Why Celtic FC Women is swapping Airdrie for Hamilton’s New Douglas Park

The Celtic Star

·27. September 2024

Why Celtic FC Women is swapping Airdrie for Hamilton’s New Douglas Park

Celtic FC Women have announced that New Douglas Park in Hamilton will be their new permanent home and also that one of the three group stage UEFA Women’s Champions League matches will take place at Celtic Park…

Elena Sadiku’s side created history last night by becoming the first Celtic FC Women’s team to reach the Champions League group stages. The Hoops 2-0 victory against Ukrainian opposition Vorskla Poltava thanks to goals from Emma Louise Lawton and Shannon McGregor sealed a place at Europe’s top table for the first ever time.

In doing so, Celtic played their final match at the Albert Bartlett Stadium for the final time. Home of Airdrieonians, the stadium does not comply with UEFA requirements for Champions League matches. Instead of playing domestic home matches in Airdrie and Champions League games in Hamilton, a collective decision was made to permanently move to Hamilton.

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The new stadium arrangement will undoubtedly make it easier for supporters who access public transport. Hamilton West train station is on the footstep of New Douglas Park. This was not the case for the Albert Bartlett Stadium which is a 20 minute walk from the nearest train station, Drumgelloch.

Crucially, New Douglas Park meets UEFA regulations to host both SWPL and UWCL matches.

On moving stadia, Elena Sadiku said she was delighted with the move, “playing in a home stadium that meets all the UEFA Women’s Group Stage requirements and allows us to make the matchday experience better still for our supporters is crucial as we continue our journey.”

READ THIS…Photo Gallery – Celtic, UEFA Women Champions League History Makers

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Sadiku added: “This will provide our team with a true home for Celtic Women’s football, offering an excellent environment where I am sure we will continue to flourish.”

Celtic FC Women’s first game in their new home is next Sunday against newly promoted side Queens Park in the SWPL. The Hoops currently sit in third place on 19 points, two points behind theRangers. Glasgow City are 2nd on 21 points but have played a game more than the two Glasgow sides.

Celtic have been drawn in Group B against Chelsea, Real Madrid and FC Twente and as mentioned above one of these Champions League matches will take place at Celtic Park.

Conor Spence

Alongside our permanent move to New Douglas Park, we can also confirm that one of our three home #UWCL fixtures will take place at Celtic Park 🏟️🤩 More information, along with full fixture details and timings will be confirmed in due course 🔜 #CelticFC🍀
– Freitag, 27. September 2024