Jags striker Cara Henderson has revealed how a pep talk from Jags legends Alan Rough and Alex Rae have sent the women’s team into tomorrow’s Sky Sports Cup final believing anything is possible.
Brian Graham’s side have made history by becoming the first Thistle team to make it to a cup final for 53 years. It is also the first time the women’s team have made it to a national final.
Henderson was at Firhill a few weeks back as she shared a hospitality table with PLZ pundit Rough and Rae with the 1971 Scottish League Cup winners offering a few motivational tips ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Tynecastle.
“I have watched highlights of that final,” said striker Henderson. “I felt really lucky to be sitting with Alan and Alex a few weeks back and they had some really brilliant anecdotes about that day and the game itself.
From the heroes of 1971 to heroes-to-be of 2024#BePartOfThis pic.twitter.com/fZWk49WV1R
— Partick Thistle Women's FC (@ThistleWFC) March 22, 2024
“No-one fancied them to beat Celtic – or to beat Celtic by the scoreline that they did.
“They are still revered as legends for what they achieved that day and it is a real chance now for us to go and do something similar.
“But what was amazing for me was how supportive they are of us in the women’s team. They were genuinely enthused by the fact we are in this position and have made it to a final and it was fascinating to be able to get their advice.
“They have told us to enjoy it and that the game will probably pass by in a flash. We just want to go and make sure that we do ourselves justice and play to the levels we know that we can.
“The way they conducted themselves, the way they were so nice and encouraging to us felt like a special moment.
“They are icons here at Firhill but they had a real down-to-earthness about them.
“It would be amazing to try and follow in those kind of footsteps.
“The club in itself is so special. I would love to lift the trophy not just for me and for my team but for everyone behind the scenes. There is so much hard work that goes on that people don’t realise and there are so many people who have helped to get us here through giving up their own time and helping us get to this position.”
Thistle frustrated Rangers with a goalless draw last month but Henderson is well aware that the Jags will need to be able to cause problems of their own for Jo Potter’s side.
Rangers were on the end of their first defeat of the season last Sunday as Celtic beat them 2-1 to squeeze the gap at the top of the table to just one point with Celtic and City breathing down their necks.
How they cope with that will be interesting and, certainly, Thistle are keen to ask a few questions at Tynecastle on Sunday.
“It is about trying to be as calm as we can,” said Henderson. “There is a lot of noise around it but it is just a game of football.
“Rangers are one of the best teams in the country but if we didn’t believe we could do anything, what would be the point in truning up?
“We know we need to have an attacking edge and we know we need to try and give them something to think about too. We can’t just be content to try and frustrate them.”
Rangers midfielder Chelsea Cornet, meanwhile, has insisted that the Ibrox side have every intention of claiming a clean sweep this season.
This tournament was the club’s only trophy last term after they beat Hibs in the final. This season Cornet is aiming to use it as the catalyst for further success.
“Players love cup finals,” she said. “We are all buzzing and looking forward to it.
“We have lots of experience within our team. We want to retain the Cup and it’s a chance for every player to shine.
“It is massive. At a club like Rangers the aim is to win as much silverware as possible. To get our hands on the first piece of silverware that is available would be unbelievable.
“That would then put a real stamp on the rest of the teams in the league so they can look at know that we are not here to mess about.
“We don’t look to far ahead of ourselves but we know that [a domestic treble] is within our grasp.”
Download Our App!
Get Instant Access To The Latest Football News To Your Phone
