growth area however and it comes in the form of The Scottish Building Society Scottish Women’s Premier League. Yes the SWPL is on the up with increased media coverage, a growing number of participating clubs, rising sponsorship revenue, bigger attendances and an improving standard of play. The league was formed in 2002 when the Premier Division broke away from the Scottish Women’s Football League. The original twelve teams grew to sixteen in 2016 and divided into two, eight club, divisions containing familiar names like Rangers, Celtic and Hibernian as well as sides without male counterparts like Forfar Farmington, Central Girls and Edinburgh University Hutchison Vale. Since 2009 the SWPL has operated a summer season stretching from February to September; a clever move as it avoids the harsh months of winter that have massacred Juniors fixtures in recent times and for parts of June, July & August they can operate without any competition.

So here I am in February, opening weekend of the SWPL and I’m off to my first ever match at this level. For my debut I have decided not to see any old side, rather I’m off to see the dominant side in Scottish women’s fitba, Glasgow City, take on a team from my alma mater Stirling University. When I say dominant I mean it as Glasgow have amassed a stunning amount of honours over the years including twelve league titles with the last eleven coming in a row (beat that Old Firm). In addition to that they have lifted the Scottish Cup eight times and held aloft the Premier League Cup six times. While they have not swept aside European opposition as easily as domestic, City have a good record in the Champions League reaching the last sixteen on three occasions and making a single quarter-final appearance in 2014. Results in Europe show that there is a huge gulf in class between different leagues across the continent. While Glasgow have gone out and thrashed sides from Georgia, Ulster, Malta, Moldova and Slovakia they have been on the receiving end of pummellings from the likes of German giants Turbine Potsdam, England’s Arsenal and Paris St Germain.

It is worth asking why Glasgow City have been such an all powerful force in the Scottish women’s game. There must be a positive and winning ethos at the club (that’s for sure) and the backroom staff, from managers to coaches to physios, has to be a well oiled machine but the clearest reason I can see is the strength of their squad. Take for example veteran club captain Leanne Ross; the Falkirk native joined the club after a 9 year stint at Newburgh Ladies and has won incalculable trophies in that time. The childhood Celtic supporter amassed 133 caps for her country, as well as chalking up 9 goals, before she retired from Scotland duties after a 1-0 victory over Spain last summer. Goal scoring midfielder Jo Love arrived at Glasgow from rivals Celtic in 2011 after playing top flight soccer in both the USA and England with Cocoa Expos as well as women’s football pioneers Doncaster Belles. Since 2002 Love has been a Scotland stalwart, playing 183 times in the dark blue of her country and bagging 13 goals. Fellow midfielder Hayley Lauder is the very definition of a well travelled pro. After making her senior debut at Spartans she has gone on to ply her trade in Cyprus with Apollon Ladies, Finland at Aland United and Sweden too with both Mallbackens IF as well as Vittsjo GIK. Yet another City player in the Scotland squad, Lauder has made 89 appearances, scored 9 times and was part of the side that beat England in 2011, the first time in 30 years we beat the Auld Enemy.

Just think about this for a moment, I’ve looked at three of the Glasgow City squad in the previous paragraph and they have 405 caps for Scotland between them. Four hundred and five caps from just three players, that is utterly amazing and mind blowing. As stated I am attending my first ever women’s game today and I don’t have a clue what the standard of football will be like, how will it compare to the matches across the various levels of the men’s game I have witnessed on my travels? One thing is certain however; today I will be seeing some elite, international athletes in action today, something that few (if any) men’s side in the country can offer to paying punters. I’m getting excited now at the prospect, so let’s get on with it.

Actually one more thing; I am determined to write today about a fitba game, not a women’s fitba game but I’d like to say one thing. When I announced that I was going to a women’s game I expected some negative comments, I expected to read or hear things like “Is there no proper fitba on that day?” or “You’re only going to stare at the burds!”. In actual fact the response has been 100% positive. Whether online or speaking to guys in my local, everyone seems to think it will be an interesting day and are genuinely interested to learn more about a successful club they regretfully know so little about. It seems guys are just grand with female football and want to learn more about it. Perhaps I can shine a light on the SWPL for a few of the uninitiated this afternoon.

Pre-match Pint

My last two trips to Glesga have involved going to games away from the city centre, but with today’s ground being a short taxi ride from Queen Street Station I’m keeping my drinking to the area around George Square. First up (because it’s the only one that opens at noon) is the relatively new Bavaria Brauhaus on Bothwell Street, part of a chain of German style bier halls that do classic Bavarian style beers. It is a beautiful place indeed, with lots of thick, pale oak furniture and fittings as well as highly polished bronze. I stay for one, a pint of rather excellent wheat beer, before moving on.

Next up I head up to West George Street to have a drink at the Shilling Brewing Company that is notable for three things; a stunning looking bar, fantastic pizzas and the fact they make their own beer on site. The place must have been a bank back in the day due to the massive amounts of marble cladding the high walls, on the left as you enter the building sits the bar behind and above which are the tanks of the brewery. The beer selection is pretty astounding, not only their own (such as Unicorn IPA), but an impressive selection of the best British craft brewers such as Fierce Beer and Cromarty. I opt for a pint of the latter’s brilliant Kowabunga, however I feel a bit robbed at the £5.10 price tag. As smart a place as it is though a smile from the bar staff and a warmer welcome would have been appreciated.

Coming back full circle to the train station I hit Dows Bar on Dundas Street, a pub that hit the headlines at the New Year after it’s staff walked out on Hogmanay citing poor working conditions. I’ve walked past it a thousand times but have never been in until today and find an old fashioned, cosy interior with friendly folk behind the bar. Strangely for a boozer not long past opening the well worn carpet needs a damned good hoover and I’m a little miffed at the £2.50 required to purchase a simple Grouse and Diet Coke. Dows is really handy for the station however and I’ll probably pop in again next time I’m in the vicinity.

The Ground

It is straight out of the bar and into a taxi for the short trip to Petershill Park, home of Glasgow City FC. Known as The Peasy, for many decades it served as the home of five time Scottish Junior Cup winners Petershill FC and was renowned for having the best playing surface in the Junior game. In 2005 however the ground was completely torn down and replaced with a completely new facility incorporating a modern stand, 3G pitch and an indoor leisure facilities. No turnstiles here, you walk through reception, out the doors of the tunnel and pay a fiver (into a literal biscuit tin) for access to the game, the cheapest I’ve paid this season. At a table of quality merchandise I purchase a scarf at a greater cost than my entry fee, it is a nice one and half the price again of the one the rip off merchants at Dens Park wanted (guess I’m not letting that go any time soon). I take a walk about and notice it is a nice place, very modern but thanks to the, presumably, volunteers running the gate/shop it isn’t souless. There is a friendly, homely atmosphere.

The only issue I have with the place is when I take my seat in the stand. For some reason a safety net has been rigged up along the touchline in an effort to protect fans from stray balls fired from the pitch. Why? No other ground feels the need to protect supporters like this and it gives the effect of watching the game with a pair of fishnet tights over ones head (something I’d much rather keep for the privacy of my own home). It doesn’t ruin the view but it is annoying.

The Match

I have to say that the match to me was somewhat reminiscent of a Harlem Globetrotters vs Washington Generals basketball game I attended a few years back. In short it was an exhibition as opposed to a competitive fixture. Glasgow, who were 1/50 on to win, were utterly superb and lived up to their reputation as the giants of the Scottish game. As a team City had all the fundamentals of good football locked down tight; crisp passing along the floor, excellent movement into space, constantly getting themselves between the ball & opponent and they knew exactly where each other were going to be at all times. To adapt a footballing cliche, it was women against girls.

In terms of individual performances the three players I mentioned in my introduction were as good as their reputations suggested. Lauder’s movement with the ball was sublime and Ross showed all the composure at the back as you would expect from such a seasoned professional. In addition Abbi Grant really impressed up front and is perhaps the quickest player over twenty yards I’ve seen at any level this season, amazing pace. On the wings Megan Foley and Nicola Docherty were both excellent on the ball and with Cafu like running along the touchlines.

At half time it was little surprise then that City led by three goals to nil, it was a shock however that there were no pies! No pies, no Bovril, in fact no food service at all as fans were forced to queue at vending machines in reception for the only sustenance available. This is an abhorrence that needs addressed. One treat I did get however came back at the merchandise stall. As I was having a look at the SWPL trophy on display the lady selling scarves asked “Do you want a shot?” and promptly plonked the rather splendid and heavy prize in my hands, the picture captured for posterity shows sheer delight on my face. Just imagine rocking up to Celtic Park and being offered a go of the SPFL Cup.

In the second half Stirling got themselves together a bit and managed to fend Glasgow off while not exactly making much threat of their own. I wish they had attacked the ball a bit more and been a bit bolder, it could have paid off with a goal or two. The University’s number 8, wearing sports glasses that gave her an air of the Dutch master Edgar Davids, played her heart out but could have done with a more defined role in midfield.

In the end City scored another three. I was glad both Docherty and Foley were rewarded for their efforts and was upstanding for a last minute wonder goal from Joanne Paton. Six nil seems like a hiding but in reality it could have been double figures. One sided yes but very enjoyable.

The Aftermath

I have to say my first foray to the Scottish Women’s Premier League has been a brilliant experience. As a club I loved Glasgow City’s professional looking set up merged nicely with a personal, community feel. The decent crowd of over a hundred (at my quick head count) were positive and polite throughout the game and clearly feel a connection with the players on the field. What players they are too, on the pitch I was so impressed with the standard of football, the level of fitness, the drive and the passion. I also liked that I saw a ‘clean game’; not one dive, no time wasting, no claiming offsides that clearly were imagined. Very refreshing. If you want to show a kid how to play the game properly take them to Petershill Park on a Sunday.