The Theatre du Chatelet in Paris will host the prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday evening as the great and the good of football’s A-List rub shoulders in elegant celebration.
And Scotland have a ringside seat in the form of Caroline Weir and Scott McTominay. The latter is the first Scot to earn such recognition since Ally McCoist in 1987 while the former is the first ever Scottish female player to be nominated since the inception of a women’s award in 2018.
Being invited to dine at the top table of football’s elite will is a fine reflection of their respective contributions across the last 12 months but, also, for Weir there is a moment to acknowledge the privilege of playing in a contemporary setting.
There remains a world of distance between those on the female and male shortlist in terms of exposure, finances, commercial entities and rewards. There remain light years to make up when it comes to bridging that gap, regardless of what photo opps and rubbing shoulders together on Monday night suggest.
Even in the seven years that the award has acknowledged a female category, there has been a shift in the tone. When Ada Hegerberg won the very first Ballon d’Or feminin, her accomplishment was overshadowed by host Martin Solveig who invited the Norwegian to celebrate by twerking on stage with him.
The invite to do so came immediately after she had given a speech in which she had spoken of what a big deal it was for the award to exist and what a big deal it was for a new generation of girls to see it. Perhaps Solveig felt it incumbent to behave in a manner which offered a conduit between the present and the past. For Weir, to be appreciated and recognised for being among the best is an opportunity that was denied to so many for so long.
For the likes of Elsie Cook – whose recent memoir with Tom Brown ‘A Kiss Fae Pele’ is well worth a read for the insight into her sheer vocational doggedness about the game and women’s place in it – and Rose Reilly who takes her place at every Celtic women’s home game, such moments were nothing short of fanciful.
To have successfully fought against a ban on women’s football and to have taken down doors that were firmly closed, they are as deserving of their moments as much as Weir is on Monday night.
Reilly was so scunnered with the chauvinism of the stiff suits at Hampden that she severed ties with Scotland and sported the adopted colours of Italy as she won the Munialito – the precursor to the World Cup.
Without the vast and often unseen work of the early pioneers of women’s football and their stoicism in standing firm against cultural disapproval and dismissal, there would be no pathway for the likes of Weir, Erin Cuthbert, Kim Little. It is something they are all acutely aware of.
Weir has made no bones about the fact that her driving force throughout her career is to be seen as the best in the world. She deserves a quiet moment of acknowledgement to raise a glass to herself on Monday night for how far along on that journey she is. Nominated so quickly after a torn ACL and on the back of adopting a new language and culture in Madrid, her journey can only be applauded. And for a whole new generation of girls there is a chance to look on at all the possibilities that stretch before them. The path is still not entirely straightforward but that there is one at all is to be celebrated.
AND ANOTHER THING
Glasgow City will be Scotland’s sole representative in Europe after their progression to the second qualifying stage of the inaugural Europa Cup.
Leanne Ross’ side hammered Irish champions Athlone Town 6-0 with their attention now turning to Danish side HB Koge with the first round away from home.
Leanne Ross accepted it could have been worse but warned that it won’t be an easy tie to negotiate.
“There were a few big names that we could have got but this is a tough one too,” she said. “They are currently top of their league and they have some dangerous players.
“It is really important that we go over there and make sure that we keep the tie live ahead of the second leg when we can bring them back to Petershill.
“But the players are excited. It is a big chance for us to go and have European football this season but we aren’t getting too far ahead of ourselves just now.”
AND FINALLY
If the last few weeks are anything to go by, the emerging talent in the country is getting its first-team chance.
Rangers’ May Cruft, still only 16, netted her first senior goal for the club in last week’s 4-1 win over Partick Thistle. The teenager came on for Leanne Crichton’s side the previous weekend in the 2-0 victory over Celtic and immediately caught the eye in the middle of the park with her composure.
Hibs had to call on 17-year-old goalkeeper Rowenna Armitage on after Noa Schumacher was sent off against Inter Milan on Wednesday night.
The biggest headache that faces the SWPL is not bringing these players through but rather hanging on to them if and when the English top flight comes calling.
