GLASGOW City will play their first game at Petershill Park for three years when they host Spartans in the Scottish Building Society SWPL1 tomorrow afternoon, writes Alan Campbell.
The 10-time champions made the decision to return to their former home ground after Glasgow Life installed a new 4G artificial surface at the Springburn venue. They moved to the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie in 2014 because of concerns over the previous surface, but the switch wasn’t popular.
City need to beat third-placed Spartans to stay ahead of Hibernian at the top of the table. They lead by two points, but have played a game more, and the teams meet next Thursday in a re-arranged game – ironically back at the Excelsior, with Petershill Park unavailable.
Hibs, meanwhile, travel to fourth-placed Stirling University tomorrow, while in the relegation games Aberdeen are at home to Rangers and Hamilton host Celtic.
City head coach Scott Booth concedes that playing on the smaller pitch in Springburn risks a loss of edge in domestic games, but is likely to prove beneficial against fully professional sides in the Champions League.
“We tended to use the size of the Excelsior in league games because we can pass the ball well,” Booth said. “It’s important we get used to doing that on a slightly smaller pitch.
“Overall we’re looking forward to going back, and one of the reasons is we can hopefully drum up more of a fan base there.”
Two of City’s young fringe players, sisters Kodie and Brogan Hay, have left the club in the hope of finding regular first-team football elsewhere. Against that, the club have signed Scotland central-defender Eilish McSorley for a second spell – but she is still some way from being fit after losing two years to a foot injury.
“I’ve got a very good squad of 18 now – players I can trust and feel I can utilise,” Booth said.
City’s Lee Alexander returned from Scotland’s 3-0 friendly win over Hungary nursing a cold, but the goalkeeper, who finally made her international debut in the game, is expected to be fit. Hibs could have right-back Rachel McLauchlan back in the team after she missed the trip to Hungary through injury.
Aberdeen, with just two draws to show for their first 13 games, face a resurgent Rangers, while Hamilton, who have four points, are in a similar position at home to Celtic.
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