Ahead of Sunday's visit to Oriam to face Hearts, we sat down with Head Coach Leanne Ross to chat about our last match of 2025 and to reflect on the year as a whole.
To chat with us, Leanne takes a break from her busy preparations for this weekend's ScottishPower Women's Premier League clash, which will see us go head-to-head with Hearts in a top-two battle.
A win would extend our advantage at the top of the table to seven points going into the winter break, but as our Head Coach goes on to tell us, that lead will mean nothing if we can't back it up when we return in the New Year...
Leanne, our last game of 2025 is fast approaching. We have an opportunity to go seven points clear, how good a position is that to be in?
It's too early in the season to put any significance on the result either way.
It would be beneficial for us to be as many points ahead of the chasers as we can be, but it's a game we have to take in isolation. We know it's going to be a difficult one.
Regardless of the result on Sunday, there are still loads of big games to play when we come back in the New Year. There are still going to be loads of twists and turns throughout the season.
Like you say, nothing is going to be determined after Sunday, but this will be our 24th match of the season in all competitions. It's a good reflection of what this squad is capable of to be sitting top of the table at this point given everything we've come up against this far...
Yeah, and it's down to the hard work of the players, first and foremost. It's remarkable the effort that they have put in and the position that have put us in at this point of the season.
Twenty-four games in, there is so much to be pleased about in terms of individual performances and collective performances.
That is something we are really trying to focus on - to make sure we can maintain that when we come back in 2026.
It's not going to be any less hectic when we come back. You look at the magnitude of the games that we have - we've got a run where we play Rangers, Hibs and Celtic across the cup and the league.
Every game is going to be really important. You look at what we've done so far in the season, it means nothing if we come back and don't continue those performances.
That'll be the main focus over the break... To rest and recover. We will have the time we need to enjoy Christmas with our friends and family, but we'll be ready to come back, work and pick up where we left off.
You mentioned individual and collective performances, is there anything else that has pleased you so far this season?
The togetherness. It's been great to see them growing and developing as a group.
We've got big characters in there and they've played a massive role in how together we have been this year.
The players have each other's backs. It's a difficult thing when you're in a competitive environment and you're up against another player for your position and you want to play, but it's about being happy for and supporting whoever has the jersey.
That's something we need to build on and continue with. It's been great to see how much they drive each other on in every single game this year.
We have spoken before about how football comes thick and fast, and you don't get too many chances to reflect, but as we approach the New Year, it feels like a good time to ask what have been some of your highlights of 2025?
It's difficult because we're only halfway through the season, but I think the work we put in over the summer break to make sure we had a competitive squad is probably one of the biggest highlights.
We've given them the platform by putting the group together, but then just watching them grow into the team they have become and watching them pull together in difficult moments.
Another obvious one has to be the HB Køge game at home. The fact the first time we went ahead in the tie was when Lisa Forrest scored in the 90-something minute and we saw the game out... that's a resounding highlight.
The feelings that moment produced and the opportunity it gave us to go further in Europe was great.
You obviously have so much experience as a coach, but this is just your third full season as a Head Coach. How do you think you've grown on a personal level over the last 12 months?
I like to learn as much as I can in every situation that I find myself in.
I've worked with a lot of different people now and we've had a few changes within the technical staff, and that's been challenging at times, but that's a good challenge to help shape the environment around me.
I think they've helped me as well as how I've helped them, and it's not just the technical staff, but also the support staff. We have a really tight knit group.
Surrounding yourself with people who are going to help you and also challenge you is one of the biggest things I've learned.
I've got a group of staff that I can't ask any more of. The hours they put in, their attention to detail and the support they give - it's second to none.
We've assembled a good group of people, first and foremost, and people who are good at and enjoy their jobs.
When we come back in 2026, we will hit the ground running with the Scottish Cup, the league and a Sky Sports Cup semi-final. When you are a team like us – a team who has big ambitions, how much do you look forward to sinking your teeth into games and opportunities like that?
It is daunting when you look at the big games we have and the pressure that is there, but that is what you want as a coach and as a player.
You want to be fighting at the top of the league and being in the latter stages of competitions, fighting for trophies.
With that comes even more pressure, but that's when this team thrives. They love that. They have the fight to keep going, and to go and try and win something.
That's what we really need to buy into when we come back after Christmas and New Year. We will be refreshed, ready to go and fight for everything to bring silverware back to the club.
Silverware is obviously always the aim, but, as we chat now, what else would success look like for you come the end of the season?
Personal development for the players and staff.
Improving in your role is all that we can ask for, and the more we do that, the better chance we give ourselves to go and win silverware.
That is the most pleasing thing for me in my job - seeing people growing and improving every single day. I really enjoy seeing that and helping them celebrate the fact they are achieving things in their career.
But, at the end of the day, everybody is in the game to get their hands on silverware. All of the effort is for that reason.