Eilidh Shore believes Friday night’s Edinburgh Derby will be an extremely competitive match between two sides who have strengthened over the summer.
Eva Olid takes her side to Leith for the first derby of the SWPL season and Shore, who will be experiencing the fixture for the first time, following her summer move from Aberdeen, admits she’s looking forward to the occasion.
Speaking to the media at the pre-match press conference, the midfielder said:
“I think it’ll be a really competitive game. It’s two teams that have started the season strong and have improved their squads from last season. Both teams are going in to get the three points, which should hopefully make for an exciting match.
“At the end of the day, it’s just another game. The aim is the same, to go out and get those three points. The derby aspect adds a bit of extra pressure and motivation. Everyone is going to be up for it, it’s going to be a huge game and hopefully we can get the three points.
“It’s been different for me, but it’s been the step up that I’ve been looking for. Settling in has been made a lot easier with the players, they’ve been brilliant with all the new girls as have the staff. We’re starting to build those relationships, and I think you’re starting to see that."
It was a busy summer window for Olid's side with several new arrivals, but Shore explained she's learning plenty from her midfield partner Lisa Robertson and already feels right at home in maroon, following a successful pre-season camp in Spain.
“Playing in the middle of the park, I’m learning a lot from Lisa Robertson," Shore continued. "She’s a hugely experienced player, across a number of leagues. So, for me, having someone like that alongside me has been a huge benefit, so hopefully I can continue improving and learning from her.
“I think obviously with 11 new players, it’s going to take time to get to know each other on and off the pitch and build those relationships. So, to have that time away [in Spain] was good on the pitch, but also spending time together off the pitch was also very important.
"In terms of having intense training in the sun, it adds a bit more intensity to you pre-season, which is just what you need, so it was really beneficial for us.
You can watch Eilidh’s press conference in full over on the HMFC YouTube.
Free tickets for Friday’s match are available to purchase by clicking here.
