Welcome to our fortnightly article Scots Abroad – a feature on the trials and tribulations of Scottish players playing their football outside of Scotland.
This was going to be a bumper FA Cup edition with so many Scots involved in the Quarter Final ties. Alas just as in Scotland, the weather decimated the fixture card. However one game did survive and there will definitely be one Scot in the semi-finals as Chelsea comfortably eased passed Liverpool 3-0 with Erin Cuthbert playing the full game. Sadly this means that Caroline Weir will miss out on a Wembley appearance this year. The remaining quarter finals will be played next week and the draw for the semi-finals will see Chelsea take on Man City or Sunderland while Arsenal or Charlton will play Durham or Everton.
Erin Cuthbert, however was not the only “Scot Abroad” in cup action. In Sweden Fiona Brown scored an injury time winner to send her new club Rosengard into the Swedish cup final where they will play Linkoping.
Back to England we go and the first silverware of the season, the Continental Cup, was contested by Man City and Arsenal. All three scots in the Arsenal squad, Kim Little, Lisa Evans and Emma Mitchell started and where instrumental in securing the cup for the Gunners.
Despite bringing on Scots Claire Emslie and Jane Ross to join Jenny Beattie at half time, Man City could find no way past a resolute Arsenal defence losing 1-0. It was great to see 6 Scots on the pitch and Kim Little took another major step on her way back to full fitness playing 89 minutes, getting the Man of the match nomination, and capping everything off by being selected in Shelley Kerr’s squad for the world cup qualifiers in April against Switzerland and Poland.
In signing news Scotland captain Rachel Corsie has now signed for Utah Royals in the upcoming NWSL season which kicks off this Saturday. In further news Christie Murray has resigned for Glasgow City after leaving Doncaster Belles and now leaves the ranks (temporarily)of the “Scots Abroad”.
Finally good luck to all the Scots at Chelsea and Man City who are involved in UWCL action this week. Chelsea travel to France to take on Montpellier while Man City host Swedes Linkoping.