BEHIND the scenes photographs reveal how Scotland women’s national football team is preparing for their historic World Cup journey.
The state-of-the-art climate chamber mimics conditions the squad will face in Nice, France, this weekend. At 35C and 60% humidity, it’s a far throw from Scotland’s dreich weather.
Aiming to acclimatise the team before their match against England this Sunday, the chamber replicates environmental extremes like standing on top of the highest mountain, to walking through the desert. Athletes use the equipment to improve physical performance.
Head coach Shelley Kerr said: “I think the facility at University of the West of Scotland is fantastic. It’s going to give the players exposure to the heat and humidity that they won’t experience here in Scotland and has been a huge part of the preparations.”
She added: “The small marginal gains at the highest level of football can make a massive difference.”
It is the first time the Scotland team have qualified for the Women’s World Cup, as the squad achieved seven out of eight wins of their qualifier matches.
Women’s football historically struggled to gain recognition as in 1921 they were banned by football authorities. The ban was lifted in 1971 as the Scottish Women’s Football Association was founded. It’s been a long road to give Scottish women footballers their due, marking this weekend a moment of history.
Professor Vish Unnithan, who led the sessions, said: “It has been an extremely full-on, but exciting few days as the players put together the final preparations before flying to France – we were honoured to have had the opportunity to work with them.
“The team will gain benefits from using the environmental chamber when they take to the pitch.”
The team will face England, ranked 17 places above Scotland, on Sunday in Nice at 5pm.
Scotland women’s final friendly match against Jamaica attracted a staggering 18,555 people at Hampden, highlighting the growth and support women’s football has seen in recent years.
A study recently revealed women and girls football figures have doubled in the past five years. Midfielder Erin Cuthbert is proud to inspire Scotland’s next generation of football talent. She said: “I get little messages on Instagram and I get people asking me to visit their training. It’s really special to know you have that impact.”
On Sunday the team will take to the world stage in their first ever World Cup match, with a predicted one billion worldwide to be watching the tournament.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here