Malky Thomson couldn’t have had any better experience to draw upon than that of a roomful of 2003 Helicopter Sunday legends ahead of Rangers Women’s tilt for the title.
The Rangers Women boss recently attended a celebration of that league triumph – the first Helicopter Sunday – when Rangers beat Dunfermline 6-1 to better Celtic’s goal difference as their rivals won 4-0 against Kilmarnock.
This Sunday, Thomson’s side could write as dramatic a league triumph as that back in 2003 should they win against league leaders Glasgow City and at least equal Celtic’s scoreline.
Rangers are second in the league currently on equal point with Celtic but boasting a one-goal advantage in the goal difference column. Glasgow City are two points clear at the top of the league and know a win would see them lift the SWPL1 league title.
Thomson has, so far, refrained from showing his squad footage of Helicopter Sunday – but has adopted the blunt advice he received from Helicopter Sunday heroes; just win.
“I think there are enough Rangers supporters here that have been speaking about it all week,” said Thomson of potentially using Helicopter Sunday footage ahead of Sunday’s match at Ibrox.
“I was actually at an event last week for the celebration of Helicopter Sunday. It was great to talk to Barry Ferguson, Craig Moore, big McLeish and stuff like that.
“It’s amazing these guys had no thought other than just win it. When you put it in isolation and juts come back to let’s win the game as handsomely as we can, then that’s the approach.
“Alex’s advice to me was just to keep doing what we’ve been doing, keep a level head on things and just deal with each game in isolation. Do the same as we always do with our planning and preparation.
“First and foremost we need to win the game. And then we’ll need to have an ear on how many goals we might need. That’s the way it’s going to pan out.”
And Thomson has little need for a direct feed of what is happening in Celtic’s match at Parkhead, with a bumper crowd of around 10,000 expected inside Ibrox.
“I think that 10,000-plus crowd that we’re going to get will be vocal enough to let us know when we’re sitting on the sidelines,” joked Thomson of keeping on top of what is required in the title race.
“But what an opportunity. I was saying to the girls that it’s unique in the sense that they’ve done a lot of hard work to get here; we’ve had to claw back nine points to get ourselves into this situation where we have got some form of control.”
Beaming with pride at the expected attendance figures, Thomson added: “I think we are touching 10,000 just now, the interest has been phenomenal.
“I think that’s the responsibility that is put on the players and staff as well that we continue doing what we are doing, promoting the game and working hard to put a good product on the park to entice viewers to get captivated by it.
“It’s a great stage and credit has got to go to not just Rangers Football Club and the team we have here but Celtic and Motherwell and Hearts and the rest of the teams in the league.
“It’s definitely growing, it’s better, the product is better on the park.”
