Latest news with #EmmaLawton
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
First Scotland goal 'hasn't sunk in yet' for McGovern
Hibs striker Kathleen McGovern hopes her maiden Scotland goal is the first of many after opening her account on just her second international start. The 22-year-old received her first senior call-up for the final Nations League games against Austria and Netherlands and started both under new manager Melissa Andreatta. The forward, who last month helped Hibs lift their first SWPL trophy in 18 years, scored the equaliser in the 1-1 draw away to the Dutch on Tuesday night as Scotland secured their first point."It's been nice to start both games, something I didn't really expect," McGovern said. "It's been a privilege this week and it was just great to see the ball hit the back of the net. I don't really think it's sunk in yet."It was a great delivery by Emma [Lawton], she knew exactly where to put it, and I was just so happy to see it hit the back of the net and get a great result for the team."It's been good to work with her [Andreatta], she's had so much belief in me. I've learned so much, especially from her, and the players I've been working with. I hope there's many more to come."I was flying on confidence when I first came in. To end the season at Hibs on such a high to then get the call-up was amazing to top off a great season."I came in and didn't want to put too much pressure on myself. I feel like that's what I did in training, just showed my ability, and I've been grateful to start the last two games."
BBC News
02-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Can Scotland capitalise against 'wounded' Dutch?
On Tuesday night Scotland will face a Netherlands team - live on BBC Scotland -which is wounded, both in a physical and emotional sense before their final Nations League match in some of their key stars, the Dutch were walloped 4-0 by Germany in their penultimate game, which set off alarm bells back home as they prepare to play in the Euro 2025 group of death this summer alongside England, France and goalkeeper Daphne Van Domselaar was missing with injury, as well as attacking totems Lineth Beerensteyn and top scorer Vivianne latter will definitely not return to face Scotland, while Beerensteyn missing out would be music to Scotland's ears given she has scored three goals across the last two Victoria Pelova and key midfielder Danielle van de Donk were not fit enough to start in Bremen meant a switch to a back-three formation, which seemed to bring confusion rather than stability as Germany ran riot, scoring three in the first Andries Jonker, whose contract is not being renewed after the Euros this summer, said too many players were below par as questions surround his can Scotland capitalise? Well, they will need to be far better than they were for the first 70 minutes against Austria in Melissa Andreatta's first the reverse fixture, Emma Lawton's first international goal gave Scotland the lead before the Dutch turned things around in the second half to win in truth, the gap between the two teams at Hampden in February was much more than one goal as the Netherlands squandered numerous expectation on Scotland, already relegated and on the back of six straight defeats, could hardly be lower. That tends to be how they like it, though.A victory against even this version of the Dutch seems unlikely, but if Andreatta could grab a result it would jolt her tenure to life ahead of another summer when Scotland watch on from a distance as others enjoy a major tournament party.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Lawton excited for 'reset' & 'fresh start' under Andreatta
Scotland defender Emma Lawton insists it feels like a "fresh start" under new head coach Melissa Andreatta and says everything is geared towards qualification for the 2027 World Cup in national side must defeat Austria at Hampden by two clear goals on Friday and hope results go their way when they face the Netherlands next week if they are to retain hope of remaining in Nations League Group missing out on this year's European Championship, Lawton is clear the main prize is qualifying for the next major competition."It's kind of a reset for us," she said."Our focus now is qualifying for the World Cup. This is the kind of start of it, these two games. "We're trying to stay in League A, which is a big goal for us, so hopefully we can put out performances that will let us do that."With captain Rachel Corsie retiring after this double-header, Lawton was keen to pay tribute to her influence."I think she's been huge for Scotland for a number of years now," the PFA Player of the Year explained. "She's a great leader. She's our captain. I think this is the first time I've ever had the chance to kind of properly meet and play with her. I'm loving doing that on the training pitch, trying to learn as much as I can. She'll be a big miss for us, but we've got some other great leaders within there that will help us move forward."
STV News
28-05-2025
- Sport
- STV News
'I've loved every minute': Emma Lawton reflects on a meteoric rise with Celtic
Scotland and Celtic defender Emma Lawton says she's still pinching herself after her achievements in her first season as a professional footballer. The 23-year-old has gone from part-time football to scoring for Scotland on her Hampden debut in a whirlwind of a season that ended with her as an award-winner lauded by her peers. Lawton started this season at Partick Thistle but sealed a dramatic deadline day move to the then SWPL Champions Celtic. In a season to remember, she established herself as a first-team player, gained Champions League experience, and then made a splash on the international scene with her first appearance for her country playing away against Austria in February. Days later, in her second international, the right-back opened the scoring against Netherlands at Hampden to continue her rapid rise. Little wonder the Celtic star was voted as PFA player of the year. 'It's been really enjoyable,' Lawton told STV as she reflected on a season to remember. 'Coming in, I didn't really have a lot of expectations of how it would go for myself. 'But I've loved every minute. I think, obviously, as a team, we had the highs of the Champions League in the first half of the season, and obviously second half hasn't been great. 'But personally, I have loved being a full-time football player, which is what I've always dreamed of being.' Lawton started out kicking a ball around in the garden with her cousin, but it was early experience as the only girl in a youth team that helped build resilience that's an important part of her game today. 'Starting out in a boys' team, nobody passed me the ball and stuff,' she revealed. 'But I just loved the game, and I just stuck it out. 'It was challenging at first, not getting the ball passed to you. But then I think as soon as they did, they realised 'actually, she can play'. 'It just built up that resilience in me. I think I always knew I could play, and it just gave me that inner confidence, and it kind of put me on a platform where I just had to believe in myself, and I didn't need anybody else to tell me stuff. 'I always just knew within that I could do it.' That grounding set Lawton on a path to the senior game with time at Partick Thistle before a brief spell at Manchester City in the Covid spell, and at Motherwell before a return to Thistle. On deadline day this season, an opportunity to step up came in the form of an offer from Celtic. Lawton said she couldn't sleep the night before making a move that came unexpectedly. Weeks later, she was playing in the biggest club competition in Europe. 'I'm going to be honest, it's all a bit of a blur,' Lawton admitted. 'I think I scored in the Champions League two weeks on from when I'd signed, and then we got into the group stage, obviously from that game. 'A month from that game, I was playing away at Real Madrid. It was a 'pinch me moment'. 'You dream of playing Champions League as a young player, but I never thought I would actually be able to do it. To do it so quickly in my Celtic career is a proud moment.' Scoring for Scotland was another treasured moment. Signing for Celtic, I never thought what would happen this season would happen,' she said. 'Getting picked for Scotland was an honour, but then to start both games, and then score at Hampden, it was special. 'I had all my family there, and it's something that will live with me for a very, very long time.' Now the international defender is setting new targets and having new dreams, as she hopes to help the national team and take her rise to new heights. 'I think the future is bright for Scotland and hopefully we can achieve that majors finals,' she said. 'It's what the country deserves, and we've got the players to do it.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Celtic's Lawton reflects on 'special' POTY award
A move to full-time football with Celtic. Champions League debut. Scotland call-up. First Scotland goal. And now a PFA Scotland SWPL player of the year award. Emma Lawton knows it's going to be tricky to top her last 12 months. Since signing for the reigning champions in September from part-time Partick Thistle, the 23-year-old has been on a rollercoaster ride.A shining bright light in an otherwise disappointing campaign for Elena Sadiku's side, the right-back's stellar season was recognised by her peers as she beat off Hibernian forward Eilidh Adams, Rangers striker Katie Wilkinson and Glasgow City defender Samantha van Diemen."It's a real honour when it's voted by the people you play against every week, it's special," the Scotland international said."It's just been mad but I've absolutely loved every minute of it," she said of her first season in full-time football."I think it's going to be really hard to live up to these12 months, but I'll just keep working hard and just see what my footballing career brings."
