THE last fortnight has brought massive gains for women’s football in Scotland, and not just because the national team qualified for their first World Cup.

On Wednesday, Glasgow City moved towards their first Champions League last-16, appearance for four seasons when they won the away leg against Somatio Barcelona 2-0. It was a fine result against a physically tough team.

Equally encouraging was that BBC Scotland gave this game the online treatment it deserved. But the biggest plaudits go to their counterparts BBC Alba, whose commitment to televise games live has really been ramped up.

Over the next seven weeks the station will be screening four more domestic games as well as Glasgow City’s home leg against Somatio on September 27. That’s a schedule that was unimaginable even a month ago.

Alba, as before, will cover the SSE Scottish Women’s Cup final, but prior to that will have Friday night coverage of three SWPL1 games. There are only four weeks left in the league season, and the games have not yet been announced, but it is a certainty that the likely title decider between City and Hibernian will be one.

There were some, present company included, who questioned the wisdom of televising games which are only being watched by tiny numbers of spectators, but the first game chosen, Forfar Farmington versus Hibs, was a hit. As head coach Mark Nisbet had gleaned in the days ahead of the game, the fact it was going to be televised actually persuaded many more people to turn up at Station Park.

The outcome was a record crowd of 352 – set against the average attendance this season of around 100. The coverage itself was imaginative and included an engaging half-time interview with long-time Forfar player Nicola Davidson.

Iseabail Mactaggart, the director of strategy and partnership at the television station, believes the live coverage has the potential to really grow the game.

“We’re trying to build up the profile,” Mactaggart said. “As Glasgow City say, ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’. We think giving the domestic game a national platform, free to air, with the iPlayer also available, will really raise the visibility. We’ve demonstrated with our coverage of rugby how that profile can grow spectators as well as TV audiences.

“What was wonderful about the coverage of the Forfar match was the record turnout. That's really exciting. I honestly can't see anything apart from growth, not just in terms of spectators, but also participation.

“One of the distinctive aspects of BBC Alba's sports coverage is what we do with the half-time features. We tell stories about communities and grassroots commitment to sports. That is enabling and opens doors.

“The long term nature of the deal is really important. It means the league can approach sponsors and work harder on the commercial aspects of the game. I view it as a partnership. It's in our interests the sport grows, and that's the spirit we're taking to the relationship.

“Also, if you forget about women's football, across the board in Scotland you don't see young women articulating themselves very often. To me it is empowering to let them have a platform.

“The players involved in these games are at the top of their field - and although the term role model is used a lot, they are fantastically powerful role models. For us to be able to give them this platform is very exciting.”