Football: Perthshire girls to play in Champion’s League

Jul 30 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A TRIO of Perthshire footballers are set to pit their wits against the cream of the continent’s talent in the women’s Champion’s League.

Perth full-back Emma Fernon (23), Balbeggie-raised forward Lisa Evans and Strathearn midfielder Lauren McMurchie (both 18) will be part of a Glasgow City Ladies squad chasing their European dream.

City have been drawn against German giants FCR 2001 Duisburg, Slovakian outfit SK Slovan Bratislava and Crusaders Newtonabbey Strikers from Northern Ireland in the competition’s initial group stages.

The Scottish squad will travel across the Irish Sea to contest games against all three sides from August 5 to 10.

The club have faced German opposition in their last two continental campaigns but head coach Eddie Wolecki – who lives in Perth’s Bridgend area – said his defending Premier League title holders will be prepared for the challenge.

“The Champion's League has been going for nine years now and a German side has won it on six occasions, so we know it’s not going to be easy,” he told PA Sport.

The former Montrose manager continued: “For us, getting Duisburg is the equivalent of, say, Celtic or Rangers getting Barcelona in the men’s competition.

“In previous years we’ve felt our fitness hasn’t been quite as good as the European sides, but that’s changed now.

“The girls train every night of the week and they deserve a tremendous amount of credit for that, especially when you consider they don’t get paid.

“They have to fund things like our trip to Northern Ireland themselves.

“Obviously we’re going to have to step our level up against all three sides, and they’ll play a different style to what we’re used to.

“But most of our players, except the younger ones like Lisa and Lauren, have played in Europe before and we’ll prepare them so they know what to expect.

They’re used to winning too, as we’ve won every domestic competition we’ve entered for the last two years,” he said.

Promising youngsters Lisa and Lauren – both current Scotland U19 internationals – are currently involved with the Scottish Football Association’s scholarship programme, underway at the University of Stirling.

The ‘winning students’ initiative was launched in May last year, and combines higher or further education courses with work alongside the country’s top coaches.

Eddie continued: “The academy focuses on strength and conditioning and, because the girls are there almost full-time, we’ve really seen a difference when they’re training with us at City.”

Anyone wishing to sponsor the girls can contact the club via email on secretary@glasgowcityladiesfc.co.uk