After Glasgow City secured a twelfth league title in a row last October, the SWPL returned at the start of February with eight teams once again ready to slug it out for the title. The mean off-season news did not involve the champions however, as Celtic, Hibernian and Hearts grabbed most of the headlines. For Celtic, under new management in Eddie Wolecki Black, the man who led Glasgow City to four of their twelve titles, have announced their intention to try and go full-time. Time will tell whether that will be possible to do.
Hearts, who currently sit in SWPL2 have said they are getting more money invested in them from the men’s team as they hope to get promoted to the top flight. The other main talking point has been the departures from Hibernian including top goalscorer last season, Abi Harrison to Bristol City. Hibs have been the closest challengers to Glasgow City in recent seasons and have won both the League Cup and Scottish Cup for the past three seasons and it is a case of wait and see whether they can make that final step.
Despite, the loss of players in Scotland domestically, the women’s game internationally continues to rise and the countdown ahead of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup is on with Scotland making their debut in the competition and their first appearance at a World Cup, male or female, since 1998 when the men’s tournament was also in France. Shelley Kerr’s side has a tough looking draw as they start their campaign on the south of France in Nice against none other than England. The second group game sees them face 2011 winners, Japan before a potential shoot-out for third place (and a potential Round of 16 spot) against Argentina at the Parc des Princes.
The rise of the national team has been further evidenced by being in Pot 1 for the qualifying draw for the UEFA EURO 2021 qualifiers meaning the side avoid the likes of Germany and France in the qualifying group. So, while domestically the game may be losing players to clubs down south, internationally, Scotland are most certainly being taken seriously.
