FE-mail  Issue 36

SFA Women’s Section Newsletter

Safeway International Challenge Matches

Saturday 6^th September 2003

Scotland v Australia

The City Stadium Livingston

Kick-off 12pm

Tuesday 9^th September 2003

Scotland v Italy

The City Stadium Livingston

Kick-off 7.30pm

For Both Matches Cash Admission £3 & £1

The women’s national squad will face Australia on Saturday after     back-to-back victories over Ukraine and Portugal . The Scotland squad is at full strength with captain Julie Fleeting on top form after being voted “Most Valuable Player” for San Diego Spirit, and Debbie McWhinnie making her return to the starting line-up after injury. The Australians are preparing for another World Cup Campaign in the USA later this month and will use the match to test their strength. Ranked at fifteen in the world, Australia is very experienced at world cup and Olympic level and is a very tough opponent indeed. They are very physically strong and athletic and will be very well organised. Vera Pauw, National Coach comments “To play Australia is a great opportunity for us and it will be a great challenge. We are delighted to have them here in Scotland and the squad are looking forward to the game.”

On Tuesday night the Women have another formidable opponent when they face Italy , at Livingston . “ Italy have beaten us four nil in January and the match on Tuesday will indicate what progress we have made and what we still need to achieve. It is a vital preparation match for our continuing UEFA qualification campaign.”

The Italians are ranked tenth in the world, compared to Scotland ’s thirtieth place. Like all Italians teams they are very mobile and technically brilliant and have flair.

“It is a great occasion for fans to see a top women’s team, and as always we need their support. Personally it is a match I am looking forward to having played professionally in Italy against their coach Carolina Morace and alongside their assistant coach Betty Bavagnoli.”

Scotland Squad

Michelle Barr (IBV Iceland )               Joanne Love (FC Kilmarnock)

Amanda Burns (Hibernian LFC)         Kirsty McBride (Hibernian LFC)

Stacey Cook (Hibernian LFC)            Debbie McWhinnie ( Glasgow City LFC)

Gemma Fay (Hibernian LFC)             Suzanne Malone (Hibernian LFC)

Julie Ferguson ( Glasgow City LFC)         Marlene Pearson (Hibernian LFC)

Julie Fleeting (Ross County LFC)      Julia Ralph (Hibernian LFC)

Mhairi Gilmour (IBV Iceland )            Suzi Robertson (Hibernian LFC)

Suzanne Grant (Ross County LFC )  Julie Smith (FC Kilmarnock)

Pauline Hamill (Hibernian LFC)         Megan Sneddon (FC Kilmarnock)

Claire Johnstone (FC Kilmarnock)