SCOTLAND’S first purpose-built stadium for women’s football could be ready early in 2018, and yet again Glasgow City are the market leaders.
There is only one slight snag. The proposed £1.5 million development is not actually in Glasgow, but just on the other side of the city boundary in East Dunbartonshire. It lies between Springburn, to the north of the city, and Bishopbriggs.
Just how badly Glasgow City, and other leading Scottish women’s clubs, need their own grounds can be gleaned from the merest glance at the SWPL1 fixtures. Today, there is an eagerly-awaited first meeting of the season between leaders City and their nearest challengers, Hibs. However, it will not be played at the Excelsior Stadium, which is City’s temporary home, but instead at New Douglas Park.
That’s because the Excelsior, in Airdrie, is unavailable throughout May due to other bookings. Hibs, meanwhile, play their home matches not in Edinburgh, but Broxburn.
Continuing this unsettled theme, Celtic play in East Kilbride. Or at least they normally do – they have hosted games at three different grounds already this season.
Others fare better. Spartans and Forfar Farmington play on the same artificial surfaces as their clubs’ men’s teams. Aberdeen use Sunnybank Juniors’ ground, while Rangers play at New Tinto Park in Govan.
To those steeped in men’s football, the situation of Glasgow City, Hibs and Celtic is baffling, yet it’s part of the evolution of the women’s game. As Laura Montgomery – the co-founder of City – points out, when she played, teams were moved about from pillar to post.
Her fellow conspirator, Carol Ann Stewart, has taken redundancy from her day job and will attend the innumerable consultations and meetings required to take the dream of a purpose-built stadium to fruition.
“We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re in the design stage with East Dunbartonshire Council,” revealed Montgomery, pictured.
“They’ve got things coming to the design as well, such as a nursery.
“The cost is not determined in full, but I guess it will be about £1.5m. We need to find that ourselves. I’m optimistic we will – thinking we can achieve the impossible is what Glasgow City is built on.
“The council has been hugely welcoming and recognises the benefits we can bring to their community.”
At Hibs, head coach Chris Roberts praised Broxburn for their co-operation in allowing his team to ground-share, but concedes a facility in Edinburgh should be the aim.
“The growth of the game is going to come through developing a fan base,” he says. “That can be tough when you’re based in an area outwith where the club comes from.”
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