With the Scottish League Cup Final due to take place at Hampden on Sunday afternoon, it is worth remembering another Celtic side also has a Glasgow Derby this week and would be very much appreciative of every bum on seat and every singing voice they can muster.
Last season Fran Alonso’s Celtic FC women’s side won a domestic cup double, lifting both the League Cup and Scottish Cup, yet disappointingly fell away when it came to the challenge of lifting the SWPL1 title.
This season however a tilt at title glory is very much on the cards, with Alonso’s Ghirls just three points behind Glasgow City and a solitary point ahead of theRangers who are back in third place. Therefore, Friday Night’s Glasgow Derby could be a pivotal match in determining just where that SWPL title will end up this season, with Celtic looking to ensure this season is the first ever time they win the big one.
Friday night’s Glasgow Derby (open to Celtic fans only) kicks off at 7pm at the Excelsior Stadium is ideally priced for an exciting start to a massive football weekend for Celtic at £8 per adult and £4 for under 16s. Meanwhile a combined Adult and child ticket is available for just a tenner. You can buy your tickets by following this link.
For those who don’t live locally enough to attend the game BBC Alba, BBC I-Player and the BBC Website will all be showing the game live.
Fran Alonso, working to a significantly lower budget than his high spending city neighbours, has built a team that has arguably surpassed the side who won the Cup Double last time out.
Despite losing some big hitters in recent times, particularly so in the case of Charlie Wellings and most recently the superbly talented Clarissa Larisey, the Celtic head coach has Celtic playing an exciting brand of football, has strength in depth in key positions and has produced a well-balanced, fat paced and wonderfully creative side very much in keeping with playing the Celtic way.
Celtic already have an edge having held theRangers to a goalless draw at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld back in November, and can now ram home that advantage with a big home crowd behind them at the Excelsior Stadium.
Celtic didn’t play at the weekend due to international call-ups, with the last match for the Hoops coming in the Scottish Cup and resulting in a 5-0 win over Boroughmuir Thistle – a win that saw them drawn with Hearts in the quarter finals as Alonso’s side seek to defend their Scottish Cup title.
First up though comes this Glasgow Derby and a chance to lay down a marker as to their title credentials, which would come with qualification for the riches and prestige of Champions League football. Celtic have of course been there before, however that came after finishing as runners-up in the SWPL, this time Fran Alonso will very much be looking to enter that competition as League Champions.
And to do so they will need all the support they can muster. So, if you can, please do get along to Airdrie on Friday night and give the Ghirls the support they deserve as they look to cement their position looking down on theRangers in the SWPL and set their sights on challenging Glasgow City on the way to that first ever League title.
If you are lucky enough to have a ticket for Sunday then you have this unique opportunity to see Celtic beat an Ibrox outfit twice in the same weekend! How good would that be?
On Friday night under the lights it’s COYGIG then on Sunday we move onto COYBIG!
Niall J
Friday night football, under the lights at the Excelsior Stadium! 🏟✨
Kickstart the double derby weekend by supporting the Ghirls next Friday, as the race for the #SWPL title heats up.
Tickets are available for home supporters to buy online now 🎟 ⬇️#CELRAN | #COYGIG🍀
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) February 17, 2023
