SCOTTISH BUILDING women SOCIETY SWPL1 SUNDAY 8TH NOVEMBER 2020 CELTIC KICK-OFF 2PM SPARTANS FC FROM A NOTE THE “ Claiming three points

MANAGER against Spartans In the Hearts game we showed a big will be crucial for us. “ difference in terms of our fitness levels which was our main priority to correct. We were clinical, and I was very happy with the performance. We made a lot of changes to the squad and the players that started did fantastically, while those SPARTANS that came off the bench made an impact straight away. PROFILED

Celtic open their 2020/2021 home account on Sunday welcoming organised SWPL1 mainstays Spartans It’s never easy to score ten and Hearts to K-Park. are a decent side who were tough to break The Hoops have an enviable recent record against the capital side, winning their last five and most recently until the first goal, but it was a very positive registering a 4–1 League Cup win in March before lockdown, and Spartans travel to East Kilbride under performance and I was delighted long-serving manager Debbi McCulloch sitting sixth with the whole team. on the table after their 1–0 defeat against Rangers last Sunday.

Their opening day loss in a tightly contested 2–1 defeat We now face a team that has impressed. They are a top against regular title contenders Hibernian demonstrates side, and having only lost 1–0 to Rangers on Sunday, their capability to hurt top sides, ensuring Alonso’s side it won’t be an easy game. They always fight hard, has no time to rest on or off the ball. they’re difficult to break down and have real quality in their squad. But, we know can fight for our goals this season, and claiming three points against Spartans will be crucial for us. We have to be very aggressive and MANAGER: DEBBI MCCULLOCH work extra hard to make sure we don’t make mistakes. HOME GROUND: AINSLIE PARK

We are in a really good place, so it is a shame that in our LAST MEETING SWPL CUP: first home game our fans won’t be there, but thankfully SPARTANS 1–4 CELTIC they can watch us online and we hope to feel their support, so we will be thinking about them and can LAST RESULT CELTIC: 10–0 V HEARTS hopefully give them something to cheer for. SPARTANS: 0–1 V RANGERS

Fran Alonso Manager, Celtic FC Women CAPTAIN’S COMMENTS After a disappointing opening game it was frustrating having to wait two weeks to get back on the pitch but we couldn’t have been asked for a better response than the one we gave on Sunday.

CRAIG SAYS NEW FACES It felt great to put in a performance like we did against Hearts at the weekend and we will be ARE WELCOME BOOST looking for the same level of performance Vice-captain Chloe Craig admits new faces coming against Spartans. into the squad always ups the competition, but also brings more community and belief into the side. Spartans have played two top teams so far in Hibs and Rangers and have lost both games very The additions of Megan Crosson, Anita and Caitlin Hayes narrowly and will likely be disappointed not to in preseason intensified competition for places after take anything from either game. I am sure they will the enforced layoff, but Craig welcomes their quality. be fighting hard to take some points on Sunday! They are a difficult team to play against as shown She said: “It’s always good to add players to the squad. by the two results so far — they are always very well It gives us that wee kick needed to up your game. organised and have players that can take chances and hurt teams. “Every session you come to is a challenge and there’s always something to prove. You want to make it hard for Our aim is to put in a top performance similar to the the management to pick a starting eleven, so as long as one we gave on Sunday to ensure that we walk away you’re doing your bit, your effort and hunger will hopefully with three points and build up some momentum be rewarded. going into the game against Rangers next week.

“But it’s always nice to add new faces to strengthen Thanks, and add depth to the squad because when you look at our bench, you know you can count on any one of Kelly them to come on and deliver when called upon!” ROSS: NEW WINTER SEASON IS GREAT With the new-look winter season well underway now, Celtic stalwart has welcomed the change to the calendar, as she enjoys her fifth term in her second spell at Celtic.

Ross has been impressed with the changes to the landscape in the Scottish game, not just in terms of clubs moving to professional status, but the decision to join most of Europe in playing a traditional season.

“I’ve always preferred a winter league — I like the summer break and how it coincides with the men’s league and the Champions League so I’m really looking forward to how it pans out,” she said. ALONSO READY TO PLACE QUIZ FAITH IN YOUTH Alonso has maintained his belief that some of Scotland’s top young talent is in his squad, and 1 WHO RECENTLY TRAVELLED TO UKRAINE insists he is ready to place his faith in them for WITH THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND? the upcoming season. 2 WHO MADE THEIR FIRST TEAM DEBUT AGAINST “We have so much belief in our young players. We GLASGOW CITY? believe we have some of, the best young players in the country and we need to look after them,” he said. 3 HOW MANY GOALS HAVE CELTIC SCORED “All the young players with us have our trust and we IN THEIR LAST FIVE MEETINGS WITH SPARTANS? will give them the minutes and the players we cannot 4 WHO SCORED A HAT-TRICK IN THE LAST LEAGUE give minutes to, we send out on loan to get their playing time for development, but always thinking GAME AGAINST SPARTANS? about their future at Celtic.

5 HOW MANY SCORERS WERE THERE IN THE 4–1 “We know young players will make mistakes and LEAGUE CUP WIN? we are prepared for that and don’t want them to be scared of making mistakes, but they have our trust.

“It’s one of our cornerstones and we know they ANSWERS: are the future.” 1 Keeva Keenan | 2 Tegan Bowie | 3 19 | 4 Sarah Ewens 5 Four — Summer Green, Sarah Ewens, Kathleen McGovern, Josephine Giard Official Partner

Rewarding Membership

The society that’s run in your best interests

As Scotland’s oldest and only independent building society, our mutual status means that everything we do is for the benefit of our members. Building for the future We offer a range of specialist since 1848 mortgages and competitive savings products for every stage in life. To find out more visit www.scottishbs.co.uk

Branches and local agents across Scotland

Scottish Building Society is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Register No. 206034). Member of the Building Societies Association and UK Finance. Scottish Building Society, SBS House, 193 Dalry Rd, Edinburgh EH11 2EF.

SBS256 Generic Ad A5.indd 1 26/06/2018 11:32 CELTIC SPARTANS MANAGER: MANAGER: FRAN ALONSO DEBBI MCCULLOCH

Chloe Logan 1 1 Rachel Harrison Keeva Keenan 2 2 Shannon Todd Jodie Bartle 3 3 Sarah Clelland Cheryl McCulloch 4 4 Simone McMahon Natalie Ross 5 5 Dion McMahon Chloe Craig 6 6 Bobbie Beveridge Anita Marcos 7 7 Michaela McAlonie Katherine Smart 8 8 Katie Frew Josephine Giard 9 9 Ronaigh Douglas Lisa Robertson 10 10 Beth McKay Sarah Ewens 11 11 Alana Marshall Rachel Donaldson 12 12 Holly Aitchison Sarah Teegarden 14 13 Alicia Yates Kelly Clark 15 14 Tegan Reynolds Kate Nicolson 16 15 Caley Gibb Summer Green 17 17 Robyn McCafferty Caitlin Hayes 18 18 Rebecca Galbraith Brenda Castellano 21 19 Julia Moulton Chloe Warrington 22 20 Elena Santoyo-Brown Megan Crosson 23 Tegan Bowie 24 Rebecca McAllister 25 Paige McAllister 26 Lisa Kerr 28 Cara McBrearty 33 Rachael Johnstone 53 Kathleen McGovern 63

NEXT MATCH 15/11 – RANGERS V CELTIC (SCOTTISH BUILDING SOCIETY SWPL1) AWAY | THE HUMMEL TRAINING CENTRE | KICK-OFF 2PM CELTICFCWOMEN.CO.UK @CELTICFCWOMEN @CELTICFCWOMEN

CLUB PATRONS: WGM BUILDING SERVICES, MIA FARREN, PREMIER PRODUCE