Rangers are making a bold move to deepen the connection between their men’s and women’s teams by bringing the women’s home matches to the historic Ibrox Stadium for the 2025-26 season. The club hopes the magnetism of the iconic venue will help grow attendance, attract new fans already loyal to the men’s team, and make the women’s squad an even more desirable destination for top-tier talent. The move reflects a broader ambition to elevate the women’s game, not just within the club, but across Scottish football. While fixtures will still need to accommodate the men’s team and may occasionally revert to Broadwood Stadium, the plan marks a major shift in strategy.
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The club has already tested the waters, with four Rangers WFC matches hosted at Ibrox last season. Their usual home at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, located roughly 15 miles outside Glasgow’s center, has long presented a logistical challenge for supporters. Managing director of women’s football Donald Gillies sees the return to Ibrox as a necessary step to remove those barriers. “The thought behind coming back to Ibrox more often is really about trying to connect with more supporters who are engaged with Rangers,” he said. “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.”
Gillies is realistic about the potential fan crossover but remains optimistic. “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. But we know so many of them are passionate about the club and would support a basketball team if it was Rangers!” he joked.
Beyond fans, the club also sees Ibrox as a major draw for potential signings. For professional players, the chance to play regularly in front of nearly 50,000 seats, in one of football’s most revered venues, can be career-defining. “It’s a far greater proposition to be able to try and entice them in,” said Gillies. “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.”
Still, the move won’t be entirely seamless. Fixture clashes with the men’s unpredictable domestic and European schedules mean that some matches will still need to be staged at Broadwood. “The SWPL recognise what we’re trying to do,” Gillies noted, “but we need to operate within the boundaries that the league set in terms of Ibrox as our home stadium.”
Amidst the stadium changes, the team is also hunting for a new head coach after Jo Potter’s departure to Crystal Palace. “The timing isn’t ideal,” admitted Gillies, “but there are still a number of free agents that could help the process move a lot quicker.” With the season set to begin on 17 August, Rangers are working swiftly to ensure everything is in place for a strong start in what could be a landmark year for the women’s side.