Treble-winning Lee expects tougher test next season

Nov 21 2012 by Paul Thomson, East Kilbride News

Lee Alexander expects a tougher challenge next season – after her Glasgow City side clinched a domestic treble last week.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper, from Stewartfield, helped the Scottish champions lift the league title and league cup and last weekend they completed a clean sweep with a 1-0 win over Forfar in the Scottish Cup Final.

City last won the treble in 2009 and have now become the only women’s side ever to complete the feat twice.

They have dominated the women’s game in recent years, winning the last six titles in a row and this season won the league by 16 points from Forfar. However, Lee believes the gap between City and the rest is closing and she expects more from her opponents in 2013.

She said: “It’s a brilliant achievement and it makes it even more special to be part of a team that made history.

“But I expect next season to be a lot tougher.

“The teams around us are getting stronger, you just have to look at Forfar.

“Last season they were fifth and a good bit away from us, but this season they finished second and closed the gap.

“It’s only a matter of time before some of the other clubs join them and that can only be good for women’s football.

“This season was a bit different with the league splitting halfway through so all the top sides played each other in the run in. The standard is improving all the time, so hopefully we can still win the league next season.”

After becoming the first choice keeper at the start of the season, Lee missed a large chunk of 2012 through injury, so she is keen to regain the No 1 jersey from Claire Johnstone ahead of the 2013 campaign, which kicks-off in March.

The former Calderglen High School pupil added: “I started every game right through until May but then I got injured.

“And even when I got fit again another knock or two came up and I was out again, so hopefully next season I can stay fully fit and work my way back to where I was.

“We have a tough pre-season and everyone is looking forward to another crack at the Champions League.”