A FULL eight weeks after the last set of fixtures, there is finally a return to action for some of the SWPL1 clubs today. Rangers host Stirling University in the last 16 of the SSE Scottish Women’s Cup, Glasgow City are away to SWPL2 Hearts, and Hamilton Accies entertain Division 1 Granite City.
The two other top-tier teams still in the competition, Hibernian and Celtic, will not play until September 3 as the former flew out to Romania this morning for Champions League qualifying. Aberdeen and Spartans were knocked out of the Scottish Cup in the previous round, so will have had a nine week gap since their last games on June 25 when they play a week today.
Which begs the obvious question: what is the point of having a summer season if only a handful of games are actually played in the summer? A campaign which got underway early in March will finally reach a conclusion at the end of November.
This is not just a domestic issue as Uefa, too, have to look at their scheduling. Hibs have not had their squad together for almost two months because of Euro 2017 and the under-19 version which concludes tonight with the France-Spain final at Windsor Park. It’s not the preparation Hibs would have chosen for their three Champions League qualifying group games.
Two of their players, Scotland under-19 captain Chelsea Cornet, pictured, and full-back Cailin Michie, played in every minute of the four games in Northern Ireland, including Thursday night’s U20 World Cup play-off against England. Amy Gallacher was also heavily involved, while a fourth player, Ellis Notley, was in the squad.
The Hibs quartet got back from Belfast on Friday morning and had to turn around quickly for today’s flight to Romania with their opening qualifying round game against Swansea City in Cluj on Tuesday morning.
Head coach Chris Roberts and his staff have a big job on their hands to get the team finely tuned for the Swansea match, and then against Ukrainian club Kharkiv and group hosts Olimpia Cluj.
Fortunately, the most difficult game is a week tomorrow and is the last of the three. Olimpia provide many of the players for the Romanian national squad and with home advantage will fancy their chances of making the draw for the knockout stages on September 1.
It is, without question, a tough assignment for Hibs, who last year had the luxury of going straight into the last 32 along with Glasgow City. The Edinburgh club, who face a strenuous last three months of the domestic season on their return, have been the main victims of this year’s unfortunate scheduling.
IT is doubtful if even Katie McCabe expected to be the new Republic of Ireland captain following Emma Byrne’s announcement that she was retiring from international football.
This was confirmed by Glasgow City head coach Scott Booth, who said the club’s loan signing from Arsenal was surprised to learn she had acquired the armband. McCabe has moved north to get regular first-team football until the end of the season; both the forward and City’s other summer signing, Joanne Paton, are expected to make their debuts against Hearts today.
TALKING of international retirement, Ifeoma Dieke and Leanne Ross announced theirs on Friday. They have been fantastic servants to Scotland and between them amassed 256 caps, with Dieke also playing for Team GB at the London Olympics. We wish both well for the future.
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