Rangers aim to grow women’s support with Ibrox switch

Rangers hope the allure of Ibrox will bring more followers of the men’s team to the women’s game and attract players.

The women will play their home matches at the iconic venue in the 2025-26 season unless there are fixture clashes with the men’s team.

“The thought behind coming back to Ibrox more often is really about trying to connect with more supporters who are engaged with Rangers,” said managing director of women’s football Donald Gillespie.

Rangers women played four matches at Ibrox last season but were based at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, 15 miles away from Glasgow city centre.

“We don’t necessarily think that every single supporter of the men’s team is going to be a supporter of the women’s team,” added Gillespie.

“But we know so many of them are passionate about the club and would support a basketball team if it was Rangers!

“Making it accessible is the number one thing we want to do and playing outside the city where your team’s based is a barrier to growing that support.”

Gillespie also thinks thinks the chance to play at Ibrox on a regular basis will appeal to potential signings.

“It’s a far greater proposition to be able to try and entice them in,” he said.

“Rangers women train at the same location as the men, they eat at the same place, they get access to the same qualified doctors, physicians, indoor facilities, outdoor facilities and now the same stadium that houses upwards of 50,000 people.”

The switch will not be without logistical challenges and a number of matches will still need to be played at Broadwood.

“The SWPL recognise what we’re trying to do but we need to operate within the boundaries that the league set in terms of Ibrox as our home stadium,” explained Gillespie.

“We know that with an unpredictable league schedule for the men and more so the European schedule there’s going to need to be an understanding of when we can announce games for Ibrox. The key thing for us is to do it as early as we can.”