Page 12 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.31 2021-22

SWF aims to attract youngsters

Scottish Women’s Football are joining forces with Falkirk Community Foundation to attract
local youngsters to the Biffa Scottish Women’s Cup semi finals, which are to be held at
Falkirk Stadium.
The semi finals will be played on 1st May and will see Hearts Women face Celtic
Women and Partick Thistle play Glasgow City. To help attract a strong local crowd, SWF
have gifted 150 semi final tickets to distribute to local football clubs around the area.
SWF CEO Aileen Campbell said: “As the popularity of women’s football continues to
rise, we want to make sure that young aspiring local footballers get the chance to come and
see some top-class women’s football right here on their doorstep. That is why we have
chosen to give tickets to the Falkirk Foundation to distribute around local clubs and to give
them the opportunity to enjoy the games.
“With less than a fortnight to go to the semi final, we are also encouraging as many
people across Falkirk to come along and enjoy this cup experience. Tickets are £5 for adults
and enables access to both games – great value to see four great SWPL 1 sides battle it out for
a place at the cup finals later in May.”
CEO of the Falkirk Foundation, Derek Allison said: “We are delighted to welcome the
Scottish Women’s Cup semi finals here to Falkirk and to be able to ensure that as many
young people as possible can get along to the game. It is a privilege to serve the community
of Falkirk and to use the power of football to bring about positive change.
“We are pleased to work with SWF to ensure that youngsters will get the chance to see
inspiring role models and continue to do our bit to help grow the game in our part of Scotland.”
(scotwomensfootball.com)
Kirsty to referee Final
Kirsty Dowle will take charge of this season’s Vitality Women’s FA Cup Final at Wembley
Stadium connected by EE.
The appointment of the referee and her team of officials was confirmed following the
conclusion of the semi finals last weekend.
For the Women’s Final between Chelsea and Manchester City, which takes place on
Sunday 15th May, Kent referee Dowle will be assisted by Emily Carney and Magda Golba with
Lisa Benn taking the role of fourth official. The reserve assistant referee will be Georgia Ball.
Dowle is a regular referee in the Barclays FA WSL, as well as being Level 2B in the
men’s game and also a FIFA women’s referee, having started her refereeing career eight years
ago.
She was also an assistant referee at the Women’s FA Cup Final in 2018 and is now
looking forward to stepping out at Wembley next month.
“It came as a shock, I got a phone call yesterday which I missed because I was at work,”
Kirsty revealed to the FA website.
“And when I heard the voicemail of ‘it’s the FA, can you give us a call back?’ I thought
I was in some sort of trouble!
“It wasn’t something I was really expecting but it’s always nice to get that kind of news.
“This is what every referee wants and it’s what you work hard for, so it’s great to have
this kind of game to look forward to.
“I think it’s just the occasion and with the way in which women’s football is growing
so rapidly, with the EUROs coming up this year and we’ve [England] just done well in the
Arnold Clark Cup, we’ve now got two brilliant teams in the Cup Final and it should be an
amazing day.”
Issue no. 31 - 21 April 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk