There will be empty Premiership stadiums over the early part of winter - and Celtic Park could prove a lively cauldron for SWPL 1 football according to Fran Alonso.
His side begin their top tier campaign against Hibs this afternoon as they continue to try and become Scotland's dominant force in the women's game. The club’s ambitions to establish themselves in this bracket has gone up in recent seasons , with Celtic reaching the SWPL final in 2017 and 2018, the arrival of Alonso in January 2020 and transitioning into full-time systems.
Last season was an historic one in Glasgow's east-end as they lifted the League Cup for only the second time ever and followed that up with a first Scottish Cup triumph. Third place is what they had to settle for in the league though behind Rangers and Glasgow City but there's optimism amid a period of change.
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A twelve-team top flight featuring a split has been introduced as elite women's football comes under SPFL ownership, while Hampden is set to host Scottish Cup semi-finals and finals for the first time.
Alonso's team ran out at Parkhead last season and he has been buoyed by the huge crowds that have followed England's Lionesses as they ran out European champions at Euro 2022.
Ange Postecoglou's men will take a five-week break from November 12th/13th to the weekend before Christmas, not returning to their home until December 24th, Alonso's team scheduled to play three matches on their own soil in that time.
And he sees no reason why Parkhead can't be bouncing: "We are very excited for the new season. I want to be a contender for the title until the last week. If we can do it or not, let's see.
"In the league we lacked consistency and we have recruited some experience. The average age is not as young this season and I really fancy our chances to be fighting at the end.
"There's been massive investment so it means more competition, which is great for the league. Last year we played finals at good stadiums so to have them now at Hampden is special.
"I really hope so (Scotland can attract big crowds). The Euros showed an appetite for the women's game and it's something people are hungry for.
"Can we get full stadiums and show this hunger? I think so and I think this season we will see bigger crowds. There is a World Cup on in November, so that's a great chance for all the women's games to be played in stadiums.
"There's not a lot of football on (in grounds). Can we fill the stadiums? Can we break the attendance record? I think we can."
Meanwhile Glasgow City will be looking to keep Celtic beneath them in the league while taking top spot away from Rangers. Hayley Lauder says it's an exciting time off the back of Euro 2022 success south of the border.
The attacker added: "The more investment we have, the better. I think this will be one of the most competitive SWPL's yet.
"Off the back of watching Euro 2022, seeing the crowd's and how visible women's football was, it's important we take part of that.
"Showpiece games in the national stadium don't get much better. It's not a coincidence England have achieved that with the resources available. It's big for the women's game to have it more visible.
"I hope we look at that and see the good things that were done there. It won't be on that scale but we have to take good things from that as we have a good product here."
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