AS THE men’s domestic season concludes, there is a case this week for supporters to lend their interest to Fran Alonso’s women’s side.

Having claimed the League Cup this season there is an opportunity for a historic double for Celtic. Their league form has dipped from last season with a third-place finish after Rangers won the title and Glasgow City finished runners-up for the first time in 15 years which means that there is no entry into the ever-developing women’s Champions League tournament this summer.

However, with the Scottish Cup final taking place at Tynecastle this weekend against Glasgow City there is every chance of the enthusiastic Alonso signing off this season on a high as Celtic look to compound City’s issues.

City have been the dominant force in the women’s game for so long that it will be interesting to see just what the reaction is from them as they look to ensure that they do not finish the season empty-handed.

The growth of the women’s game has been huge across Europe over the last decade with attendances reflecting the increasing interest; the weekend’s Champions League final as Lyon dethroned Barcelona drew in a crowd of more than 30,000 in Turin.

Barca attracted triple those numbers at both the quarter-final and semi-final stages with a world record attendance set at 91,553 against Real Madrid and then eclipsed against Wolfsburg.

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Scottish football lags behind in many ways but the growth over recent seasons has been accelerated by a rise in professional contracts. If it continues the same way as the game increases its numbers professionally the standard will also continue to rise.

It will be interesting to see if the women’s game reflects the men’s with Celtic and Rangers dominating now that Glasgow City have relinquished the firm grip that they have had on the domestic terrain.

Rangers won the title having dropped points in two games – two draws – with the Ibrox side setting a high bar ahead of next season. Like the men’s side, recruitment this summer will be interesting as the trajectory of the women’s game continues on an upward curve.

Alonso has been an energetic and likeable character at the helm of the women’s team as he helped to navigate the journey towards a more professional dressing room.

There were just over 3,000 last month when Celtic played Hibs at Celtic Park and the use of the stadium is expected to increase at times, when possible, for the coming season as the club look to showcase the women’s side and attract support for their development.

Anyone wanting their Celtic fix would do well to get themselves through to Edinburgh next weekend for the Scottish Women’s Cup final at Tynecastle.