Stirling’s women footballers win cup and secure play-off spot

The University of Stirling women’s football team have enjoyed a successful fortnight – claiming their first silverware in senior football and securing a promotion play-off place. 

The students lifted their first major trophy – the ScottishPower National League Cup – after an impressive 4-2 victory over Renfrew Ladies in the final earlier this month. 

Just days later, they overcame Renfrew again – this time winning 3-2 – to confirm a second-place finish in the Barclays Scottish Women’s Championship, which will see them participate in the play-offs for Scottish Women’s Premier League 2 (SWPL2).

Proud

Nile Robbins, Women’s Football Head Coach at the University of Stirling, said: “I’m very proud of all that our players have achieved across the season, particularly in recent weeks. To win the ScottishPower National League Cup is a fantastic achievement – and to follow that up with a promotion play-off spot is excellent; testament to the hard work that the team puts in daily.

“We look forward to our final league match of the season against East Fife before turning our attention to preparing for the play-off. We are all looking forward to an exciting couple of weeks.”

In the League Cup, Stirling beat Dunipace 4-1 in the first round, Armadale Thistle 3-0 in the second, Inverness Caledonian Thistle 9-0 in the quarter-final, and Bonnyrigg Rose 1-0 in the semi-final.

In the final, played at Alloa’s Indodrill Stadium, Stirling captain Ann Taylor opened the scoring with a first-half penalty, before Rhianne Ferguson volleyed in from a corner to double Stirling’s lead just after the hour mark. Kaitlyn Cook made it 3-0 with 15 minutes to go and, although Renfrew pulled a goal back, she secured victory for Stirling with her second and Stirling’s fourth on 86 minutes. Renfrew scored again deep into injury time – but the students emerged 4-2 winners to lift their first senior cup.

Play-off details

Stirling has enjoyed a successful season in the Championship – winning 16 of their 26 league matches – scoring 73 goals and conceding just 27. The play-off against the seventh-placed team in the SWPL2 – either Rossvale or Ayr United – takes place at the Albert Bartlett Stadium in Airdrie at 7.30pm on Friday 23 May. The opponent will be confirmed after the final round of SWPL2 fixtures this weekend.

Ticket details for the play-off will be shared once Stirling's opponent is confirmed.

At Stirling, athletes have access to world-class facilities, including a 50-metre pool, unrivalled outdoor space, and state-of-the-art strength and conditioning suites. In addition to its coaching and facilities, Stirling’s International Sports Scholarship Programme – one of the largest high-performance programmes in the UK – offers athletes funding support, academic flexibility, equipment and kit. It has supported hundreds of athletes since its inception in 1981 – with many competing on the world stage, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

Core sports include football, golf, tennis, swimming, triathlon, rugby and curling, while individual scholarships cover all Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports.

Read more about sports scholarships at the University of Stirling.