Aberdeen FC Women return to action this weekend as their domestic season kicks off just five weeks after last season ended. The top flight doesn’t kick off until September but there is a place in the SWPL Cup quarter-final to play for as the group stages get underway on Sunday.

The Dons start their season as they finished the last with the visit of Boroughmuir Thistle to the Balmoral Stadium on Sunday.

Captain Kelly Forrest thinks the group phase may be good preparation for the SWPL2 champions as they build up to their top flight campaign. “I think the draw has worked out quite well. We’re up against the two teams in SWPL2 in Boroughmuir and Queens Park first and we’ll get broken in to SWPL1 life against Motherwell then almost immediately after that, Rangers on the Wednesday night. It’s a really good run for us to build up for the league and exciting fixtures too. Cup games are always slightly different, some teams have different focuses and anything can happen in a cup game”.

It’s been a short turnaround after the end of last season was delayed due to covid restrictions but after such a stop-start campaign last time out, Forrest says the players are ready to go again. “It feels like we’ve not had much time off but equally it’s been good in one sense as we’re not really having to do a preseason. We still feel like we’ve got the match fitness from the tail end of last season being so close. We probably could’ve done with more time off but all-in-all we’re fit and ready to go. You can do as much running as you want in preseason but having that match fitness and practice is important so it definitely works in our favour”.

“I think some of the older ones would’ve like some more time off but there are a lot of girls in this team that haven’t played top flight football in Scotland. If I were them, I would be extremely excited and I’m definitely getting that vibe from them”.

There has been some controversy surrounding the fixtures for the new league season. Each side plays each other three times in the ten-team top division and the fixtures haven’t been kind with the Dons being given 12 home matches and 15 away. It’s something that hasn’t gone unnoticed and the captain is confused by it.

“We’re used to the travelling but the fixture lay out, I don’t understand it. I’m yet to get a good explanation of why there is such a big difference having fifteen away games and only twelve at home. No other teams are having to do that and it’s a bit baffling to be honest. We’re used to the travelling and it sometimes works in our favour as we spend a lot of time with each other and that shows with our togetherness as a group”.

There is one new face in that group after Donna Paterson’s arrival from Forfar Farmington. The former Aberdeen Ladies player is one that Kelly knows well and she is happy to see her return. “Donna is a solid player. I was delighted to hear that we had signed her. She’s got experience in SWPL1 and I’ve played with Donna before and for me, she is one of the best defenders in Scotland. She scored lots of goals when she played in midfield at Forfar so she’ll be a great asset for us”.

Sunday’s match will see AFC Women return to the Balmoral Stadium where Kelly lifted the SWPL2 trophy last month. The move to host their home matches there is a positive one according to Forrest. “Cove is a great facility and there is a great set up there for what we need. The league have set criteria, which is good for maintaining standards and a part of that is letting fans in and having appropriate seating, so I’m really excited about playing there and I think it will be good for us”.