Nisbet Hopes Euros Can Raise Interest In Domestic Game

With Scotland being represented in the European Championships last month, head coach Mark Nisbet hopes it can raise interest in the domestic game.

It was the first time the country was at national tournament since the men were at the World Cup in 1998 and the women were unfortunate not to reach the quarter finals, missing out by one goal.

Nisbet was part of a group of coaches sent to the tournament by the Scottish FA and he praised the set up of the national squads the group watched.

“It was excellent to be at the Euros. It was great to see all the different nations involved and the variety of formations and tactics used in the games. Each nation has a clear model of how they approach each of the games and the players fully respond to that.”

Scotland lost 6-0 to England in their first game and were unlucky to lose to Portugal and despite beating Spain 1-0, they finished third in their group and Nisbet echoed the thoughts of those on social media on the squads fortunes.

He said: “In the end Scotland were really unfortunate not to go through. It was always going to be tough in the opening game against England but to concede six was a disappointing start. I felt that we should have beaten Portugal if we were a bit more clinical in front of goal.”

The Forfar Farmington head coach feels the competition can entice people to head along to their local women’s side with the standard improving every year.

“I’d like to think the Euros can entice people to games but we need to make sure the product that people are coming to watch keeps improving. That’s something we have been working hard to improve over the years and think people would be pleasantly surprised if they were to take in a game.”

Forfar Farmington are currently top of the second tier of the Scottish Women’s Premier League with a six point advantage and Nisbet can’t wait to get going as the league restarts this Sunday.

“As much as it’s good to get a break it’s also good to get back to the normal routine and into training and see all the players again.”

“I am happy with where we are at this point in the season. If you had said at the start of the season we would be six points clear going into the second half I would have jumped at the chance to have that.”

The side take on Edinburgh University Hutchison Vale at Station Park on Sunday with a 1.00pm kick off. Admission is £4 for adults while under 16’s enter free of charge. Entrance to the game can be found at the turnstile at the back of the main stand.