Back Row (L-R): The University of Stirling’s Chloe Logan, Celtic’s Kelly Clark, Spartan’s Kaela McDonald, Rangers’ Amy Muir, Hamilton’s Deborah McLeod, Forfar Farmington’s Erin Cattanach, Glasgow City’s Hayley Lauder and Hibernian’s Joelle Murray
Front Row (L-R) Kilmarnock’s Kirstin Rolph, Central Girls’ Ellie Kane, Edinburgh University Hutchison Vale’s Jude Shepherd, St Johnstone’s Megan Moss, Glasgow Girl’s Charmaine McGuire, Hearts’ Megan Paterson and Motherwell’s Sophie Gallacher
As humdingers go, you do not get much better in Scotland than an Old Firm derby, and that is exactly what fans of Scottish Women’s Premier League 1 are in for on Sunday when the new season kicks off. Yep, the pick of the four top tier ties on the opening day of the new term has to be Celtic v Rangers at K-Park in East Kilbride. Rangers had the edge over their city rivals last season, emerging victorious in two of their three encounters, but Celtic finished the season in third, three places above the Gers. It is all to play for again in 2018 and when we caught up with Hoops midfielder Kelly Clark and Rangers full-back Amy Muir at the SWPL launch at Hampden Stadium in Glasgow, we learnt just what derby days mean to these clubs…
By Catherine Etoe
Celtic FC Women won the SWPL Cup in 2010, three years after their formation, and last May the Hoops came within touching distance of cup silverware again, only to lose to Hibernian Ladies 4-1 in the final. Skipper Kelly Clark, 23, is now in her sixth season at Celtic and has set her sights on another cup run in 2018.
SK: So Kelly, how are you feeling about the new season?
KC: I’m buzzing to get back. Training can be amazing, but nothing quite beats that feeling of game day and the buzz and the hype around it, so I’m really looking forward to getting back to it.
SK: What was the most fun you had with your team in 2017?
KC: Probably beating Rangers 5-1 at the end of the season – my favourite game of the year. It’s difficult to explain what it feels like to be involved in a Celtic v Rangers game. They had beaten us the game before, so to put in the performance we did, it was probably one of our best all season. They are such exciting games because everybody at Celtic cares when Celtic Women play Rangers and everybody at Rangers cares when Rangers Women play Celtic. It’s just a bit bigger from the clubs’ perspectives so it’s a great game to be involved in.
SK: What can teams expect from Celtic in 2018?
KC: At times last year we conceded goals too easily so hopefully this year we’ll tighten that up. We’re hard working and we played some really nice football last year, so we’ll be looking to improve on. So, overall, a team that plays nice football but has a good defence that doesn’t concede.
SK: What are your realistic aims?
KC: Not to concede points to anyone who finished below us last year. I seem to say this every year but, again last season we lost points to teams that finished below us. Overall, that’s what makes it so difficult for us to catch up with Glasgow City and Hibs – we are relying on taking points off them which is not easy, especially on their good days.
SK: What are your personal aims?
KC: I work full time so my aim is to stay as committed as I have for the past few years while the pressures at work grow. I’m determined not to retire without winning anything so I hope for a good cup run and a good performance in the final. We got to a final last year but our performance on the day wasn’t enough and it was quite frustrating because we had taken Hibs closer than that only on the previous Wednesday. So yeah, I’d like to win a cup this year.
SK: What kind of work do you?
KC: I’m in my second year of exams to become a chartered accountant.
SK: Are Scotland players like Rachel Corsie and Vaila Barsley, also trained accountants, an inspiration?
KC: It’s nice to know that other people have done it and to know it’s not impossible because at times, especially during exam times, it’s quite difficult. You look at everybody else in the class and they’re staying in the office to study for three, four, five hours after we’ve finished for the day and I’m going away to go to training. But at the end of the day, when it comes through and you’ve passed, it’s the most rewarding thing knowing that you’ve passed and you’ve kept up football on top of it.
SK: Do team mates and colleagues help?
KC: The girls at training really help. It’s nice to have your team mates around you in stressful times, they appreciate I’m going through something that’s pretty tough and they put their arms around me. My work are so understanding and I’ll have very senior people walk past me and say: ‘Have you not got training tonight Kelly? Are you watching your time?’ That’s the kind of environment I’m in at Deloitte.
SK: Finally, we have to ask you about the Celtic FC Christmas film that you starred in (as an air steward!) alongside some of the men’s team. How much fun was that?
KC: That was the most nerve wracking thing I’ve ever done. I originally was told I was not doing any speaking in it and I heard them say: ‘Put a mic on her’ and I was like, I’m the only her in here. But the outcome is excellent, it’s a really nice advert and it got quite a lot of attention on our women’s Twitter account.
SK: You too?
KC: I was getting texts from people I’ve not spoken to in years. I was trying to study for my exams and it was a huge distraction for a couple of days, but it was amazing to be part of. I had the fear for it coming out I really did; I was in class and my phone started going nuts and I didn’t know if it was good or bad so I went to the bathroom and one of the guys from Celtic texted me to say it was really good so I calmed down and went back and when it got to a break I put it on – and it was good.* It was a week of total nerves, I made so many mistakes as well, I think it took about 40 cuts before I got it right!
*We think it’s great, but you can check it out for yourselves: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QRmaS7hnmDw
Rangers dropped the ‘Ladies’ part of their name this week to become Rangers Women’s Football Club, a move described on their Twitter feed as “a progressive and important step forward”. Boss Amy McDonald has described it as an exciting time for the club and their 17-year-old full-back Amy Muir, now in her seventh year at the club, certainly sees it that way.
SK: You have such a youthful team, how does that influence things?
AM: It’s something we have spoken about because last year we had a lot of comments about how we were young but had good potential. But we weren’t concentrating on that, it was that we knew ourselves and believed that even though we are very young we had the ability to perform and really compete, so it’s more of the same this season.
SK: What can teams expect from Rangers in 2018?
AM: Great energy and some really fast players, especially attacking, so I think we can cause a threat. We work really hard for each other and are quite relentless.
SK: What about you?
AM: Having played most of my career as a wide player playing quite high up the pitch then coming into full back, it’s not much different, so I think I can affect the game higher up the pitch and being quite quick, it’s helpful defending one v ones.
SK: Was that switch to full back a natural progression?
AM: It was eased in and I wasn’t always stuck in that position, I still moved about. I do enjoy attacking so for me, the games where I’m able to get up and down the pitch are the most enjoyable.
SK: What was the most enjoyable experience with the team last season?
AM: Our two good results against Celtic, they are highlights. They are a really strong squad but I think our togetherness in those games and how we battled for each other, it was just really positive and we just took so much confidence from those results.
SK: You are still at school, but a Scotland youth international, is that tricky?
AM: My school are very supportive. Being away with the youth national teams, I need a lot of time off school, so they are really helpful in allowing me to do that and keeping me up to date. I think we’ve got a good connection to make sure that I’m staying on top of everything.
SK: Can you reflect on your Scotland career so far?
AM: Having played my first games at under-15 level when I was 13 and progressing right through to the 19s, it’s a really proud achievement for myself. This year, it’s getting even more competitive in terms of going up the age groups, so every training camp and every game you need to prove yourself and keep working hard.
SK: How did it feel to see Scotland seniors at the Euros?
AM: I think that was a really good thing, it inspired so many more girls to get involved and personally, even just seeing them on TV and on a big scale was really good. The first goal they scored was a really good moment so yes it was inspiring.
SK: How often do you train with Rangers?
AM: Four nights a week and we play on a Sunday. In terms of trying to have a professional environment you need to train and be together as often as possible. Obviously, the league isn’t professional in this country, but you need to do all you can to make it like that.
SK: You can’t have much time outside of footy, is that how it has always been?
AM: When I was younger I played boys club level and we never played competitive matches, it was all training. As I went through the academy at Rangers, the training has increased, so it’s gradually built up and I’ve got used to it.
SK: How did you know football was the game for you?
AM: I got into it when I was six or seven, played with the boys at school and when I joined my first boys club I really enjoyed it. There were some barriers at the start, being the only girl, and most of the time the only girl really, I think there was maybe one other, so moving into the women’s game after the boys was a wee bit strange to start with, but looking back at everything I’ve done, it’s all really contributed to who I am now.
The Scottish Building Society SWPL 18 season kicks off on Sunday 11 February. For more information visit www.womenspremierleague.co.uk
