Rangers Women - Games and Updates

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A touch predictable of a report in the Scotsman, I did add some remarks ...

 

Rangers celebrate maiden win over Celtic with Hind to the fore

 

Laura Cotton Tuesday 11 June 2013

 

The troubles of their male counterparts have been hard to ignore but the Rangers Ladies team have undergone a major shake-up of their own, albeit in a quieter, less ruinous manner. (Do keep in mind that they all play for the same club and what was done was done by that very same club.)

 

In fact, a win over Celtic yesterday, their first, served notice that the team is in rude health. (Do keep in mind that at 17s and 15s level, the Rangers Girls have wiped the floor with their eastern Glasgow counterparts last season ... )

 

Angie Hind, the former Scotland women's assistant manager, took charge in January and embarked on an overhaul that included the signing of nine players, a handful arriving from their Old Firm rivals. (My hand has 5 fingers, not three. That said, the interchange of players between women teams is rather open.)

 

Two months into the 2013 season and the team are third in the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL); their only defeat coming at the hands of league champions Glasgow City.

 

Hind grew up in Kilmarnock at a time when women's football was not seen as desirable to watch. She said: "My papa was involved in boys' and junior football so he was an early influence. I had more friends that were boys than girls because all I wanted to do was kick a ball around. I felt as if I was the only girl who played football. My mum was always 'when are you going to grow out of it?'"

 

After playing in a tournament with a boys' club, Hind was asked to train with Stewarton Ladies (which later became Kilmarnock Ladies). She stayed there from the age of 11 to 31, winning her first Scotland cap at 27.

 

She said: "You could say I was a late bloomer. I've always felt there were really good players in the women's game but the main difference now is they're more athletic. There are better facilities, coaches are more supported and the organisation is more professional. But more can still be done."

 

When Hind hung up her boots in 2003 she crossed the Atlantic to coach American ladies' side Dartmouth College, which won a handful of titles during her eight years at the club.

 

"I always wanted to be a coach," she said. "I got my 'B' licence when I was 21 and spent five years as an SFA development officer in Glasgow. It certainly wasn't the weather that enticed me back to Scotland but when I was offered the assistant manager's job of the Scottish national team, I was ready for a new challenge."

 

While Hind had been lapping up the sunshine on the American east coast, the women's game in Scotland was changing dramatically. Celtic were the first half of the Old Firm to establish a ladies' team, in 2007. A year later, Rangers did the same. Close links to the men's side allowed the ladies to train at Murray Park and they were kitted out with the latest training gear and match-day strips.

 

However, they could not match their rivals on the pitch. Rangers Ladies have never finished higher than Celtic – the closest they came was a deficit of 15 points, in 2011. So, would it be fair to say Rangers have underachieved? (Nope. Since Rangers Ladies never had experience and international people, hardly ever fielding players above 23. Any experience and quality they had where snapped up by Glasgow City, Celtic, Spartans et al. Only this season has the club gone out of its way and highlighted the Ladies side too. As you can read below.)

 

"Strangely enough, that was actually one of the reasons that attracted me to the club," Hind said. "Gary Gibson and Raymond Farrelly, who are involved in community projects, encouraged me to come and they've always been very supportive. I always want to help teams and encourage progress, and I felt I would be able to do this at Rangers. The youth team have done well over the years but players were moving on to different teams when it was time to turn senior. I want to create a first team that the club can be proud of and the youth players want to play for."

 

The club could almost field a second starting XI with the number of players signed in the build-up to the 2013 season. Hind said: "The key thing was we had to bring in quality players. We have kept what we had in terms of youth but added to it in terms of quality and experience. We introduced a strength and conditioning programme, as well as new coaching staff, a goalkeeping coach and a physio. Me and the management team tend to do a bit of everything as we are eager to raise the profile of the club, including setting up a Twitter account and news updates to the official Rangers website."

 

One of the nine new players for the team is midfielder Megan Sneddon, who has 113 Scotland caps.

 

"Megan and Karen Penglase were aged 14/15 when I left to go to the States. When I signed them to Rangers I think there was a mutual respect. They know the calibre of training they will get and the environment that will be created around them."

 

Glasgow City have monopolised the SWPL for five years; winning back-to-back league trophies and featuring in the Champions League. Last season, City won the league by 24 points and had a goal difference of 133, although Hind believes the SWPL more competitive than it appears.

 

"Over the years certain teams have dominated. Cumbernauld, Ayr United and Kilmarnock - and now Glasgow City. You only need to look at results this season to see the gap is getting closer. There is a definite change."

 

Scotsman

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Fixture:

 

U15 League Cup Final - TODAY at Toryglen 12.25pm

 

Rangers Girls vs Glasgow City

 

 

There's a friendly between Germany and Scotland this afternoon, with our very own Megan Sneddon featuring.

 

Evans relishing Germany test

Friday, 14 June 2013

 

Women's International Challenge Match

Germany v Scotland

Saturday 15 June 2013, kick-off 3.30pm (local time)

Stadion Essen, Essen, Germany

 

Broadcast live in Germany on ZDF

 

She may be facing the same players that she comes up against week-in, week-out, but Lisa Evans can't wait for kick-off at Stadion Essen tomorrow afternoon

 

The former Glasgow City striker signed for professional Frauen-Bundesliga side Turbine Potsdam last summer, and with Scotland coming up against a squad of almost entirely German-based players, there will be a few familiar faces.

 

Lisa said: "Germany have some great attacking players, but the one to watch is probably Celia Okoyino da Mbabi (SC 07 Bad Neuenahr), she scores goals for fun.

 

"I have one team mate in the Germany squad, Jenny Cramer. She's a defender, very athletic, and with great tecnique. We don't speak about international football very much, but I'm sure we'll have a bit of banter about the game.

 

"Germany are ranked second in the world and we all know they are a very good team. We're expecting a competitive game, very physical, with a fast tempo."

 

Germany take on Scotland in one of their final games before heading to the UEFA Women's Euro Finals in Sweden in a few weeks.

 

Scotland came agonisingly close to joining them there, exiting at the play-off stage in an extra-time defeat to Spain last October. Since that last-gasp loss in Madrid, Scotland have gone on an impressive five-game unbeaten run as they prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2015 qualifying campaign, which starts in September.

 

That run has included wins over Italy, The Netherlands and Iceland, which have boosted confidence, explains Lisa.

 

"We're closing the gap on the top teams. You can see that in our recent results against teams that are ranked higher than us. We can take a lot of positives from that into the game tomorrow.

 

"I'm looking forward to showing Germany what we're about. Some of them might be a bit surprised by how much we have progressed since we last faced them (in a 5-0 defeat in Perth back in 2006).

 

"It will be a good indicator to see how far we've come. It will be a tough game but it will be a good test for us. What we're looking for, at least, is a good performance tomorrow.

 

"We have World Cup qualifiers starting in September and what better way to prepare than a game against one of the best teams in the world?"

 

Lisa has thoroughly enjoyed her time in Germany so far, and has benefitted from having good friend Emma Mitchell in the same country, playing for SGS Essen, who are based at tomorrow's match venue.

 

Lisa said: "It's been a tough season, which I expected before I came here, but I've enjoyed it even more than I thought I would.

 

"I've got a bit of pace and I'm pretty direct as a player, which German football is all about, so I've fitted in pretty well.

 

"Women's football is so popular in Germany. It's great to get a bit of recognition and to play in front of bigger crowds. Any player loves those big occasions in a stadium full of fans. It's such a different atmosphere.

 

"It's been great to have Emma over here this year, although we don't live anywhere near each other. She drove over to see me the other week and it took over four hours!

 

"But it's good to have one of your friends going through a similar experience, and have someone you can talk to about the league.

 

"Emma admits herself that her German isn't the best, but mine is definitely getting better. The language barrier was something that I was a bit nervous about before I came over, but we have a lot of international players at Potsdam, which really helps."

 

SFA

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The game will be streamed live on ZDF Sport

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The Rangers Ladies were playing a US college team last night and all took time for a photograph at Toryglen ...

 

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Goals from Germany's friendly win over Scotland, who played very well.

 

In general, Scottish women football seems to be on the up right now, and some Bearettes are making their mark too ...

 

Captain Megan Karagiozis and Amanda Traynor have both recently been called in to the Scotland under-18 squad for summer international matches.

 

Nine youngsters also featured in the national squad at under-17 level, contributing to two challenge matches with Wales which were won 7-0 and 4-0.

 

U17 Game (June 16th or 17th)

 

Rangers Girls 10 Hamilton Caledonia 1

 

Scorers: Mason(3), Docherty, Wilkie, Traynor, Karagozis, Baird, Robertson(2)

 

Fixtures

 

Girls Set For Old Firm Final - Rangers OHP

 

Rangers U17 Girls v Celtic U17 Girls, Sunday June 23, Toryglen, 2.35pm

 

Ladies Ready For Cup Kick Off

 

Hamilton Academicals v Rangers Ladies, 2pm, John Cummings Stadium in Carluke, Sunday 23rd June.

Edited June 22, 2013 by der Berliner

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Perfect day for the Rangers Ladies and Girls ...

 

u15s Scottish Cup

 

Dumfries (0) Rangers Girls 6

 

Scorers: Farquhar, Pollock, Felgate, Galt, Brown, McNicholl and Adams

 

u17s League Cup Final

 

Rangers Girls 2 Celtic 0

 

Scorers: Mason, Howat

 

 

Hats off to these Girls (<- click)

 

Scottish Cup

 

Hamilton Academical 0 Rangers Ladies 5

 

Scorers: Foley, Ross (2), Cunningham, Storrie

 

Ramsay - Barr, Penglase, Paterson, L.Condie, Sneddon, Thomson, Ross, Foley, Cunningham, Hill

 

Edited June 23, 2013 by der Berliner

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Info: Rangers Ladies will face Spartans Reserves at home in the 3rd round of the Scottish Cup on the 18th August

 

Rangers OHP report on the Ladies win at Hamilton.

 

Scottish Women's Premier League - 30 Jun 13, Petershill Park, Glasgow, 14.00

 

Rangers Ladies versus Kilwinning Ladies

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Scottish Women's Premier League - 30 Jun 13, Petershill Park, Glasgow

 

Rangers 10 Kilwinning 0 (HT 3-0)

 

Scorers: Foley (3), Sneddon, Thomson (2), Barr, Condie, Swanson, Halliday

 

First ever goal for Michelle Barr ... and at long last one from Lisa Swanson again. That is the first half of the season completed, the Ladies are on a 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

[Steve1872 4]

 

Highlights of Rangers 10 nil win over Kilwinning at Petershill on Sunday 30th June.

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Rangers Ladies resumed the chase for the SWPL title last weekend, but lost out (again) to strong title favourites Glasgow City. It was only their second defeat of the season.

 

Scottish Women's Premier League - 28 Jul 13, Petershill Park, Glasgow

 

Rangers Ladies 0 Glasgow City 2 (0-1)

 

Match report on Rangers OHP