Glasgow City Archives

Scottish Football: A Broken System That Needs Fixing

Scottish football is in crisis. The league structure is outdated, TV deals are laughable, and youth development is stagnant. Fans are desperate for change, but the decision-makers continue to bury their heads in the sand. Joe Quinn, a former SPFL scout, has had enough. His proposal isn’t just a tweak to the system—it’s a complete overhaul. The question is, will Scottish football finally listen, or will self-interest and inaction win again? The Root of the Problem: A Game Run by Self-Preservation Scottish football is a closed shop. Quinn argues that change doesn’t happen because too many people in power benefit from keeping things exactly as they are. Whenever real reform is proposed, clubs and officials close ranks, protecting their own positions rather than the health of the game. Fans already know the issues: the league is predictable and stale, smaller clubs get a raw deal, Scottish talent is leaving in droves, and the women’s game is consistently underfunded and ignored. Quinn’s proposal isn’t just another discussion paper—it’s a radical blueprint to drag Scottish football into the modern era. But will those in charge finally step aside for progress? The 14-14-14 League Model: Genuine Reform or a New Coat of Paint? One of Quinn’s most controversial ideas is a 14-14-14 league structure designed to increase competition, fairness, and financial stability. The potential benefits are clear: fewer repetitive fixtures, proper promotion and relegation battles, and more clubs at the top level. On paper, it makes sense. But history tells us good ideas don’t always make it past the SPFL boardroom. Mid-table clubs happy with the status quo will fight this to the bitter end. The SPFL has a habit of discussing reform, only to back down when it matters most. Will this time be different? Ditching Gambling Sponsors: Ethical Stand or Financial Suicide? Scottish football is swimming in gambling sponsorships. Betting logos are plastered across shirts, advertising boards, and broadcasts. Quinn’s plan calls for an outright ban, following the example set by the English Premier League. The moral argument? Clear-cut. Gambling addiction destroys lives, and football shouldn’t be complicit in feeding the problem. The financial reality? A nightmare. Clubs, particularly those outside the Premiership, rely on gambling sponsorships to stay afloat. If the SPFL cuts ties with the industry, where does the replacement funding come from? Quinn believes it’s the right move in the long term, but without a clear financial alternative, this could cripple smaller clubs. The League Cup: Time to Stop the Snoozefest Quinn is clear on this: the League Cup group stage is a glorified pre-season exercise. Fans aren’t engaged, clubs don’t take it seriously, and the format is uninspiring. His solution? Scrap the groups, return to a straight knockout competition, and inject real jeopardy and excitement back into the tournament. It’s a simple, logical fix. Whether the SPFL will embrace it is another matter entirely. Youth Development & Women’s Football: Time for Real Investment Scottish football prides itself on producing top talent. But in reality, Quinn believes the system is failing young players. The best prospects leave Scotland at the first opportunity, the women’s game grows despite, not because of, governing body support, and clubs treat youth and women’s football as an afterthought rather than a priority. His proposal calls for real, sustained investment—not just PR soundbites and token gestures. If Scottish football wants a strong future, it has to stop relying on the accidental emergence of “golden generations.” TV Deals: Why Does Scotland Keep Selling Itself Short? Scottish football’s TV contracts are, frankly, embarrassing. Sky Sports cherry-picks matches and does the bare minimum to promote them, clubs earn a fraction of what smaller European leagues generate from broadcasting deals, and fans are either overcharged or locked out entirely. Quinn demands a more aggressive approach to negotiating TV rights. Germany and other European nations offer free-to-air matches. Why is Scotland still accepting scraps? According to Quinn, the SPFL’s usual excuse is “It’s the best deal we can get.” He disagrees. In his view, Scottish football’s leaders don’t fight hard enough for a better deal. Will Anything Actually Change? Scottish football has heard big ideas before. We’ve seen bold proposals, promising plans, and endless discussions. And yet, nothing changes. This time, though, the pressure is mounting. Fans are growing restless. The game is losing relevance. If the SPFL and SFA continue to ignore these problems, they risk losing an entire generation of supporters. So, will Quinn’s plan finally force real action? Or will it be another great idea destined to gather dust? Have Your Say Is Scottish football stuck in the past? Would you support these changes? Let us know in the comments or join the conversation on social media using #SNNSports

April 2, 2025

Celtic see title hopes hit by City smash and grab

A late goal from Kimberley Smit condemned Celtic to a third defeat in a row, putting a serious dent in their aspirations retaining the title. It took until the 23rd minute for the supporters to witness the evening’s first shot on target but Brenna Lovera made absolutely sure it would be remembered, receiving Aleigh Gambone’s pass before thundering the opener past Kelsey Daugherty. Celtic would answer in style, Emma Lawton’s brilliant long range cross met by the clinical Saoirse Noonan just before the hour mark struck. However City made sure to get the last word as Smit was quickest to the pinball in the penalty area in the 85th minute, coolly slotting home the winner. Lovera’s goal marked the crescendo of an otherwise uneventful first half, with performances from both sides hamstrung by the knowledge of what the other could do when gifted the opportunity. There were however further chances before the break, belonging almost entirely to City, playing as though they were de facto hosts at New Douglas Park. Lisa Evans saw her effort from outside the box sail over Daugherty’s goal whilst Natalia Wrobel’s shot would at least force a reaction from the American shot-stopper, albeit just into her chest. Just as these sides had been inseparable this season, so too it seemed they would be on the night as both dominated a half each, with Celtic showing the hallmarks of last season’s title winning contingent in the second. Lawton was denied a goal to add to her assist by her an impressive goal line clearance as City struggled to gain a foothold following the break. In the end Celtic failed to hold onto to the point, with defeat meaning they could be nine points adrift should Hibernian beat Motherwell. Line-ups: Celtic: Daugherty, Clark (c), Bruna, Barclais, Loferski (M. Carstens 61), Ashworth-Clifford (Cross 89), McGregor, McAneny (Ross 75), Gallacher (Agnew 61), Noonan (Harrison 75) Unused subs: Rodgers, Smith, Cavanagh, Momo Booked: McAneny, Clark, McGregor, Bruna, M. Carstens Goals: Noonan (59) Glasgow City: Gibson, Evans (Warrington 90+1), van Diemen, Smit, Muir, Lauder (c) (Fulton 90+1) , Wrobel (Motlhalo 80), Whelan, Gambone, Lovera Forrest (90+1), Kozlova (Maatta 72) Unused subs: Easdon,, Walsh, Love, Lockwood Booked: Smit Goals: Lovera (23), Smit (86)

March 28, 2025

SWPL’s ‘Top Four’ bears resemblance to the halcyon days of heavyweight boxing

As the SWPL approaches the split, the top four sides have set out their stalls ahead of what could be an era defining season for the game in Scotland. Picture this, it’s the late 2010s and the boxing heavyweight division is stacked with box office bouts between fighters in their prime as Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder have the potential to create eye watering match-ups. Imagine that, only they actually get to all fight each other. Not once, but over and over with each being one being knocked down and knocking the other down off their perch with equal impunity and disregard. Well that is exactly what you’ll find in the SWPL as Rangers, Celtic, Glasgow City and Hibs all sit on an incredulous 51 points going into the final game before the split where they will compete in the Golden Gloves stages of competition. It’s time to meet your prize fighters. The Favourites For some, calling a side level on points with three other teams might beggar belief but that is exactly what Rangers were not so long ago. Tucking teams away left, right and centre Jo Potter’s players toyed with their opponents and scored for fun as they the falling at the qualification hurdles of the Champions League against Arsenal and Atletico Madrid looked a distant memory. 110 goals in 21 games (not to mention the 24 against one unfortunate Scottish Cup opponent) forces a second glance and yet that is how dominant they have been. A scorched earth policy has served the Glasgow side nicely as Potter remembers all too well the feeling of losing the title on the final day to Celtic on goal difference but the play itself is far more patient than the numbers would indicate. Potter described the win over Partick Thistle as ‘a controlled performance’. The result being 6-0 only goes to show where the manager’s priorities lie. Clever switches of play from the pinpoint Tessell Middag, the 44 cap Dutch international who can count Ajax, Manchester City, Fiorentina among others on her glistening CV forces sides who would like nothing more than to sit back and be compact to open themselves up. Queue Katie Wilkinson, who recovered from the disappointment of leaving her childhood club Aston Villa to tear up trees in Scotland after arriving in the summer from Southampton. 29 goals in just 21 league games this season, it is fair to say Wilkinson is a shoe-in for top scorer. As double cup winners last season, beating Celtic in November felt like a title unification bout that left them looking like runaway champions. Any team that comes flying out of the traps however, is bound to hit a speed bump. Although no one could have predicated that they would lose not one, but two consecutive games 3-0 as Glasgow City and Hibs gave them an almighty bloody nose. Potter bemoaned the panic, the lack of quality and her players coming off second best in their duels as it looked as though another title would slip through their fingers. To their credit they put the results behind them and have avoided any slip-ups since with another win over their Glasgow rivals. ‘Nothing sweeter’ as Rio Hardy put it. Setting them on their way to defend their belt against Hibs in the League Cup final in March. A squad that has managed to blend the experience of players like Lizzie Arnot from the bench or 147 cap Jane Ross has been invaluable in integrating the academy’s fledglings with Jodi McLeary and Kirsty McLean making their mark in the senior side or even Lily Boyce making her debut against Westdyke having been at the club since she was eight. As in all great sides, there seems to be an addiction to winning trophies. Laura Rafferty describing how her ‘eyes light up’ for silverware is one not lost on Potter who has an FA Cup winner’s medal to proudly display in her home. The question is, can her players deliver a first league medal to add to the collection. The Poster Ghirls It beggars belief but just a few months ago the title holders were considered an outside bet by some. Misguided as it was, the explanation stems from their participation in the Champion’s League group stages representing Scotland on the European stage. An achievement that cannot be overstated in terms of the impact it could have on the domestic game but also led to them having games to claw back a nine point lead at the of table. The effects of the truncated calendar still being felt by players. Maria McAneney feeling that the ‘schedule’s been all over the place recently’ after the weekend’s 2-2 draw ‘I don’t think I’ve had that in my professional career’ the midfielder had said after that goal. In part also because an out of sorts Celtic were dealt one blow after another in a bruising October which saw them win them win just one game from five in all competitions. Victory coming in the form of a 1-0 squeeze past 9th place Spartans. Tired legs and minds trudged forward, fighting on four competitive fronts and wisened from their European campaign despite not picking up a single point. However when the suggestion was put to her that the side might be ‘leggy’, Sadiku, was unequivocal in her view that fatigue should not explain the off-colour form her side has endured. Instead the side reset (in part thanks to a week in sunny Gran Canaria), added some depth to the squad with Emma Westin and Momo Nakao arriving with Abi Harrison returning for a second spell and scoring a hat-trick in her first start; powering the side to an undefeated run stretching back to November. Caitlin Hayes’ departure to Brighton was a blow but it is perhaps testament to the side’s ability to turn players into WSL calibre. Besides, the side were confident they could to do job without her. ‘Relentless and ruthlessness’, that

February 19, 2025

Title chasers Glasgow City and Celtic share the spoils at Petershill Park

In a night of freezing cold, snow and thundering efforts, there would be no indication of a favourite for the SWPL title as the sides remained level on the night and consequently, neck and neck at the top of the table. With less than a minute played, Celtic stunned the home supporters with the opener. Kimberley Smit’s attempt to clear the ball by the byline not connecting, instead landing at the feet of Amy Gallacher who rifled a shot past Lee Gibson. It took until the 24th minute but City hauled themselves level after Celtic attempted to clear a curling corner from Hayley Lauder only to see it met by Amy Muir whose low driven shot took a slight deflection off Shannon McGregor to leave the keeper with no chance. Just six minutes later the home side were in the ascendancy. A loose touch from Lucy Ashworth-Clifford allowed Emily Whelan to pick her pocket and lay the ball to Nicola Kozlova who curled a fabulous into the back of the net. Not a team to leave the last word to someone else, Celtic responded in sumptuous fashion as Maria McAneny turned and launched a worldie from distance over a helpless Gibson Both sides had their fair share of chances throughout. Kozlova came close to grabbing her first but the effort sailed fractionally over the bar. Celtic’s Saoirse Noonan struggled produce the form that has made her the side’s leading scorer. A glancing header early on failing to trouble the City keeper. With a free-kick in a good position outside the box, the Irish forward fired low and wide as the hosts breathed a sigh of relief. Noonan would come again, this time by Gibson one on one. The City keeper kept on her toes tonight, produced a stunning point blank save to deny Luana Munoz mere seconds after the substitute’s introduction. Title chasers don’t blink Regardless of what the managers said, this game was always going to have a psychological impact come the tail-end of the season. With the sides inseparable in the final weeks before the split, both teams will have a come into this looking to assert dominance over the other before meeting again. A month ago, it seemed Celtic had their rivals’ number having beaten them in their first league encounter before dumping them out of the League Cup. However with their victory at this very ground in the Scottish Cup, City showed they are well and truly up for a title fight that looks set to feature four sides. Tonight both managers walk away somehow frustrated and fortunate to share a point but they will meet again. The question is, who will land the final blow. Line-ups: Glasgow City: Gibson, Warrington, Van Diemen, Smit, Muir, Lauder (Fulton 90), Gambone, Wrobel (Lockwood 70), Whelan (Evans 80), Kozlova, Lovera Unused subs: Easton, Walsh, Love, Anderson, Maatta, Forrest Booked: Lovera (53) Goals: Muir (24), Whelan (30), Celtic: Daugherty, Barclays, Clark, Lawton, Ross, Gallacher (Agnew 68), McGregor, Cross (Munoz 56), Ashworth-Clifford (Costa 68), McAneny (Cavanagh 84), Noonan (Harrison 84) Unused subs: Logan, Carstens, Westin, Loferski Booked: Goals: Gallagher (1), McAneny (54) Referee: Ross Menzies Attendance: 983

February 14, 2025

Defending champions Rangers host Spartans in SWF Scottish Cup Quarter-finals

After easing past Montrose 7-0, Rangers will host a Spartans side who trounced Kilmarnock 6-0. Last year’s finalists Hearts are rewarded for trouncing Falkirk 9-0 with the opportunity to welcome 9 time winners Glasgow City. City edged past Celtic 3-2 at the weekend. SWPL 2’s Boroughmuir Thistle will take on Motherwell after earning a well deserved victory of Premiership side Dundee United. Motherwell meanwhile made light work of Bonyrigg Rose with a 6-0 thumping. In the fourth and final clash will see Aberdeen, 3-0 victors against Hamilton Accies travel to St Johnstone, themselves coming out 4-2 winners to knock out Elgin City. The games will all be played on the 9th of March.

February 3, 2025

Revenge a dish best served in the Scottish Cup as Glasgow City eliminate Celtic

Having twice gone behind, a Samantha Van Diemen header and Brenna Lovera double edged Glasgow City past Celtic 3-2 winners in the Scottish Cup 5th Round. It marked their first victory over Celtic in three attempts this season after a league and League Cup defeat. After a cagey start to the game with both sides keenly aware of each others’ quality, Lucy Ashworth-Clifford took matters into her own hands, firing an audacious shot from just a few metres inside the City half and over a backtracking Lee Gibson to give Celtic the lead after nineteen minutes. City however responded seven minutes later after Emma Lawton was adjudged to have brought Emma Whelan down in the box with Brenna Lovera making no mistake from the spot. Pushing for a second, the home side thought they had taken the lead minutes later after Kimberley Smit blasted home a Hayley Lauder free-kick into the box but having made their way back to the centre circle to kick-off, referee Nathan Deane annulled to the goal after speaking to his assistant. Wasting no time to make the most of their good fortune, Celtic put themselves back in front through a poacher’s finish from the free scoring Saoirse Noonan, who slotted home Morgan Cross’ low ball. Coming out with an immediate reaction, Samantha Van Diemen’s header levelled the score just three minutes into the second half. Turning the screw to maximum effect, Whelan found Lovera who used some nifty footwork to create space to fire her second of the game and sixth in her last four games. Going into the break, City were from an even greater deficit to overcome by Lee Gibson, who denied Noonan and Maria McAneny from point blank range. Noonan was guilty of failing to test the keeper after Ashworth-Clifford’s low cross bobbled around the box before the striker fired it wide. Fortunate not to concede a fourth, Elena Sadie has McAneny to thank for making a brilliant goal line clearance from a Glasgow City corner. Substitute Mathilde Castens had an effort late on but her effort lack the accuracy to trouble Gibson, who watched the ball fly past her post. With seconds to go Ashworth-Clifford sent a good opportunity clear over the bar as City held on for the all important win. What the managers said: Glasgow City boss Leanne Ross: “Like everybody else we were surprised when the goal got chalked off in the first half. “We made a slight tactical change at half-time, we’ve come back and had more control in terms of possession in the second half. “[On getting one back on Celtic] It’s not about getting on back on anybody. It’s not about us against Celtic, it’s about us in terms of what we want to go and achieve. We wanted to get ourselves into the next of the cup today and we’ve and done that with a good performance.” Celtic boss Elena Sadiku: “To be honest I can’t believe that we lost that game. “I think we were the far better team in the first half, we should kill that game and then we have a really poor start in the second half. “They don’t create anything else. I mean fair play they won the game but it’s not good enough from us. Line-ups: Glasgow City: Gibson, Evans (Warrington 46), Van Diemen, Smit, Muir, Gambone, Lauder (Anderson 90), Whelan, Wrobel (Lockwood 63), Evans (Kozlova 46), Lovera (Maatta 90) Unused subs: Easton, Love, Forrest Booked: Walsh (13), Wrobel (49), Carstens (92) Goals: Lovera (26 pen), (54), Van Diemen (48) Celtic: Daugherty, Lawton, Clark, Barclays, Ross (Cavanagh 63), McGregor, McAneny, Ashworth-Clifford, Agnew (Lofereski 74), Cross (Carstens 74), Noonan (Harrison 63) Unused subs: Logan, Smith, Lourenco Urbano Costa, Munoz Booked: Agnew (63), Gibson (70) Goals: Ashworth-Clifford (19), Noonan (32) Referee: Regan Wallace

February 2, 2025

Glasgow City