Heart of Midlothian Womens SWPL 2025/2026 season

[Malinga the Swinga]

Setting up a thread for this coming seasons fixtures in SWPL. 

Thread to be used for discussion of games, players signed/ leaving and general performance over the season.

It would be really good if thread doesn't, yet again, consist of posts stating women should not be playing professional football, whether they should be paid for playing football, whether Hearts should have a women's team (we do so it's a pointless discussion), whether it should be on the TV, whether male amateur team would beat our women's team or whether you once played 5 a sides in the 1980's with a retired female footballer and in your opinion she wasn't very good.

First game on Aug 17th v Celtic.

Hoping for a good season and a run at league/the cups.

[How's my driving]

Has there been many preseason games played?

[The Treasurer]

2 hours ago, Malinga the Swinga said:

Setting up a thread for this coming seasons fixtures in SWPL. 

Thread to be used for discussion of games, players signed/ leaving and general performance over the season.

It would be really good if thread doesn't, yet again, consist of posts stating women should not be playing professional football, whether they should be paid for playing football, whether Hearts should have a women's team (we do so it's a pointless discussion), whether it should be on the TV, whether male amateur team would beat our women's team or whether you once played 5 a sides in the 1980's with a retired female footballer and in your opinion she wasn't very good.

First game on Aug 17th v Celtic.

Hoping for a good season and a run at league/the cups.

You do seem to have a real bee in your bonnet about anyone who doesn't share your own opinion on women's football.

Just for the record, I've no real interest but I have no problem with women's football and, as they are representing my club, I always want the Hearts women's team to do well.

So no need for you to have a go at me in reply 

[Hømme]

2 hours ago, How's my driving said:

Has there been many preseason games played?

 

Believe we drew 2-2 with Sheffield Utd. Haven't seen any other results come through but i may have missed them.

[the posh bit]

19 minutes ago, The Treasurer said:

You do seem to have a real bee in your bonnet about anyone who doesn't share your own opinion on women's football.

Just for the record, I've no real interest but I have no problem with women's football and, as they are representing my club, I always want the Hearts women's team to do well.

So no need for you to have a go at me in reply 

 

Unbelievable 😁😁😁

[Malinga the Swinga]

We beat Boroughmuir in pre season friendly couple of weeks ago

[Masonic]

The squad is bursting at the seams with talent, has a great shape to it im looking forward to seeing more of them this season. Hopefully there is more fluidity this season.

[Henroddy]

12 minutes ago, Masonic said:

The squad is bursting at the seams with talent, has a great shape to it im looking forward to seeing more of them this season. Hopefully there is more fluidity this season.

👍

[Malinga the Swinga]

2 down at home ho Celtic doesn't appear to be great though the second goal looked so offside as to even embarrass Celtic TV and it's commentating team.

I did think with it being on BBC that neutral commentators would be the option but nope, it's a running praise for Celtic from pre game to now.

Hearts look short on experience with very young team

[Stendelnator]

The Celtic team is full of injuries and not exactly superstars. This is a really poor result. As for lack of experience, Eva has had years so if experience is an issue why is she not signing experienced players? We let Brownlie and Robertson go

[Malinga the Swinga]

16 minutes ago, Stendelnator said:

The Celtic team is full of injuries and not exactly superstars. This is a really poor result. As for lack of experience, Eva has had years so if experience is an issue why is she not signing experienced players? We let Brownlie and Robertson go

We are also full of injuries but then again, as you have no idea who plays for Hearts women nor who makes up squad that is not surprising.

 

See instead of just constantly greeting and exposing your lack of knowledge on what the women's team trying to do, why not spend some time educating yourself and then you might not look quite as ignorant as you are just now 

[Kalamazoo Jambo]

1-2. Shore gets kicked in the face, and Timms puts the penalty away nicely.

[Malinga the Swinga]

1-2 now as Hearts score penalty after Celtic defender kicks Hearts player in face. Not dangerous play though according to pundit on commentary.

That offside goal for Celtic proving key here. 

[chazza74]

Whatever the team is trying to do they’re definitely not succeeding they have a big budget, probably need a change of coach Eva has had long enough 

[Malinga the Swinga]

Denied equaliser at death as Celtic keeper gets fingertips to shot. 

[Kalamazoo Jambo]

1-2 final score.

[Malinga the Swinga]

finished 2-1 for Celtic as offside goal proves difference in the end. Congratulations to lino for refusing to put up flag as having wee group of Celtic supporters behind him proved too much of influence to do what he should have done.

Might be women's football but influence of Celtic runs deep in officials 

[Stendelnator]

12 minutes ago, Malinga the Swinga said:

We are also full of injuries but then again, as you have no idea who plays for Hearts women nor who makes up squad that is not surprising.

 

See instead of just constantly greeting and exposing your lack of knowledge on what the women's team trying to do, why not spend some time educating yourself and then you might not look quite as ignorant as you are just now 

Because I am critical of Eva Olid for having vast sums of money but never making any real progress does not make me clueless. We should be just as critical of poor decision making in the women’s team as the men’s. 
 

As for lack of knowledge, sure. Monica Forsyth’s repeated knee injuries have restricted her movement which is why she plays more centrally now but less effectively and can’t play well on the wing any more. Ademolekun is a very talented footballer but goes missing too often. The defence lacked any leadership today because we let experienced figures in CPS and Brownlie leave. 
 

We have no identity. It’s the same as watching a Naismith or Critchley side. They want to “dominate possession” but that does nothing most of the time. Rangers and Celtic look as weak as they have in about 5 years this season which presents a great opportunity. And more than anything just because the women’s team was amateur and shite 4 years ago does not mean we still need to give it the old “well done girls hard lines”. They’re all professionals playing at the same level as Celtic. 
 

Also, Rachel Johnstone has no presence in goals and letting CPS go, allegedly due to her lack of ability with the ball at her feet, will prove a mistake. 

[Mikey1874]

In news a lot of people will be happy with, it's clear Hearts have reached the limit on what they are prepared to spend 

 

The squad hasn't been improved this summer. Mairead Fulton is a replacement for Lisa Robertson. They mainly think the current players can do better.

 

So not really actually trying to compete with the quality of the Rangers, Glasgow City and Celtic squads. 

 

Spending the money on the men instead.

[Stendelnator]

7 minutes ago, Mikey1874 said:

In news a lot of people will be happy with, it's clear Hearts have reached the limit on what they are prepared to spend 

 

The squad hasn't been improved this summer. Mairead Fulton is a replacement for Lisa Robertson. They mainly think the current players can do better.

 

So not really actually trying to compete with the quality of the Rangers, Glasgow City and Celtic squads. 

 

Spending the money on the men instead.

 

The squad is full of good players like Shore, Hutchison, and the Husband girls who will all go onto big things. Hutchison turned down Glasgow City as a teenager to finish her studies in Aberdeen, and would do a job for any of them. Celtic have also switched off the money tap, as it appears have Rangers. In the past few seasons we've lost Brownlie, Grant, McGovern, Robertson and Lockwood and failed to adequately replace or improve on them. 

[tcjambo]

4 hours ago, Stendelnator said:

 

The squad is full of good players like Shore, Hutchison, and the Husband girls who will all go onto big things. Hutchison turned down Glasgow City as a teenager to finish her studies in Aberdeen, and would do a job for any of them. Celtic have also switched off the money tap, as it appears have Rangers. In the past few seasons we've lost Brownlie, Grant, McGovern, Robertson and Lockwood and failed to adequately replace or improve on them. 

Hopefully, we can pull ourselves together here and get some fresh blood. With so many leaving in the past two seasons we need to rebuild. I am not sure where the problem lies. Maybe, our funding is restricted as well now?

[EVHearts]

First game of the season and they are being written off.  Get a grip FFS

[Stendelnator]

22 hours ago, Malinga the Swinga said:

finished 2-1 for Celtic as offside goal proves difference in the end. Congratulations to lino for refusing to put up flag as having wee group of Celtic supporters behind him proved too much of influence to do what he should have done.

Might be women's football but influence of Celtic runs deep in officials 

 

The goal was onside. Waldie too deep. 1:10. Johnstone being beaten at her near post for the opener looks worse here too. 

 

 

[Nookie Bear]

23 hours ago, Mikey1874 said:

In news a lot of people will be happy with, it's clear Hearts have reached the limit on what they are prepared to spend 

 

The squad hasn't been improved this summer. Mairead Fulton is a replacement for Lisa Robertson. They mainly think the current players can do better.

 

So not really actually trying to compete with the quality of the Rangers, Glasgow City and Celtic squads. 

 

Spending the money on the men instead.

 

I wonder if Eva will see this as the right time to leave.

 

Not sure how high her reputation is but i imagine she might up for a new challenge.

[Portable Badger]

12 hours ago, Nookie Bear said:

 

I wonder if Eva will see this as the right time to leave.

 

Not sure how high her reputation is but i imagine she might up for a new challenge.

I posted a similar type question on here several weeks ago and only got one reply.

 

Eva only signed a 1yr contract extension which seemed odd - I was asking if folks if they knew was that all we offered her or was that her stance? When she joined she mentioned she had other ambitions (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I wasn’t sure if we had set a clear definitive challenge to achieve or she felt she had taken the team as far as she could.

 

I noted that considering it was pre-season build up , there was little or no visible coverage of Eva & hopes/ambitions for the coming season. Eventually a brief quote was posted by the club from her where she came across as almost apologetic and thanking those who supported her. It was this article that sparked my question previously as it didn’t come across as overly positive.

 

For transparency & completeness - the response I did get mentioned that there was a feeling that we had not improved as much considering the investment made to date.

 

I don’t go to the games as I’m up in Perthshire but watching the weekend highlights it might be Eva will be on manoeuvres come the end of the season. Shame.

[Tollcross OB]

4 hours ago, Portable Badger said:

I posted a similar type question on here several weeks ago and only got one reply.

 

Eva only signed a 1yr contract extension which seemed odd - I was asking if folks if they knew was that all we offered her or was that her stance? When she joined she mentioned she had other ambitions (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I wasn’t sure if we had set a clear definitive challenge to achieve or she felt she had taken the team as far as she could.

 

I noted that considering it was pre-season build up , there was little or no visible coverage of Eva & hopes/ambitions for the coming season. Eventually a brief quote was posted by the club from her where she came across as almost apologetic and thanking those who supported her. It was this article that sparked my question previously as it didn’t come across as overly positive.

 

For transparency & completeness - the response I did get mentioned that there was a feeling that we had not improved as much considering the investment made to date.

 

I don’t go to the games as I’m up in Perthshire but watching the weekend highlights it might be Eva will be on manoeuvres come the end of the season. Shame.

I think if Eva left tomorrow’s the women’s team and the programme would be seen to be in a good situation Sunday’s team would be transformed if Hunter , Girasoli, Fulton, and Hutchison played,   although I do agree that the goalkeeper situation really needs to be looked at Johnston is very agile but her but lack of inches is never going to make he an imposing presence.
 

It’s up to the club to get the young core tied down to two or three year contracts but you can’t force players to stay in the past players were given 1 year contracts and the top players seemed to move around Rangers, Celtic, Hibs and City if you look at Emma Brownlie’s playing career she has now played for all 4. 
The information from the women’s/ girls  teams in general is very poor we have one if not the best academy’s but nothing seems to appear about it. A simple example I suppose is the Hunter , Girasoli situation Hunter has been out for 15 months and Girasoli nearly a year with ACL injuries very little on return timelines. Sunday Fulton, Hutchison out injured no explanation as to how serious.

 

[Portable Badger]

43 minutes ago, Tollcross OB said:

I think if Eva left tomorrow’s the women’s team and the programme would be seen to be in a good situation Sunday’s team would be transformed if Hunter , Girasoli, Fulton, and Hutchison played,   although I do agree that the goalkeeper situation really needs to be looked at Johnston is very agile but her but lack of inches is never going to make he an imposing presence.
 

It’s up to the club to get the young core tied down to two or three year contracts but you can’t force players to stay in the past players were given 1 year contracts and the top players seemed to move around Rangers, Celtic, Hibs and City if you look at Emma Brownlie’s playing career she has now played for all 4. 
The information from the women’s/ girls  teams in general is very poor we have one if not the best academy’s but nothing seems to appear about it. A simple example I suppose is the Hunter , Girasoli situation Hunter has been out for 15 months and Girasoli nearly a year with ACL injuries very little on return timelines. Sunday Fulton, Hutchison out injured no explanation as to how serious.

 

Thank you for your lengthy response. It is somewhat reassuring to hear some measured positivity about the women’s team.

 

It does seem ironic that, as a genre, the women’s game needs more promotion and engagement and yet we’re seemingly doing the opposite or, at best, apathetic.

[iain ferguson]

The recruitment in general looks mediocre at best and the squad is massive. Numerous ex-academy girls out on loan but would have thought that a few would be no worse than some of the new recruits. Eva seems to prefer bringing in players from outside although appreciate that some of the girls on loan are very young and need game time at a slightly lower level to develop. 

[Mikey1874]

8 hours ago, Portable Badger said:

I posted a similar type question on here several weeks ago and only got one reply.

 

Eva only signed a 1yr contract extension which seemed odd - I was asking if folks if they knew was that all we offered her or was that her stance? When she joined she mentioned she had other ambitions (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I wasn’t sure if we had set a clear definitive challenge to achieve or she felt she had taken the team as far as she could.

 

I noted that considering it was pre-season build up , there was little or no visible coverage of Eva & hopes/ambitions for the coming season. Eventually a brief quote was posted by the club from her where she came across as almost apologetic and thanking those who supported her. It was this article that sparked my question previously as it didn’t come across as overly positive.

 

For transparency & completeness - the response I did get mentioned that there was a feeling that we had not improved as much considering the investment made to date.

 

I don’t go to the games as I’m up in Perthshire but watching the weekend highlights it might be Eva will be on manoeuvres come the end of the season. Shame.

 

I would expect this to be Eva's last season unless Hearts qualify for the Champions League which is currently top 2.

 

If things continue the way the have around 4th/5th it would be healthy to get a change.

 

Meanwhile it's strange people don't keep up with Hearts media.

 

 

[Mikey1874]

2 hours ago, iain ferguson said:

The recruitment in general looks mediocre at best and the squad is massive. Numerous ex-academy girls out on loan but would have thought that a few would be no worse than some of the new recruits. Eva seems to prefer bringing in players from outside although appreciate that some of the girls on loan are very young and need game time at a slightly lower level to develop. 

 

The main academy players are the Husbands straight into the first team at 16. Not sure how Hutchison and Shore from Aberdeen who were pretty successful signings, would be classed as mediocre. A few players from Ireland mostly done well. Generally the signings have been okay but not matched the big 3 international squads. More experienced players like Lisa Robertson did okay too. 

 

I thought it was small margins last season. They had 2 bad results against Partick and Motherwell bit aside from that it was pretty even against the top 4. 

 

They should be disappointed and Eva now says its one game at a time perhaps learning a lesson from being too ambitious.

[Tollcross OB]

36 minutes ago, Mikey1874 said:

 

I would expect this to be Eva's last season unless Hearts qualify for the Champions League which is currently top 2.

 

If things continue the way the have around 4th/5th it would be healthy to get a change.

 

Meanwhile it's strange people don't keep up with Hearts media.

 

 

Yep so that and a post saying friendlies had been arranged but other than announcing the signing nothing and the video was put out last week.  I know there are people on here  who couldn't care less about the women/ girl team and academy but if they are part of the club is it not fair to expect more.

[Portable Badger]

47 minutes ago, Mikey1874 said:

 

I would expect this to be Eva's last season unless Hearts qualify for the Champions League which is currently top 2.

 

If things continue the way the have around 4th/5th it would be healthy to get a change.

 

Meanwhile it's strange people don't keep up with Hearts media.

 

 

Many thanks.

 

To your last point- that’s down to me then. I don’t utilise You Tube to any real extent so I’m not looped into Hearts Media. I just look at the website typically and any specific articles on NewsNow.

[Stendelnator]

21 minutes ago, Mikey1874 said:

 

The main academy players are the Husbands straight into the first team at 16. Not sure how Hutchison and Shore from Aberdeen who were pretty successful signings, would be classed as mediocre. A few players from Ireland mostly done well. Generally the signings have been okay but not matched the big 3 international squads. More experienced players like Lisa Robertson did okay too. 

 

I thought it was small margins last season. They had 2 bad results against Partick and Motherwell bit aside from that it was pretty even against the top 4. 

 

They should be disappointed and Eva now says its one game at a time perhaps learning a lesson from being too ambitious.

 

Let's be honest though, it's a 5 team league, the rest of the teams should be cannon fodder every week. 

[Dudefromltu]

Sorry to hijack this thread. I was wondering if any of our academy girls have been selected to represent Scotland in the Barcelona experience? I've seen there was one lass from Falkirk, were there any from Hearts?

[Gambo]

Away to Rangers at Ibrox today on BBC Alba, 0-0 after 10mins and have started well, should be ahead.

[Maroon Raccoon]

Must be about 80% Hearts possession at this point, very positive going forward…need to turn some of that into actual goals though. 

[Gambo]

1-0 to Hearts and fully deserved. Great goal

[Maroon Raccoon]

Cracking goal from Sade. Well deserved. She’s the most creative player we’ve got. 

[Thurlaston]

What a great goal.

[Kalamazoo Jambo]

I know I’m a few minutes late here but what a goal by Sade.

[Stanley_]

On 19/08/2025 at 11:46, iain ferguson said:

The recruitment in general looks mediocre at best and the squad is massive. Numerous ex-academy girls out on loan but would have thought that a few would be no worse than some of the new recruits. Eva seems to prefer bringing in players from outside although appreciate that some of the girls on loan are very young and need game time at a slightly lower level to develop. 

Quite a few of the youngsters have left this summer on permanent deals alongside a few going out on loan.

[BackOfTheNet]

 

[Maroon Raccoon]

Ah shite. 

[Australis]

Two quick goals for the zombies.

Defending was single fish.

[sadj]

8 minutes ago, Australis said:

Two quick goals for the zombies.

Defending was single fish.

That first one the player on the line that put it in looked offside. 
 

also

 

yassssssss

[Malinga the Swinga]

Equaliser from Shore 

[Malinga the Swinga]

Hearts denied stonewall penalty at 2-2. Rangers player handles shot going over keeper but no official spots it

Edited August 24 by Malinga the Swinga

[Maroon Raccoon]

Just now, Malinga the Swinga said:

Hearts denied stonewall penalty at 2-2

Clear handball. Robbed. 

[Malinga the Swinga]

2-2 it finishes. Robbed of chance to win game by either blind or biased officials. I'll leave it to others to decide 

[Portable Badger]

2pts dropped really.

Controlled the game for 70mins

Typical the handball was not noticed !!!

Some very good aspects today but need the resilience to hold onto the lead