Alloa set for three national women’s cup finals this weekend
Alloa’s Indodrill stadium is the setting for three national cup finals this weekend, as the Scottish Women’s Football League Cup and Plate finals prelude the Championship and League One Cup Final, the league cup for SWF’s national leagues.
Championship leaders Rossvale face Dryburgh Athletic at 4pm on the Sunday for SWF’s most senior league cup. This will be the third final in a row for Dundee side Dryburgh, who won the inaugural Championship cup in the 2021/22 season, then lost out in a penalty shootout against Edinburgh City last season.
In this year’s final, they face a Rossvale side who have enjoyed great consistency this season losing only two games in the league and are on the brink of promotion to the SWPL2 under manager Julie McSherry.
The teams are set to be piped onto the pitch by the ScottishPower pipe band, a full Grade 1 pipe band from SWF’s principal partner ScottishPower. The game will also be streamed live on SWF’s YouTube channel.
At midday on the Sunday, the primary regional league cup, the SWFL Cup final, is an all-Fife affair, with Glenrothes Strollers in their first ever cup final facing McDermid Ladies, and on Saturday Linlithgow Rose play Musselburgh Windsor in the Plate, the competition established for teams knocked out of the cup in the group stages.
Commenting ahead of the events, SWF CEO Aileen Campbell said: “Coming to the Wee County is part of Scottish Women’s Football’s commitment to reach new communities and audiences across Scotland, growing the reach and interest in the women’s game and ensure that the growth in women’s football is not confined to our two biggest cities.
“A huge thanks to Alloa Athletic for the use of the Indodrill, and thanks to our principal partner ScottishPower for providing their Grade 1 pipe band for the game on Sunday evening.”
Rossvale captain Lynne Jackson said: “We’ve managed to go further in the competition than we did last year, and we want to go all the way.
“The first few rounds were a different challenge for us, playing teams we weren’t as familiar with like Edinburgh Caledonia and Stenhousemuir, but the girls took it in their stride and continued to produce quality in every area of the pitch.”
Dryburgh captain Laura Boag said: “The mood in the team and around the club is a feeling of excitement and pride that we have reached another final. Spirits are high and we are looking forward to the day.
“My message to the girls in the dressing room will be to believe in themselves and their team-mates. To fight for each other and use our cup-winning experience for inspiration and confidence.”
In a statement, Glenrothes Strollers co-captains Lucy Bryant and Kerry Forsyth said:
“Reaching the final is a great achievement for both the team and the club. We are a new women’s team and to be able to have such a strong squad and bond to achieve this together in a short space of time has been great to be a part of.
“The whole club has shown us massive support throughout which we really appreciate. The message for Sunday is for us all to go out and enjoy the experience and do what we do best, play for each other.”
McDermid Ladies skipper Tyler Rattray said: “To reach the League Cup Final is an incredible feeling. We have had a tough journey as a team, but everyone who is a part of it all deserves to be in the final.
“I am extremely proud of the girls and coaches who have been here to create great memories along the way, and I have faith in the team to put everything we have into this game. A great feeling of pride, excitement, and nerves.”
Linlithgow Rose Captain Lucy McEwan said:
“I am excited and honoured to be leading Linlithgow Rose out at Indodrill Stadium for the League Plate final. This year’s competition has been of a very high standard, which makes me so proud of the team to get to the final.
“We have worked so hard all year round, facing great opponents along the way, allowing us to improve game by game. I would like to thank all the girls and coaches who have put in the hard work and hope we can bring back the team’s first silverware to our small community club.”
Musselburgh Windsor captain Chloe Stuart said:
“It’s an amazing achievement and we are all excited to have reached a final, everyone has worked hard to get here and I’ll ask the girls to work hard but enjoy themselves”
Tickets for all three games are available via Scottish Women’s Football on the FanBase app:
