Alonso’s team put on a show at Celtic Park
PERHAPS the most eager spectators of this encounter were the excited gaggle of Celtic academy girls, pigtailed and baby faced, who hugged the perimeter of the park as both teams went through their pre-match warm-up drills.
They are the first generation of female players who get the chance to see what the future could look like.
At the half-time break 11-year-old Scarlett dispatched her 10-second running effort from the half-way line and celebrated with an elegant cartwheel/back flip combo, a moment that seemed to encapsulate the springboard that could await for a new crop of players.
“That is the most beautiful part of the day for me,” enthused Celtic manager Fran Alonso. “To see these young girls and they want to be Kelly Clark and Chloe Craig. We want to inspire people, to make people happy and I think today we did that. I am sure many of these young girls now went away dreaming of playing at Celtic Park in a few years.”
The women’s game remains in a transitional state in Scotland, see-sawing between the old and new. The difference that professional contracts have made is already evident in the increased athleticism of the players while the stage itself for this game at Celtic Park reflects a willingness of the club to back their female squad.
Similarly, there have been games this season at Easter Road and Tynecastle and a midweek encounter at Pittodrie with the support of clubs vital to continue the evolution of the game as it looks to keep pace with the growth that has gone on within Europe over the last decade; last week’s Champions League quarter-final between Barcelona and Real Madrid sold out 85,000 tickets within three days of going on sale in January.
It is a stage that few, however, would have envisaged being available for them even recently in Scotland; the first time the women’s side played at Celtic Park was only last season. As such, it continues to feel like a seismic moment to have games played in the stadium.
It was fitting, then, that Alonso’s side, trailing way behind Rangers and Glasgow City in the title race, put on a show for those who had turned up. The win is relatively meaningless in the shaping of the league table – they are eight points behind City having played a game more and 10 behind Rangers having played two more – but it was a dominant and composed display from Celtic.
The tone was set in the opening minute when Clarissa Larisey opened the scoring after a deft bit of ball-juggling before Liv Chance doubled Celtic’s advantage midway through the opening half. There was more in the second period as Jodie Bartle and Chloe Warrington netted.
Short-term now it is all eyes on next weekend’s Scottish Cup quarter-final against Aberdeen but long term it is about what may come next.
“You saw the fans today and the backing they gave us,” said Alonso. “We want there to be ten of thousands the next time and we want to give them something to be proud of.”