Kilmarnock FC: FC Killie Ladies to fight for SWPL survival

Oct 21 2011 by Lizzie Smith, Kilmarnock Standard

FC KILLIE are left fighting for survival in the Scottish Women’s Premier League after losing an appeal on Monday night.

The Killie ladies are stuck bottom of the table with no points and two games left to beat the drop from the top flight.

They were stripped of three points after fielding an ineligible player in their only win of the season, so far, against fellow strugglers Falkirk back in July.

The Scottish Women’s Football Association made the decision after FC Killie player Kristiana Hamilton, 14, was ruled too young to play just by SIX WEEKS.

FC Killie lost an appeal to overturn the decision during a hearing with the SWFA at Hampden on Monday night.

The club will now take their fight to the Scottish Football Association.

Jack Weeks, FC Killie’s secretary, said: “It is a crazy decision.

“We had four lassies missing for the Falkirk game because they were on holiday. We brought in two players, one from our under-17s and Kristiana from the under-15s.

“We had put her date of birth down on the teamsheet, unaware there was any such rule.

“It was picked up by a league administrator.”

Jack added: “My understanding is the SFA state if you’re good enough to play, you’re old enough to play.

“We will now appeal to the SFA.”

In the meantime, FC Killie desperately need to pick up three points on their trip to Edinburgh to play third bottom side Hutchison Vale next Sunday (October 30).

They will then face fellow strugglers Falkirk, who are second bottom, at home at Hurlford’s Blair Park on Sunday, November 6 – in the last game of the season.

Falkirk are currently sitting on the three points which were taken off FC Killie.

Only one team will be relegated from the SWPL this season. Boroughmuir Thistle and Dundee United SC resigned from the league prior to the start of the 2011 season.

FC Killie have been in the top flight since it was founded in 2002.

Jack said: “The smaller ladies teams like Kilmarnock and Falkirk are struggling because there is a lack of funding.”

FC Killie boss Stef Chisholm admitted: “Many of the teams in the SWPL have a Killie player which shows our youth system works.

“Glasgow has three top ladies teams [Rangers, Celtic and Glasgow City] and we actually lose more players to them than we gain.”

But FC Killie are no strangers to a relegation battle as they beat the drop last season by one point.

Last Sunday, FC Killie were disappointed after leading 2-0 at half-time against Inverness City they went on to lose 5-3. Shelley Fairley netted twice and Kirsty Munro also scored for FC Killie.

Jack admitted: “We have two very big games coming up. The outcome of our appeal to SFA could also be very important.”