Leanne Crichton did not sport a Rangers shirt in her playing career. Well, not in any official capacity. The Ibrox side, though, were her first love with one of the formative memories of that relationship coming at Ibrox back in 2002.
Peter Lovenkrands’ last gasp extra-time winner was the culmination of a pulsating final against Celtic as the Ibrox side lifted the trophy against Martin O’Neill’s side at Hampden. A teenage Crichton was in the crowd to witness it, with the imprint so vivid that the recall of that afternoon remains as easy to reach as though it were yesterday rather than 23 years ago.
“Obviously growing up as a Rangers fan I do have great memories of the Old Firm fixture and we all know what it means,” she said. “I was at Hampden that day when Peter Lovenkrands scored and it was bedlam. I would love nothing more than for these players to play in front of a crowd like that an atmosphere like that.”
As manager now of Rangers women’s side, Crichton has a chance to write her own Ibrox story. In a playing career that brought 72 international caps and spells with Hibs, Glasgow City, Notts County and Motherwell, there was not the opportunity to play in this fixture with Rangers and Celtic still effectively playing catch-up in the women’s game.
Ibrox is the stage this evening as Crichton gets her second experience of the game and her first on home soil. She was victorious when the teams meet in Hamilton a few months back while Rangers currently hold something of a voodoo sign over a Celtic team who haven’t got the better of them across their last eight games in all competitions.
A win would enable Rangers to pull level with Celtic on points and Crichton has urged supporters to turn out and offer their backing on a week when there is no competing men’s fixture. With Scotland in Greece as Steve Clarke’s side look towards their penultimate World Cup qualifier, there is an opportunity to attract those who may not have sampled a women’s game before.
“I have said it before that I think the pressure of a crowd can be good for players,” said Crichton.
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“I would love to have as many fans in the stadium as possible to get behind the team.
“I think it makes you put a pressure on yourself. Even the frustration of a crowd can drive you on at times. We have a group of fans who have been amazing for us and who have turned up all over the place. We are really appreciative of what they bring.
“It would just be great to get more fans along and come and make up their own mind about the game and the direction we want to take it. It is two top teams go toe-to-toe at Ibrox in what will be a competitive and well contested game so I really hope that people come and get behind the teams as having fans in from both clubs will bring with it a real atmosphere that everyone benefits from.
Rangers are currently sitting in fifth place after what has been an inconsistent start to the campaign. A win, though, would enable them to draw level with Celtic on points and would also stretch their run of games to nine without defeat.
“We know that there have been areas where we want to work on,” said Crichton in reference to recent results and performances. “We are behind in terms of where we want to be and there are challenges for us to overcome.
“There is always a noise and intensity around this fixture but it is just three points. We’re focused on getting them and it would be nice to do that in front of a decent crowd.”
They’re priced at £11 for adults and £7 for kids and concessions.
