ALTHOUGH the challenges remain daunting, the last seven days have been more heartening for women's football. The generous £250,000 – rising to £312,500 with Gift Aid – donated by James Anderson has been a psychological, as well as financial, boost.

The money was given to Scottish Women's Football, but channelled through the Scottish Football Partnership because the Gift Aid element wouldn't have been available otherwise. The even better news is that Anderson is keen to extend the relationship beyond this initial largesse.

The Edinburgh financier and philanthropist wants nothing in return. As mentioned here last week when his likely investment was flagged up, he has a track record of supporting community-based projects. His wife Morag is of a similar mind, and they have a daughter with a keen interest in football.

SWF executive officer Fiona McIntyre deserves much credit for ensuring Anderson came on board. Currently on a short term secondment to co-ordinate the Scottish FA's strategic review, she acted swiftly when an introduction was facilitated by SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster.

The outcome was a paper put together in short order, a couple of Zoom meetings with the financier, and SWF received – by a long, long distance – its largest ever funding. To put it into perspective, SWF's annual payment from the SFA is a mere £19,000 (although it can be topped up if the governing body posts a surplus).

SWF have already decided how the windfall will be allocated. The eight SWPL1 clubs will receive £112,000 (45 per cent), which equates to just over £14,000 a team.

The ten SWPL2 clubs will get £62,5000 (25 per cent), while SWF are retaining £75,000 (30 per cent) to cover Covid-19 shortfalls. The entire Gift Aid element – £62,500 – will be used to give teams huge discounts on their 2021 affiliations.

Anderson has not stipulated how the SWPL clubs spend their unexpected windfalls, but it is understood paying player or staff wages is not an option. Defraying the cost of testing is one obvious use. 

ALSO welcome, as announced by Uefa on Wednesday, is that the Champions League will be completed. The quarter finals, semis and final are to be played as one-off games in Bilbao and San Sebastian from August 21-30.

The challenges facing Glasgow City between now and then are enormous, but club manager Laura Montgomery says the Scottish champions will fulfil their last eight tie against Wolfsburg (who wrapped up a fifth successive German title on the same day).

“There is no way for the integrity of Scottish football, or our own, that we would pull out,” the City co-founder said.

TWO Scottish players will return to competitive football this week. The Swedish men's season has re-started and will be followed by the women's on Saturday.

The pair are goalkeeper Shannon Lynn (Vittsjo) and full back Cailin Michie (Pitea). A third, winger Fiona Brown, unfortunately cannot. The 25-year-old, who is no stranger to misfortune, had a setback recovering from her latest knee injury and will not be available for Rosengard's home game against Lynn's club.

“It was just a bad reaction, so nothing major, but I've got to build it up again,” Brown, who hopes to be playing within four weeks, said.

There should be a league debut for former Hibs defender Michie. Her club, who are in the far north of Sweden, travel by coach to Umea, the only side they can access without requiring flights.

The Swedes have taken an outlier stance to the pandemic – and, despite having a far higher Covid-19 death rate than their Scandanavian neighbours, seem determined to stick it out. Staggeringly from a Scottish perspective, players do not require to be tested.

“We have been training the whole time without tests,” Michie confirmed. “Our temperature will be checked with a thermometer before each game, and we have to fill in a sheet describing if we feel sick or have any symptoms.”

Playing games behind closed doors appears to be the only major concession, although the Swedish teams do also live and train in their own bubbles.

BACK in Scotland, a survey of 430 SWPL players and 100 staff has revealed an overwhelming desire to also return to competitive football – provided the required protocols are in place.

Nevertheless, almost half said they faced challenges with the protocol itself. Some are key pandemic workers, while others have family members in vulnerable categories.

When asked about a switch to a winter season – which is being championed by Celtic – 61 per cent said they were in favour, with only 18 per cent definitely against.