Latest news with #SWPL2
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Holders Rangers host Stirling Uni or St Johnstone
Sky Sports Cup holders Rangers will begin their defence at home to either University of Stirling or St Johnstone. It follows the draw for the first and second rounds of the Scottish Women's Premier League's knockout competition. Beaten finalists Hibernian, who pipped Glasgow City and Rangers to the league title on the final day of the season and who have lifted the League Cup a record seven times, are also at home to SWPL1 rivals Motherwell. Six-time winners City are away to SWPL2 champions Hamilton Academical, who continue to play at New Douglas Park despite a dispute that has led to the men's team moving to Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld. Ties will be played on or before Sunday, 5 October. Latest Scottish women's football news on BBC Smith joins Arsenal for world record £1m fee Celtic, who finished a disappointing fourth in the league after starting the season as reigning champions, visit relegated Spartans. Meanwhile, fifth-placed Heart of Midlothian host top-flight rivals Montrose. Rangers lifted the League Cup for a third time when thumping Hibs 5-0 in March and followed it by beating City in the Scottish Cup final. However, head coach Jo Potter left for Crystal Palace after missing out on the league title on the final day for a second consecutive season and Rangers have yet to appoint a successor. Rangers will learn their opponents when the Stirling students, who have been promoted to SWPL2, face second-tier rivals St Johnstone on or before 7 September. Sky Sports Cup draw First round (on or before Sunday, 7 September) Boroughmuir Thistle v Gartcairn Dundee United v Kilmarnock Livingston v East Fife University of Stirling v St Johnstone Second round (on or before Sunday, 5 October) Aberdeen v Dundee United or Kilmarnock Boroughmuir Thistle or Gartcairn v Queen's Park Hamilton Academical v Glasgow City Heart of Midlothian v Montrose Hibernian v Motherwell Partick Thistle v Livingston or East Fife Rangers v University of Stirling or St Johnstone Spartans v Celtic Get the latest WSL news on our dedicated page
Daily Record
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Football legend Frank McAvennie gets behind women's football team in shirt deal
The former St Mirren, Celtic, West Ham and Scotland striker's podcast Let Me Be Frank has backed Hamilton Academical WFC with a season long shirt deal. Scottish football legend Frank McAvennie has turned his attention to the ladies once more, this time by sponsoring a women's football team. The former St Mirren, Celtic, West Ham and Scotland striker's podcast Let Me Be Frank has backed Hamilton Academical WFC with a season long shirt deal. Macca, who hosts the Let Me Be Frank podcast alongside journalist pal Simon Houston, said: 'Anything I can do to help the ladies. 'I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to support the Accies Women's team like this. "It's no secret that in the past I wasn't the biggest fan of women's football and didn't watch a lot of it, but fair's fair. I have become a convert and I have been massively impressed with some of the games I have watched.' The Accies Women's team are set to play in the top flight next season alongside other SWPL1 clubs after becoming SWPL2 Champions for 2024/25. Frank, 65, said: 'Hamilton did incredibly well last season and now they are back in the top flight and I'm thrilled that our logo will be on their shorts as they go for more glory. 'I knew some of the people who work for charities at Hamilton and have known the men's side for years. I've been going to see them for years. 'It gives the podcast a wee lift as well.' Frank, who was at New Douglas Park this week to meet some of the players and hand over a cheque for £1,000, made a name for himself as a top scorer in both the Scottish top flight and in England. His reputation for scoring stretched to the ladies, prompting comedian and TV producer to lampoon Frank in the television series Only An Excuse with the catchphrase, 'Where's ra burds?' Frank said: 'A lot of my mates are poking fun telling me that I was very much a fan of the ladies back in the day, so I'm expecting a bit of a ribbing. But I can take it. Some of Phil's sketches have been hilarious. It was all good fun. "But in all seriousness, I'm delighted at the massive increase in profile that the women's game has enjoyed, not just in Scotland but all over the world. "I've been watching a lot of the Euros which are on at the moment and it's just a pity the Scottish team didn't make it to Switzerland. Let's hope they can be back on the big stage soon.' Frank, who enjoyed top flight football in the 1980s and 1990s, added: 'It would be great to see some of the Hamilton team showcasing their talents on the world stage. "We will give our podcast followers regular updates on their scores as the new season progresses." Frank has also promised to cheer the Accies women's team from the stands when they play upcoming matches against Partick Thistle and Celtic. He said: 'Women's football has taken off and it has got to a stage where women's games are filling stadiums. 'You have got to be happy with the way they have got the leagues together and the clubs have bought into it. There are some decent players.' Hamilton Academical WFC manager Robert Watson added: "This is a magnificent boost for the team. "We are absolutely delighted to have the Let Me Be Frank podcast sponsoring our shorts for the upcoming season. "This will be one of the biggest seasons in the team's history after returning to the top flight of Scottish women's football. "We couldn't do what we do without the support of people like Frank. We are not full-time so every penny we receive is really important and extremely helpful." The Let Me Be Frank podcast regularly boasts top guests. Past shows have included chats with everybody from Rod Stewart to Ray Winstone. Frank said: 'The podcast is about letting people talk. Every time we have someone in we have a story that we haven't heard. It's great because normally I would ask a question then answer it, but Simon has taught me to keep quiet and let people speak for themselves and it has been a joy to talk to everybody from Scott Brown about his time at Celtic to Rod because you can't get much bigger than that.'
Daily Record
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Former Celtic, Glasgow City and Hearts stars boost Hamilton Accies Women squad as boss hails experience of trio
The SWPL1 newcomers have made a triple signing swoop recently ahead of the new campaign Hamilton Accies Women's boss Robert Watson feels his new signings bring perfect top flight experience to boost their return to SWPL1 this season. After winning SWPL 2 last term, Accies are preparing to host Partick Thistle in their SWPL1 opener on August 17 and Watson has brought in ex-Celtic midfielder Lucy Barclay, ex-Glasgow City midfielder Sarah Gibb and former Hearts defender Shona Cowan to boost the squad. And he said: 'I think our first four new signings of the summer have given us a really good start. These three have added to Georgia Gray from a couple of weeks ago, who is ex-Rangers and has been a standout for Scotland under-19s at centre-back, and can also play in midfield. 'Lucy is one that we tried to get last year but unfortunately she picked up an injury and then spent the latter half of last season on loan at Motherwell. 'But I have been a fan of her for a while. She has come through the youth pathway at Celtic and represented the national team at youth levels. 'She is exactly the player we felt we needed to increase the depth of quality in the squad, with people who are able to deal with the demands of the top division. It also helps that she is a good player as well! 'Sarah is similar in that she had a contract at Glasgow City a couple of years ago and then decided to move on and find her own way. It has maybe not quite worked out as well as she would have thought at Motherwell, but she is a very good midfielder and we are very excited to get her in. 'Shona was contracted to Hearts for a season and came through the youth pathway and was out at Partick Thistle last season. 'We only really had two full-backs last season, so full-back cover was pretty essential this season. The fact she has experience in the top division is important.' On their opening with the Jags at New Douglas Park next month, Watson said: 'When we came up last time, we played Celtic on the opening day and it gives you that sense of occasion playing one of the big guns. But Partick are a very good side and one we've got to be honest about and say we've got to try and take something from them. 'It is a 10-team league this season, so as soon as you are not playing one of the full-time teams you've got to be thinking about pressing the issue in these games to get something. 'From their view, they will be happy getting us the newly-promoted team. But we are looking forward to the challenge and we're excited for it.'
BBC News
28-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Hamilton Accies Women plan to keep name and branding
Hamilton Academical WFC have no plans to change their name or branding, as they believe an existing agreement remains men's and the women's clubs are not legally affiliated and run financially women's side received consent to use the same name and badge as the men's side from the previous men's club board. However, earlier this month, they were contacted by the current club's board and ordered to change their name and stop using the club board, who took control of the men's club two years ago, said they had plans to start a new women's club and academy. BBC Scotland understands that no such formal application has as yet been made to the SWF, required for such a move.A source close to the women's side has told BBC Scotland that the old board of directors fully support their stance and are adamant they should not be making any source also told us that the women's club put in over £100,000 into Hamilton Academical as part of their working partnership for over a decade and the old board recognise that of this money came from the hiring of New Douglas Park, where the women's side will continue Accies WFC have had no further contact from the men's club's board of directors since that request over a name change was women's side won the SWPL 2 title last season, bouncing straight back up to the top flight after relegation in Scotland has contacted the club's current board for comment.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hamilton Women's team 'surprised and disappointed' after Accies owners ban side from using club's IP
Hamilton Accies Women say they are 'surprised and disappointed' after the board of directors at Hamilton Academical issued them with a demand to cease using the club's intellectual property. Lanarkshire Live Sport revealed this morming that the Accies board had sent a letter to the women's team informing them that they they intend to set up a new women's side and women's/girls academy under the Accies name, meaning the current 'Accies Women' must be rebranded. Advertisement The move comes after Accies Women opted to sever ties with the wider footballing operation, following the men's team's decision to leave New Douglas Park last month. READ MORE: Hamilton Accies part company with Jamie Barjonas as player exodus continues READ MORE: Hamilton Academical to set up new Women's team and BAN current SWPL1 side from using club's intellectual property Now SWPL2 champions 'Accies Women' have responded, insisting they will "proudly wear the Hamilton Coat of Arms that forms part of our club badge, just as we always have." A club statement read: "We are surprised and disappointed to see an attempt being made to ban Hamilton Accies Women from using the club badge — something that has been part of our identity for over a decade. Hamilton Accies Women are staying at New Douglas Park next season -Credit:SNS Group "Since 2013, we've had a long-standing and formally recognised agreement with the previous owners of Hamilton Academical FC, allowing us to use the club name and badge in perpetuity. This agreement reflects our deep-rooted commitment to representing the town of Hamilton with pride, integrity, and ambition. Advertisement "While the men's team has chosen to leave the town, we remain firmly based at New Douglas Park — continuing to invest in and represent our community. "We will proudly wear the Hamilton Coat of Arms that forms part of our club badge, just as we always have. "Our focus remains on building a strong future for girls and women's football in Hamilton, and we will not be distracted from that mission."
