MANAGER’S NOTES BRIAN GRAHAM
I’d like to begin my programme notes today by welcoming Eileen Gleeson and everyone at Glasgow City to Petershill Park for this afternoon’s SWPL 1 match. This is our third match against them already this season and both of the previous games have been really tough tests for us but that’s what playing at the top level is all about so we’re looking forward to the match today. This represents our last game before the winter break which will give us an opportunity to reflect on the first part of the season. Overall, I’ve been incredibly proud of the effort the girls have put in and we’ve done very well to pick up as many points as we have in a very competitive league which we weren’t expecting to be in this year. That being said, I think we still have a lot of growing to do. There have been a few games where we felt we could have got more than we did and hopefully, as we continue to gain experience, we’ll be able to get the results we feel we deserve from those games. Injuries have been a real issue for us during the first part of the campaign with a number of players missing long spells. That includes players who were a big part of the team last season and that has definitely been a blow for us. The break will give them a bit more recovery time and fingers crossed we’ll see a few of them back in training before too long. Last time out we went up against a Rangers side of a similar quality to Glasgow City and we gave a really good account of ourselves holding them to just one goal. We have to show just as much bravery and determination today and believe that we’re capable of getting a result. With this being our last match of 2021, I want to take this opportunity to wish all of the players, fans and everyone involved with the club a very Merry Christmas and I hope to see you all in 2022 for a very exciting end to the season. Enjoy the game,
Date
2021/22 FIXTURES
Venue
Opposition
Compeition
Score
08.08.21
Home
Celtic
SWPL Cup
1-3
15.08.21
Away
St Johnstone
SWPL Cup
4-0
29.08.21
Away
Hearts
SWPL Cup
0-0
12.09.21
Home
Aberdeen
SWPL1
0-2
19.09.21
Home
Motherwell
SWPL1
3-2
30.09.21
Away
Glasgow City
SWPL1
1-3
03.10.21
Away
Celtic
SWPL1
0-6
06.10.21
Away
Rangers
SWPL1
1-7
10.10.21
Home
Hibernian
SWPL1
3-2
17.10.21
Home
Hamilton
SWPL1
2-2
31.10.21
Away
Glasgow City
SWPL Cup
0-5
03.11.21
Away
Spartans
SWPL1
0-0
07.11.21
Home
Hearts
SWPL1
2-3
21.11.21
Home
Rangers
SWPL1
0-1
28.11.21
Away
Aberdeen
SWPL1
12.12.21
Home
Glasgow City
SWPL1
16.01.22
Away
Motherwell
SWPL1
23.01.22
Home
Celtic
SWPL1
30.01.22
Away
Hibernian
SWPL1
06.02.22
Away
Hamilton
SWPL1
20.02.22
Home
Spartans
SWPL1
27.02.22
Away
Hearts
SWPL1
06.03.22
Away
Rangers
SWPL1
13.03.22
Home
Aberdeen
SWPL1
20.03.22
Away
Glasgow City
SWPL1
27.03.22
Away
Motherwell
SWPL1
17.04.22
Home
Celtic
SWPL1
24.04.22
Home
Hibernian
SWPL1
08.05.22
Home
Hamilton
SWPL1
11.05.22
Home
Spartans
SWPL1
15.05.22
Away
Hearts
SWPL!
PLAYER
2021/22 STATS APPS
GOALS
Dionne Brown
(3)
Amy Bulloch
9(2)
Summer Christie
2(3)
Emma Craig
3
Danica Dalziel
5(4)
1
Clare Docherty
9(1)
1
Demi Falconer
14
Colette Fleming
3(1)
Jade Gallon
3
Lauren Grant
2
Jade Greenshields
2(2)
1
Freya MacDonald
12(2)
1
Cara McBrearty
12(1)
3
Teigan McCann
9
3
Cheryl McCulloch
11
Taylor McGlashan
4(2)
Rebecca McGowan
10
Lauren McGregor
8(1)
Kim Murphy
6(1)
Eva Payne
(3)
Sophie Payne
1(2)
London Pollard
6
2
Cheryl Rigden
8(5)
1
Rosie Slater
9(2)
Eleanor Smith
4(7)
Ellie Vernal
2(1)
2
2
KIM MURPHY PLAYER INFO
PLAYER INTERVIEW
Name: Kim Murphy Date of Birth: 07/08/1991 Position: Defender Joined Thistle: January 6th 2020 Previous Club(s): Hamilton Accies, Mill United, Kilmarnock Thistle Debut: v Glasgow Women, SWPL2, February 23rd 2020 Thistle Appearances and Goals: Apps 17(5) Goals 0 We’re about to play our last game before the winter break, how have you found the first half of the season? There’s been a lot of highs and some lows so far both personally and as a team. We have faced some real challenges but overall, considering our situation at the beginning I feel we have all coped really well and it has mostly been enjoyable! We are a team used to winning most weeks in SWPL 2 so to then start facing a few really tough high scoring games it was always going to be a challenge but we have all pulled together to manage it well. With the late promotion, There was a lot of trepidation within the squad about the step up, how do you feel the team have handled it? The initial shock of promotion definitely resulted in a lot of girls being apprehensive about this season. Myself in particular, l was fit and ready for SWPL 2 but preparation for SWPL 1 was completely different and we only had a limited amount of time. Fortunately enough however, we have got a brilliant squad who have put all their efforts into every single game. I think we have really surprised a lot of teams with some of the performances we’ve given especially considering we have had so many injuries within the squad. We’re playing against the best teams in Scotland and causing them some problems because of the commitment and fight we put into every game which I think is being recognised across the league. There have been some disappointments for us where we feel we should have won games that we lost or drew and that’s a big statement as I think considering the position we’re in its beyond what people imagined. As one of the most experienced players within the squad you always lead by example and drive everyone on, how do you enjoy that role?
It terrifies me that I am now classed as an experienced player as experienced definitely means old!! But i am really enjoying it. I am really lucky as most of the other experienced (old) players are some of my really good friends I have played with most of my career, so we all know each other really well, how we play and how to bring each other on in a game. But I am really enjoying playing along side the whole team. We all get on really well and have a strong bond which makes playing together so much easier. The defence is brilliant, we are a total unit, regardless of who is in the back 4. I always want to win and am determined. One of my all time favourite coaches Willy Brown told me when i was 15 that, “ You may not be the best player on the park but that doesn’t mean you can’t have the biggest impact on the game.” That’s something thats stuck and is what I try to do. Whether its winning tackles and headers in the last 5 minutes or encouraging the other girls and talking them through games. I always try to do the best i can in a game. We have some really talented young girls with a lot of potential and supporting them has been a learning experience for me that I have really benefited from as well as training with them as they are so keen and enthusiastic with great quality. Heading into the winter break, are you desperate just to play again or looking forward to the break? A bit of both! We had an exhausting run of games and every game has been a battle physically and mentally so I think all of the girls and coaching staff need a break to rest and reset. It will also give us a chance to get back some key players who have been out injured for a long time. Playing with a limited pool of players is extremely difficult so having a stronger squad will definitely lift everyones spirits after the break. I’m sure we will all be more than ready to get back in training together again after christmas and a team night out of course! What are your and the teams aims for the remainder of the season? Most importantly it is to remain in SWPL 1. That’s the main goal for the club without a doubt and it will be a great achievement for all involved. However, as a team we don’t want to just scrape staying up. We want to do it on merit, take every game as it comes and take as many points as we can and when deserved. We have a more than capable squad that is only going to get stronger after the break
PLAYER SPONSORS 1. Lauren McGregor 2, Rosie Slater
Pauline and Elaine Dr Wilma Hogg
Dr Wilma Hogg
Dr Wilma Hogg
3. Kim Murphy 4. Cheryl McCulloch 5. Demi Falconer
Morag & Graham Elrick
Catriona Tucker
CL Flooring
6. Colette Fleming
Dunmuir Coachworks
7. Teigan McCann
True Potential Wealth
Randle Wilson
Donald DIngwall
8. Clare Docherty
Ivy, Etta & Amos
PTFC Nomads
JM Mobile Valeting
9. Taylor McGlashan
Drumchapel United
10. Emma Craig 11. Cara McBrearty
Gordon McClure Cairnhill Structures
The Mayes Family
13. Ellie Vernal
Watson Towers W Munro (Rehab) Ltd
14. Sophie Gallacher 15. Jade Gallon 16. Rebecca McGowan
Greg Robertson
Dean Robertson Joinery
Teng Tools UK
The Welsh Family
Allied Interiors
17. Sophie Payne 18. Danica Dalziel 19. Cheryl Rigden 20. Freya MacDonald 21. Lauren Grant
41 Sports Media Cobie O’Neil
Cobie O’Neil
Cobie O’Neil
Dogs Without Border Scotland
Greenhill Tyres & Exhaust
Euan Grant
22. Eleanor Smith 23. Dionne Brown 24. Amy Bulloch 25. Summer Christie 26. Eva Payne 27. Jade Greenshields
Maureen Thomas
OUR SPONSORS THANK YOU
2021 WHAT A YEAR! TOM HOSIE
There is little doubt that the year about to finish has been the most dramatic in the relatively short history of Partick Thistle WFC. It started with Thistle in SWPL2 and will end this afternoon with a SWPL1 fixture with Glasgow City. 2020 ended with a 4-1 victory over Glasgow Women that left Thistle nicely placed in the SWPL2 league table as the season went into its winter break. The combination of what should have been that short winter break and then a Covid inspired hiatus meant that six months would pass before the team returned to action with a 3-1 win over Boroughmuir Thistle at our temporary Maryhill FC home. The hope was that Brian Graham, just fresh from playing a huge role in the men’s team League One title success, would be celebrating a double promotion. There were some impressive results and performances in what was a gruelling schedule to get the season completed but ultimately, even though Thistle took the promotion challenge to the season’s final day, away defeats to Aberdeen and Hamilton proved to be Thistle’s undoing and it was those two teams that made the step up to the top flight of the women’s game in Scotland. The story didn’t end there though. We were well down the road in our preparations for another promotion challenge when, with the start of the league season just weeks away, Forfar Farmington indicated that they wouldn’t be able to fulfil their SWPL1 fixtures creating an unexpected vacancy. When the invite to fill that vacancy came to us it was one as an ambitious club that we felt that we couldn’t turn down. Typically our SWPL1 season had a delayed start with our league opener against Rangers postponed but it was still a proud moment when on September 12th 2021 Partick Thistle WFC took the field as a SWPL1 side for the very first time when we entertained Aberdeen here at Petershill Park. That particular game ended in defeat but our very first win in the top flight was just 7 days away. The feeling when Freya MacDonald thundered in the winner with 2 minutes of our home game with Motherwell remaining to complete a comeback from 2-1 down to win 3-2 was indescribable, though the joy on the faces of all associated with the club when the full-time whistle sounded gave a fair indication of how much it meant. A thrilling win over Hibs a few weeks later was a further notice of intent that we want to make this stay in SWPL1 a prolonged one and for us, as a club, to continue to grow. 2021 has been an unprecedented year for us. It’s had its challenges, it’s had its highs and its lows but overall it has been an invigorating, inspiring and above all else, historic year. Sunday January 16th 2022, when we return from the winter break and start the next chapter in our story can’t come quickly enough.
MATCH REPORT
PARTICK THISTLE 0 v 1 RANGERS
A visit of league leaders Rangers is often a daunting prospect but although Thistle would lose this encounter there was much to take heart from in the display. Injuries again limited the options open to Thistle manager Brian Graham and with Rosie Slater, on loan from Rangers, unable to play against her parent club his options for this game were further restricted. The experienced Kim Murphy was drafted in to replace Slater and such was her impressive display that she won the Player of the Match award from Match Sponsors M. A. S Electrical & Security Systems. As anticipated Rangers were quick to assert themselves on proceedings and the last thing Thistle would have wanted was to concede an early goal. Unfortunately that’s precisely what happened with Rangers scoring after just 10 minutes. Chelsea Comet’s long range effort leaving McGregor in the Thistle goal with little chance of saving. It might have been thought that that early goal would open up the floodgates especially given the final score when the two sides met earlier in the season but the Thistle defence were in resolute mood and did well to limit the opportunities that came the way of Rangers. Ross dragged a shot wide and a McLauchlan effort wasn’t too far wide but it was really only in the closing stages of the first half that Rangers genuinely looked as if they might add a second goal. A Bell shot was deflected over the bar two minutes before the interval and right on half-time McGregor made an excellent save low to her left to deny Arnot. Only fleetingly though were Thistle able to offer an attacking threat of their own with Cunningham making a comfortable save from McBrearty after 21 minutes in a rare first half Thistle attack. Still with just one goal in it there was always the chance that a hard-working and spirited Thistle side might conjure something in front of the Rangers goal. The second half though followed a similar pattern to that of the first with the bulk of the game spent in the Thistle half but with Rangers restricted to mostly long range efforts. They did have the ball in the net just four minutes after the restart but by then the flag had gone up for offside. With 64 minutes played Lauren McGregor made an excellent stop to tip a Vance free kick onto her crossbar and McGregor again saved three minutes later when Westrup was able to poke the ball towards the Thistle goal after a free kick had only been partially cleared. Thistle were seen more of an attacking force in the second half although chances would remain limited. Cunningham had to be sharp off her line to collect the ball ahead of McBrearty after 57 minutes and a minute later Christie and McBrearty were able to combine well on a Thistle counter attack but McBrearty in turn wasn’t able to find Docherty, who had made a good forward run, to her left. Thistle’s best chance of an equaliser though came after 69 minutes as Docherty, after collecting the ball inside her own half, tried to burst through the centre of the Rangers defence. She was able to advance towards the box but with defenders in hot pursuit wasn’t able to get enough power into her shot to truly trouble Cunningham. Team: McGregor, Murphy, McCulloch, Falconer, Docherty, McBrearty (Trialist), Dalziel, MacDonald (Brown), Bulloch (Rigden), Christie (Smith)
OUR VISITORS GLASGOW CITY
When you talk about women’s football in Scotland it is impossible not to almost immediately think of Glasgow City WFC. They have been a giant in the Scottish game almost from the day of their foundation in 1998. Their first Scottish League title was secured with a 5-1 win over Kilmarnock at the end of the 2004-2005 season. The title went back to Hibs, runners-up to Glasgow City in 2004-2005, in each of the next two seasons but Glasgow City have been crowned the Champions of Scotland in every season from 2007-2008 onwards. For those counting that makes 15 titles overall and an incredible 14 in a row. You can add to that nine Scottish Women’s Cup wins and six Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup triumphs. It’s no wonder that it is Glasgow City that are the first name that comes to mind when considering the women’s game in Scotland. The overall standard of the women’s game in Scotland has risen significantly since the late 1990s when Glasgow City were formed and it has been the success of Glasgow City, who have competed with no little success beyond the shores of Scotland in European competition, that has been the catalyst for that rise in standard. At least to some degree, they have become a victim of their own success. While in previous seasons there wasn’t perhaps always a serious challenger to City’s title that certainly isn’t the case now. Last season Celtic took their challenge to the very last game of the season. Had Glasgow City slipped up in their final fixture of the season against Rangers, who had defeated City 5-0 almost a year ago to the day, and Celtic defeated Motherwell then the title, while remaining in Glasgow, would be Celtic’s. Celtic made light work of defeating Motherwell but first half Glasgow City goals from Hayley Lauder and Niamh Farrelly were enough to secure a 2-0 Glasgow City win and a 14th Scottish title in a row. Although the title was won last season it was the first real sign that the balance of power in the women’s game in Scotland might be shifting and there is further evidence of that as we reach the midway stage of the current season. Just last weekend, in front of a record crowd for a domestic final in Scotland, they were defeated 1-0 by Celtic in the SWPL Cup Final and while they have recorded some impressive wins in the league and remain unbeaten in the league, they have dropped points to both Celtic and Rangers and actually find themselves trailing Rangers by two points with Celtic also in hot pursuit. A fascinating title battle is in store when the season recommences in the middle of next month. It would take a brave person to predict who will be crowned Scotland’s Champions of season 2021-2022 but you can guarantee that Glasgow City will not relinquish their title without an almighty fight.
OUR VISITORS GLASGOW CITY
RESULTS Date
Competition
Opposition
Score
05.09.21
SWPL1
H v Motherwell
W 6-0
12.09.21
SWPL1
A v Celtic
D 2-2
26.09.21
SWPL1
A v Hamilton
W 3-1
30.09.21
SWPL1
H v Partick Thistle
W 3-1
03.10.21
SWPL1
H v Spartans
W 9-0
10.10.21
SWPL1
A v Hearts
W 2-0
17.10.21
SWPL1
H v Rangers
D 1-1
03.11.21
SWPL1
A v Aberdeen
W 5-0
07.11.21
SWPL1
A v Hibs
W 3-0
21.11.21
SWPL1
A v Motherwell
W 5-1
TOP SCORERS Player
Goals
Priscilla Chinchilla
10
Lauren Davidson
9
Aoife Colvill
8
Ode Fulutudilu
7
Jenna Clark
5
Joanne Love
5
Clare Shine
5
PAST MEETINGS VS GLASGOW CITY
While today’s fixture is the third between today’s teams and the third to be played at Petershill Park, it is still an historic occasion as it represents our very first home fixture against Glasgow City. The first of the two previous meetings between Thistle and Glasgow City took place on Thursday September 30th and although City emerged victorious at the end of the SWPL1 fixture it was not before Thistle had given them an almighty fright in the process. There were just 10 minutes on the clock when London Pollard, then on loan with Thistle from Celtic and now a Motherwell player, knocked the ball past Lee Alexander to give Thistle an unexpected lead. It was a lead that Thistle held until just past the half hour mark when Cailin Michie levelled things with a deflected goal. The scores were still tied in the 65th minute when Michie scored her second of the night to put Glasgow City in front for the first time. It took a somewhat harsh penalty award, converted by Priscilla Chinchilla with just 3 minutes remaining to give City the comfort of a two goal lead and the three points after a brave display from Thistle playing against the 15 times Scottish Champions for the very first time. Glasgow City: Alexander, Michie, Walsh, Fulton, Shine (Fulutudilu), Clark, Davidson (Foley), Pimenta, Farrelly (Love), Chinchilla, Dodds. Thistle: McGregor, Slater, Murphy (Smith), McCulloch, Falconer, McCann (McBrearty), Docherty, McGowan (Vernal), MacDonald, Pollard, Bulloch (Rigden). The winning Glasgow City margin was more emphatic when the teams met in the quarter-final of the SWPL Cup on October 31st. Any chance of a cup shock were largely eradicated when Lauren Davidson netted twice inside the game’s first 15 minutes. Her first goal was a penalty and her second an absolute cracker from the corner of the box. The score remained at 2-0 at the interval but Davidson completed her hat-trick, again via the penalty spot, early in the second half and although Thistle continued to defend well tiredness crept in towards the end allowing City to score a further two goals both scored by second half substitute Aoife Colvill. Glasgow City: Clachers, Lauder, Walsh (Michie), Fulton, Fulutudilu, Clark, Davidson (Colvill), Pimenta, Farrelly (Molin), Foley, Dodds (Kats) Thistle: Dalziel, Slater, McCulloch, Falconer, Docherty, McBrearty, Rigden (Murphy), MacDonald (S Payne), Smith, Bulloch, Christie (E Payne).
TEAM LISTS PARTICK THISTLE 1. Lauren McGregor 2. Rosie Slater 3. Kim Murphy 4. Cheryl McCulloch 5. Demi Falconer 6. Colette Fleming 7. Teigan McCann 8. Clare Docherty 9. Taylor McGlashan 10. Emma Craig 11. Cara McBrearty 13. Ellie Vernal 14. Sophie Gallaher 15. Jade Gallon 16. Rebecca McGowan 17. Sophie Payne 18. Danica Dalziel 19. Cheryl Rigden 20. Freya Macdonald 21. Lauren Grant 22. Eleanor Smith 23. Dionne Brown 24. Amy Bulloch 25. Summer Christie 26. Eva Payne 27. Jade Greenshields
GLASGOW CITY 2. Cailin Michie 4. Hayley Lauder 5. Claire Walsh 6. Jo Love 7. Mairead Fulton 8. Vital Kats 9. Ode Fulutudilu 10. Clare Shine 12. Jenna Clark 14. Lauren Davidson 16. Agata Filipa 17. Niamh Farrelly 19. Aoife Colvill 20. Julia Molin 21. Priscila Chinchilla 22. Taylor Fisher 23. Megan Foley 24. Tyler Dodds 25. Erin Clachers 26. Niamh Noble 27. Mya Bates 29. Lee Alexander