TODAY’S SWPL1 game between Glasgow City and Spartans will be a difficult occasion for many at the host club. Kat Lindner, the 39-year-old former German forward who passed away last weekend, was a much-loved figure at City as well as being the long-term partner of co-owner Laura Montgomery.

For once, where the 12-time Scottish champions are concerned, the game itself is secondary. As Scott Booth says, the correct balance has to be struck between showing respect and concern for those most deeply affected by the death and attempting, as usual, to get the season off to a winning start.

Last Sunday’s scheduled opener at Rangers was called off just hours before kick-off and the City players, who will wear black armbands this afternoon, did not report for training until Wednesday. There is to be a minute’s silence before every senior game today, while City captain Leanne Ross will wear a No 7 jersey carrying Lindner’s name.

“I’ve told the players it’s important we turn up ready for a game of football and show our togetherness as a club,” Booth said. “We also have to show as much respect as we can for Kat and her family, and Laura and hers, in the way we conduct ourselves.”

Lindner, who was also an academic and author, was one of the finest players to have graced the Scottish game. She scored 128 goals for City in 173 matches, but, more importantly, had many of the best human qualities.

WHILE the death overshadowed last weekend’s opening SWPL fixtures, Hibernian and Celtic – who both hope to finally relieve City of the title this season – got off to contrasting starts.

Hibs were held to a 0-0 draw by Spartans, a notable scoreline in itself but also the first time since a 3-0 league loss to City in November 2017 that the Edinburgh club has failed to find the net. Celtic went top following a 4-0 win over Forfar Farmington, which was harsh on the visitors.

The two title hopefuls meet today at Ainslie Park, and even at this ridiculously early stage of the season it is a game Hibs cannot afford to lose. Their task is, of course, magnified by losing eight top players since last summer, with Rachel McLauchlan, Emma Brownlie and top scorer Abi Harrison the latest to move south last month.

WHILE it was two points dropped by Hibs it was one picked up by Spartans. The Edinburgh club could not have asked for a tougher start to the season – they play last year's top three in their opening three games – but head coach Debbi McCulloch is unfazed.

“I was quite happy with it,” McCulloch said. “Not many people expected us to get a point against Hibs – but we did. We're not here to make up the numbers, we're here to challenge.

“We took the decision to come back early for pre-season at the end of November because we didn't know when the league was going to start. That was tough for the players because they are used to having that time off.

“Credit to them they knuckled down and that has helped their fitness levels. We were fortunate with the weather and we had four games and about 25 training sessions under our belts before last Sunday.”

With Hearts, and other top Scottish men's clubs, promising to finally ramp up their commitment to women's football, Spartans could be among those teams squeezed for the limited pool of SWPL-standard players. Again, McCulloch is not concerned.

“It's great what other clubs are doing in terms of investment,” she said. “Can we match that? It's going to be difficult, but we have other things we can give players.

“We have fantastic facilities, great staff, and a home that is a charitable foundation. Players buy into that. We just have to focus on our own club and keep moving forward setting realistic goals and targets.”

SCOTLAND will be among the nine top seeds when the draw for Euro 2021 qualifying is held in Nyon on Thursday. This elevated position gives Shelley Kerr and her players the best possible chance of qualifying for a third successive major championship – this time down the road in England.

Talking of where, there would have been very mixed reactions at Bristol City to Kerr's Algarve Cup squad announcement. Abi Harrison's move south from Hibs has coincided with a Scotland call up, but her team-mate Lucy Graham has been omitted.