Dundee United vs Boroughmuir Thistle | SBSSWPL2 | 29/11/2020

Dundee United Football Club Honours: Scottish Women’s Football League One North 2018 Scottish Women’s Football League Two East 2016 Scottish Women’s Football League Two League Cup 2016

Chairperson Colin Stewart Head Coach Gavin Beith

Coaching Staff Graeme Hart Bartek Bacik Kenny Strachan Captain Keira Johnstone

Vice Captain Megan Burns Physiotherapist Mark Dryden Media Manger Lee Smith Media Team Drew Orr Sam Connor

Welcome to the Regional Performance Centre for today's Scottish Building Society Scottish Women’s Premier League Two clash with Boroughmuir Thistle.

Our last outing against Boroughmuir in what was the first game of season prior to lockdown proved be a very high scoring affair. Hopefully today we can repeat that good forward play and pick up points.

Boroughmuir have had a good start to season and have been competitive in every game. They recorded a good win last Sunday against St Johnstone and will arrive full of confidence.

desire to be hard to beat whilst also providing a threat in the final third.

The challenge now is to maintain our form and continue to pick up points in our last three games before the Xmas break.

The results in the league have been very unpredictable across the board with all teams capable of beating each other on any given Sunday. We have to guard against complacency and strive to be as consistent as possible.

We go into the game minus Erin Ross who picked up an ankle knock against Hamilton. Danni McGinley will return to training this week and hopefully get some game time before We ourselves go into the the break. game on the back of a victory against Hamilton. Keira Johnstone & Tammy The girls worked extreme- Harkin remain slightly ly hard to get the win and further away from a reknow today they will have turn but are improving. to repeat that performance to take anything Ellie Jai Reid who is out from the game. longer term made a huge step forward from her After a slow start to the knee injury and returned season we have picked up to light jogging during the two wins & a draw in our week. last three games. The performances in all 3 games has been very good on Thanks and off the ball. The playGavin ers have shown a real

Good afternoon and welcome to the Regional Performance Centre for our third home fixture in a row in the Scottish Building Society Scottish Women’s Premier League Two as we host Hamilton Academical This afternoon we entertain Boroughmuir Thistle and it should be an exciting game as both sides come off a win last weekend.

There’s no doubt that our league is one of the most exciting and competitive in the country. It’s great to play week in week out against teams who all have the ability to beat one another. This definitely helps to develop the squad with every game being a challenge. The girls are getting better every week and I’ve no doubt that we are good enough to go on and have a very successful season.

Last week’s win against Hamilton Academical was a well deserved win for the squad. Hamilton are a side with good quality who always pose a threat on us, however the girls were great all over the pitch, we created a lot of chances, everyone’s work rate was fantastic and it showed in the final result.

Seeing the girls get the results they deserve makes it slightly easier that I’m not involved at the moment and it is motivating me to get myself back on the pitch to help impact our success this season. My recovery is going well and I’m hoping to get my boots back on within the next few weeks.

Last time we played Boroughmuir in February we came away with a good result in terrible conditions. This Sunday we hope to build on that and continue our winning streak, the girls have been working hard this week and everyone’s in good spirits. Hopefully we can be as much as an attacking threat as last time where we scored eight goals and come away with another three points.

Thanks Keira

Player Profiles 1 Aaliyah-Jay Meach - Young keeper who has experience at international & domestic level with caps for the Scotland U19's whilst a mainstay in the first team since arriving in 2017. Won SWF Save of the Year in 2019.

2 Rachel Robbie - Has proven herself to be reliable when called upon since joining United, supplemented by a half season loan spell at Dryburgh last year.

3 Rebecca McMillan - Signed for the club in 2018 having spent her youth at Forfar. The centre back helped the side to the SWFL1 North title in her debut season.

4 Laurie Ross - Can play at both striker and centre back with the experience vital to the squad over the last few years as United rose through the Scottish Women's Football League system.

5 Georgia Carter - After spending eleven years coming through the youth system & playing for the first team at Aberdeen, the centre back felt it was time for a change two years ago & came down the A90 to United.

6 Jade McLaren - Despite her young age, McLaren is a grizzled young veteran having made her debut in the top flight seven years ago for Forfar Farmington and has been almost ever present in every team she has played for since doing so.

7 Neve Guthrie - Another Scotland youth international, Neve impressed in 2018 with an influential season in the lower league set up with Dryburgh Athletic while ever improving since moving to United the same year.

8 Erin Ross - Much like Guthrie, she spent time with Dryburgh Athletic before joining her at United last year and hasn't looked out of place in SWPL2.

9 Robyn Smith - Attacker with a lot of experience in the two SWPL leagues having spent time at Jeanfield Swifts, Forfar and Heart of Midlothian, winning league medals at the latter two in 2017 & 2019.

10 Ellie-Jai Reid - Teenager with youth international experience and has learnt from some of the best having played at Hibernian's U23’s. Last year saw her move to United to progress her career further.

11 Danni McGinley - Almost an identical career path to Smith, spending time at the same three clubs & also winning two SWPL2 medals. A proven scorer, she netted five goals on her debut for the club in February 2020.

12 Holly Napier - Joined the club at the start of the year but has an impressive CV, having spent the majority of it in the top flight with Forfar and Rangers. Can deliver an impressive pass or two.

13 Caroline Nachman - Signed shortly over a year ago after coming across to the country to study and has proven to be a dependable keeper when called upon.

14 Rebecca Foote - A recent signing who spent her entire career at St Johnstone, latterly as vice captain before making the move along the Tay to the club.

15 Steffi Simson - Another who has made the move from Dryburgh to United, moving in October 2019 after netting 79 goals in 41 games. Was named the SWFL2 Player of the Year for 2019.

16 Keira Johnstone - Club captain and has been at the club since the inception in late 2016. Suffered with knee injuries in her early career at Forfar but has battled back to prove her worth at this level.

17 Megan Burns - Signing around the same time as Johnstone, she has been impressive at both full back and centre back throughout the rise through the ranks after starting her senior career at Forfar.

18 Haley Kern - Started her career in America, playing for Portland Thorns' Academy before travelling to Scotland to study last year. While she was looking for a team to play at, Haley took part in Ultimate Goal, a programme that has recently aired on BT Sport.

19 Philippa McCallum - An excitable full back who has pace to burn. She made her senior debut at fourteen before moving on to United where she has featured heavily.

20 Tammy Harkin - An experienced midfielder who can play almost anywhere on the park. She is currently in her second spell at the club and is dependable for a long range strike or two.

21 Alex Robson - The teenage midfielder spent most of her youth career at Jeanfield Swifts before moving to Celtic at the start of the year. Signed for United in October 2020 and made her debut in November.

22 Stina Kleppe - Close season signing, the Norwegian spent her last couple of years at Gardner-Webb University in America where she made a massive impact, being named in the region team of the decade.

23 Chloe Clemison - Signed prior to the current season having spent her youth at Raith Rovers & Celtic.

24 Isabella Rosalina - Another who has joined United after coming over to Scotland last year to study.

PLAYER SPONSORSHIP

If you would like to sponsor a player for the 2020-21 season, or for more information on sponsorship packages please contact duwfc@dundeeunitedct.co.uk

AN INTERVIEW WITH…

STINA KLEPPE The side enter the game against Boroughmuir on the back of a three game unbeaten run, how do you feel to be on that run after the sketchy start to the season?

It is good to be where we are now compared to the start of the season. Things are finally starting to fall into place. We are a lot of new players, so it is natural that it takes some time to get everything to clash. I think we’ll continue improving throughout this season, and the potential that is within this team is great, so very excited for what’s ahead of us!

ties, and it was just a really fun game to play in.

It was your second goal of the season along with an assist for the opener, also your second this year; how does it feel to be contributing in both ways?

It is of course a good feeling being able to contribute with assists and goals, but it is only a product of the effort that the team puts in collectively. I go in with the mentality of how I can help the team achieve our goals and how I can make my teammates better when playing. Seeing our improvement over the last couple of It’s your first game against Boroughmuir, weeks is very rewarding. But I also know are you looking forward to taking on a that personally, I have specific points I side who have also picked up in form re- need to improve in as well to hopefully cently? contribute even more in our games!

Yes, the best games of football are against good teams, and we tend to per- Looking back to the start of your career, form better then. We know it is not going you spent thirteen years at Fossum IF, to be an easy game, and I feel like keep- talk us through your progression at the ing that in mind, as well as bringing the club? good energy and level we have from the I played with the boys in the club until I previous games are going to put us in a turned 14, then I played with the senior great position for 3 points in Sunday’s women’s team (division 2, level 3) as well game. as the boys until I started high school. I either played or did extra training with Last week saw United defeat Hamilton 2- boys all the way through my move to Am1 and a goal from yourself helped them azon, knowing that I needed extra chalto three points, were you pleased with lenges to become a better player. My the win? time in Fossum IF was great. I had good Yes, it was definitely a good win! It could coaches that wanted me to succeed and have been a lot more as well, but overall, did not hold me back. a good representation of the game. We were in control, had plenty of opportuni-

You left for Amazon Grimstad in 2014, who were at the time a Toppserien side, was this a factor in your move to them?

This was the only factor in my move I would say. The highest level around where I grew up was division 2 football (level 3), so I knew that if I wanted to become a good player, I had to move somewhere so I could be challenged as a player in order to improve. My move to Amazon gave me a lot of challenges, mostly in a good way, so I am very content and happy with that move.

In your two years at Amazon Grimstad, you seemed to be a regular in their squad, did you enjoy your time at the club?

Yes, this was definitely two years of many challenges, a lot of ups, some downs. Met so many great players and coaches, and I learned a lot about myself, both as a player and as a person (this was the first time moving out from home a the age of 17). I came to the club in January, having only played division 2 football (level 3 in Norway), and was then suddenly a part of a top league team. This was a big change, and I started out as one of the worst players (I would say). By the time April came around, I was in the starting 11, so my improvement over the first 4 months were huge.

Do you remember anything about your senior debut?

Yes, we played against Stabaekk IF, which was at that time a top 2 team in Norway.

They had players like Caroline Graham Hanssen and other national team players. We lost the game 5-0, but I played a really good game as a left back against Caroline Graham Hanssen as a right winger, so I was pretty happy with my debut.

Looking at some records, they seem to suggest your first goal for Amazon Grimstad was on May 9th 2015 away to Sandviken. This appears to be an 90th minute equaliser, was this your first senior goal and is there any better time to score a goal to earn a point than in injury time?

I played mostly as an outside back in my time at Amazon which naturally didn’t put me in too many scoring positions. But I do remember this goal, it was a penalty in overtime, and we were at a relegation position in the top league. No one stepped up to take it, so I figured I’d use my chance to score. I had taken all of the penalties on my previous team, so I was very comfortable taking it. A great first goal for the club!

In 2016 you signed for Uraedd FK, who had just won promotion to the Toppserien and appeared to be in the majority of their squads in the first half of the season before departing for America. Was your move to America planned prior to joining them?

Yes, I knew that I was going to College before joining them. It was more because they needed experienced players and I wanted to compete at the highest level as much as I could for the best possible preparation for college football.

You made the decision to move to Gardner-Webb University to study and also played for their team, can you give us an overview on where this is based and the leagues they played in?

Gardner-Webb is based in the southern part of America on the east coast. The state is North Carolina and the closest big city is Charlotte (Where the Panthers and The Hornets are based for the

American football and basketball fans). We played in the league called “The Big South” which consisted of 11 division 1 schools around the area (within a 4 hours range ish).

In your three years there, you were quite successful with a number of goals and assists, do you have any favourite games and goals there?

Yes, I do. We beat Cambells (which was one of our “main competitors”) 2-1 at home during senior night in October 2018 when my parents were visiting. I scored both goals and had a great game.

I also remember the semi finals in the Big South championship of 2019 where we won against number 1 seeded High Point 1-0, where I scored a nice goal with my leftie to take us to the final (which we lost..).

You also won a few awards, most notably being named in the Big South Conference AllDecade Team, was it a surprise to be named in this?

Yes, that was definitely not expected at all. It was decided after a round of voting open for everyone, and then voting from the coaches in the conference. I did not really do anything out of it (since I am Norwegian, I figured no one would really see it anyways), so I thought the Americans that were sharing it on social media, “please click this link to vote for me” etc., would win to be honest. Extra fun actually getting the award considering that, it probably meant that the coaches thought I deserved it.

Midway through this year you moved to Scotland, was this a difficult decision to make to relocate to another new country?

Not really. I was very ready to do something new after staying at home for almost nine months. I really wanted to continue my studies, so when the opportunity opened at the University of Dundee, I took it. We also weren’t allowed to play competitive football in Norway due to the pandemic, so I was very happy when I found out that the SWPL2 was about to start and that I could join that quickly.

How did the move to Dundee United come about?

School. I’m doing my MSc in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Dundee.

Questions from others:

Since Diego Maradona passed away this week, where do you rank him in terms of the greatest men's players?

Definitely top 3 (I am a little too young to remember his “prime time”) And on that, who is the player you look up to?

Andrea Pirlo and Steven Gerrard (still study both of them to this day, even though they’re retired).

If I had to pick someone that’s still playing, it would probably be Thiago or Henderson (you might be able to tell that I am a midfielder and a Liverpool fan).

First footballing memory?

Not one specific memory, but all of the small -sided football tournaments with the guys is what I remember from my time as a little kid.

What made you want to play football?

I had two older brothers and 3 neighbour boys that all played, and I wanted to be just like them.

Footballer that you looked up to the most as a young girl starting playing?

The original Ronaldo and Steven Gerrard.

What, if any, is the main difference in football in Scotland to where you have come from?

Compared to American “soccer”, Scottish football is way more possession based (from my experiences), while the difference from Norwegian football is not that big, but I’ll say that Scottish football might be a little more physical than back home.

An obvious goal for you would be that you want to help the team win promotion but do you set yourself any personal goals throughout the season?

Yes, my primary goals are to stay healthy and free of injury, so I try to do the necessary extra work to maintain that. I also set goals for each week of training, something specific I want to focus on that week (could be using one touch as much as possible, long passes, first touches, fitness, etc.) as well as personal goals for each game (as being involved in a goal, but not necessary scoring it). Promotion is the main goal of course.

How are you liking living in Scotland?

Considering the circumstances, so far-so good! Really enjoying the team since this is my only real form of social connections I have in Dundee. But, it is not ideal of course, I would have loved to be able to travel and see other places in Scotland as well as being able to do different things in the city, like eat out in restaurants and go to different cafes. I also haven’t gotten to know many of my fellow students, so hoping things will get a little better next year.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Hopefully working, hopefully still playing? Other than that, I have no idea. I might be in Norway and have a family, I might be on the other side of the world exploring. Who knows? I’ll see where life takes me.

And lastly.....does Stina Kleppe ‘stiy on the Cleppy?’

Still learning the Scottish accent, but I will honestly say that I have no idea what this means haha.

Thanks to the Dode Fox Podcast & Anyone’s Game for providing additional questions.

2 Aaliyah-Jay Meach Rebecca McMillan Jade McLaren Neve Guthrie (65) Erin Ross Robyn Smith Holly Napier Rebecca Foote Megan Burns Stina Kleppe Chloe Clemison

1 Sunday 22nd November Regional Performance Centre 3.00pm

Substitutes Rachel Robbie Georgia Carter Steffi Simson Philippa McCallum (65) Haley Kern Alex Robson Caroline Nachman It was an exciting start to the game as both sides came out of the starting gate with intent; Napier dragging a shot wide before Hamilton hit the bar within the first three minutes with a header.

Lauren Grant Megan Quinn Georgina McTear Kirstie McIntosh Chloe Muir Amy Anderson Nichola Sturrock (62) Darcy Molley Lauren Evans (55) Marie Gardiner (54) Elise McCormick Substitutes Rachel Ross Danielle Connolly Dionne Brown (55) Ellie Kane (62) (75) Nicole Cairney (75) Megan Quigley Trialist (54)

The ball was played towards goal by McLaren as Grant rushed out to get a fist to it before Smith but she could only clear it as far as Kleppe who controlled the loose ball and guided it low into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.

Two minutes later Napier was at it again with a dipping long Accies were keen to get back into the game early on and did range strike that was held by Lauren Grant. At the other end just that in the 50th minute; Molley’s cross allowing Evans to Evans volleyed over from a McIntosh corner but United took send a header past Nachman. control of the game for a period following this.

Two minutes later United could, and probably should, have Kleppe & Smith came close with three shots in quick succes- restored their two goal lead when Smith beat Grant to the sion but in the fourteenth minute they found the back of the ball but her shot hit the post and the keeper before bobnet to break the deadlock. A Guthrie cross flew over every- bling along the line; a defender raced back to clear with one’s head but was collected on the left wing by Kleppe; her Foote milliseconds from getting her foot to it. ball back in was spilled by Grant & Smith was on hand to net her fifth goal of the season & her third in two games.

McLaren had another effort blocked shortly before Foote found Smith inside the box but the attacker’s turn and shot United continued to hunt for a second goal following this as was too weak to beat Grant. In the 64th minute Hamilton sub Smith & Ross forced saves from Grant before Kleppe tried Kane snatched at a loose ball but sent her shot high and her luck from distance again but couldn’t find the target. The wide without troubling Nachman. visitors attempted to get back into the game just after the half hour mark through Evans but her effort was blocked United substitute McCallum sent a corner into the box three and the follow up by Sturrock hit the outside of the post minutes later that McLaren connected with but it was almost before being cleared. too high for her to direct anything on target and her header sailed wide.

McLaren was controlling the midfield battle and was looking for her third of the season as she tested Grant with a low Following this, Hamilton tried to put some pressure on strike. A counter attack almost gave United what they were United in order to get a late equaliser, but despite Anderlooking for three minutes before the break as Smith sent a son, McCormick and Brown all having a pop, they were unacross in for Guthrie but she fired over. ble to get anything on target to give Nachman anything to worry about.

DATE

OPPOSITION

18/10

Aberdeen

3

4

STARTING XI Meach

Foote

HARKIN

McLaren

Burns

E. Ross

25/10

Partick Thistle

1

1

Meach

Foote

Burns

McLAREN

Clemison

E. Ross

01/11

Stirling University

3

1

Meach

Foote

Burns

McLAREN

Clemison

Kleppe

08/11

Queen’s Park

1

3

Nachman

Foote

Burns

McLaren

Clemison

Kleppe

15/11

St Johnstone

1

0

Nachman

Foote

Burns

McMillan

Clemison

McLaren

17/11

Glasgow

2

2

Nachman

Foote

Burns

McMillan

Clemison

McLaren

22/11

Hamilton Academical

2

1

Nachman

Foote

Burns

McMillan

Clemison

McLaren

29/11

Boroughmuir Thistle

06/12

Kilmarnock

13/12

Boroughmuir Thistle

17/01

Kilmarnock

24/01

Stirling University

31/01

Queen’s Park

07/02

Glasgow

14/02

St Johnstone

21/02

Hamilton Academical

28/02

Aberdeen

07/03

Partick Thistle

14/03

Boroughmuir Thistle

21/03

Kilmarnock

28/03

Stirling University

04/04

Queen’s Park

11/04

St Johnstone

14/04

Glasgow

18/04

Hamilton Academical

25/04

Aberdeen

02/05

Partick Thistle

KEY | Scorers in BOLD | Sub used 1 | Sub used 2 | Sub used 3 | Sub used 4 | Sub used 5

SUBSTITUTES SIMSON

Napier

McGinley

KLEPPE

Smith

Robbie, McMillan, Carter, Guthrie, Johnstone, Robson, Clemison

Simson

Napier

Kleppe

Harkin

Smith

Robbie, McMillan, Carter, Guthrie, Kern, McCallum, Robson

Guthrie

NAPIER

Simson

Harkin

SMITH

Robbie, McMillan, Carter, E. Ross, Kern, Robson, Nachman

Guthrie

Napier

Simson

Harkin

SMITH

Robbie, McMillan, Carter, Kern, McCallum, Robson, Meach

Kleppe

E. Ross

GUTHRIE

Smith

Napier

Robbie, Carter, Simson, Kern, McCallum, Robson, Meach

Kleppe

E. Ross

Guthrie

SMITH 2

Napier

Robbie, Carter, Simson, Kern, McCallum, Robson, Meach

KLEPPE

E. Ross

Guthrie

SMITH

Napier

Robbie, Carter, Simson, Kern, McCallum, Robson, Meach

Statistics Starts

Sub

Goals

Assists

Bookings

Red Cards

Megan Burns

7

0

0

0

1

0

Georgia Carter

0

0

0

0

0

0

Chloe Clemison

6

1

0

0

1

0

Rebecca Foote

7

0

0

0

0

0

Neve Guthrie

5

2

1

1

0

0

Tammy Harkin

4

0

1

5

0

0

Keira Johnstone

0

1

0

0

1

0

Haley Kern

0

1

0

0

0

0

Stina Kleppe

7

0

2

2

0

0

Philippa McCallum

0

2

0

0

0

0

Danni McGinley

1

0

0

0

0

0

Jade McLaren

7

0

2

0

0

0

Rebecca McMillan

3

0

0

0

0

0

Aaliyah-Jay Meach

3

0

0

0

0

0

Caroline Nachman

4

0

0

0

0

0

Holly Napier

7

0

1

1

1

0

Rachel Robbie

0

0

0

0

0

0

Alex Robson

0

2

0

0

0

0

Isabella Rosalina

0

0

0

0

0

0

Erin Ross

5

1

0

0

0

0

Steffi Simson

4

2

1

0

0

0

Robyn Smith

7

0

5

0

1

0

Scottish Building Society Scottish Women’s Premier League Two Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

For

Against

GD

Points

1 Aberdeen

7

6

0

1

29

10

19

18

2 Partick Thistle

7

4

1

2

18

10

8

13

3 Queen’s Park

7

4

1

2

14

13

1

13

4 Dundee United

7

3

2

2

13

12

1

11

5 Hamilton Academical

7

3

1

3

13

9

4

10

6 Glasgow

7

3

1

3

11

8

3

10

7 Kilmarnock

6

3

0

3

5

8

-3

9

8 St Johnstone

6

2

1

3

10

17

-7

7

9 Boroughmuir Thistle

7

2

0

5

8

21

-13

6

10 Stirling University

7

0

1

6

7

20

-13

1

DUNDEE UNITED Head Coach Gavin Beith

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Aaliyah-Jay Meach Rachel Robbie Rebecca McMillan Laurie Ross Georgia Carter Jade McLaren Neve Guthrie Erin Ross Robyn Smith Ellie-Jai Reid Danni McGinley Holly Napier Caroline Nachman Rebecca Foote Steffi Simson Keira Johnstone Megan Burns Haley Kern Philippa McCallum Tammy Harkin Alex Robson Stina Kleppe Chloe Clemison Isabella Rosalina

BOROUGHMUIR THISTLE

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE SHAUN TELFORD

ASSISTANT REFEREE BRIAN STEWART

ASSISTANT REFEREE ETHAN TORRIE

NEXT MATCH AT HOME

Vs KILMARNOCK 17.01.2021 KO 3.00pm

Head Coach Suzy Shepherd

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Katie Moodie Fiona Gibson Ashleigh Clark Kim Goodchild Tegan Browning Alix Wilkinson Caitlin Lynch Hannah Davie Brogan Anderson Helen Templeton Beth McLeod Mhari Smith Charlotte Ferguson Maria Terrente Katie McCabe Sammy Duncan Elvie McLean Ashley Carse Beth Solomon Ruth Gorman