Page 30 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.19 2021-22
P. 30
Scotland Under-17 squad to play Wales
Pauline MacDonald has named her Scotland Women’s Under-17 squad for a friendly
double-header against Wales next month. The Scots will travel south for two games as
they look to shake off a COVID-19-disrupted year and make up for lost time.
They are building towards the 2021-22 UEFA Women’s Under-17s EURO Round
Two, League B Group 2 campaign in March, which will see Scotland take on hosts
Albania, Azerbaijan and North Macedonia.
Back in September, MacDonald’s side were forced to withdraw from the
Qualification Round of the UEFA Women’s Under-17s Championships following a
number of positive COVID-19 tests within the squad. They were due to take on host
nation Netherlands, Slovenia and Czech Republic until the cruel twist of fate.
Fresh from a productive training camp on Scottish soil, MacDonald and the
players alike are determined to bounce back from a reluctant period in cold storage.
She told www.scottishfa.co.uk: “It’s been a very, very challenging time for this
group of players after working so hard across the summer months.
“We played two very competitive games against Hearts because we couldn’t get an
international challenge match, as a result of travel restrictions. We were in camp for two
days, had the outbreak and that ruled us out of the qualification phase.
“That was the first UEFA tournament in 18 months, so it was a real blow to the
players and staff. To have to explain to them that so much had changed within the space
of 12 hours was tough.
“Now we’re really excited by the prospect of being able to play the two games in
Wales. They’ll represent a real challenge for the players, as the Welsh squad have played
seven games – four friendlies and three qualification games – against some top sides. It’s
a first real test for this group.”
Scotland Under-17 squad:
Eilidh Austin (Rangers), Mya Bates (Glasgow City), Tiree Burchill (Hamilton
Academical, on loan from Celtic), Kiera Chuter (Celtic), Leigha Dobbins (Celtic), Maddie
Finnie (Aberdeen), Lily Graham (Spartans), Georgia Gray (Rangers), Brodie Greenwood
(Aberdeen), Kayla Jardine (Rangers), Elise Macara (Boroughmuir Thistle), Kirsty
MacLean (Rangers), Lisa Maher-Rodgers (Heart of Midlothian), Mia McAuley
(Rangers), Annalisa McCann (Aberdeen), Jodi McLeary (Rangers), Niamh Noble
(Glasgow City), Olivia Potter (Celtic), Leah Sidey (Spartans), Rebecca Taylor (Rangers),
Millie Urquhart (Aberdeen), Emma Watson (Rangers).
The double header of matches against Wales under-17, who are managed by Loren
Dykes, will start at Denbigh Town FC on Tuesday 8th February (KO 6pm), with the
second match taking place at Colliers Park on Friday 11th February (KO 1pm).
The matches will also prepare the Wales side for their 2022 UEFA #WU17EURO
Qualifying Round 2 matches in April. Wales will face hosts England, Iceland and Belgium
in League A.
Meanwhile, Nic Anderson’s Wales Under-19s will also face Scotland on Tuesday
15th February (6pm, at Denbigh Town FC) and Friday 18th February (1pm, Colliers Park).
Anderson will use the matches as preparation for the side’s 2022 UEFA
#WU17EURO Qualifying Round 2 matches in March. Wales will face hosts Armenia,
Turkey and Latvia in League B.
The matches will be played behind closed doors, with invites for family and friends
to attend the fixtures at Denbigh Town.
Issue no. 19 - 27 January 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk