Fleming’s swansong

Keeper to retire after season

As the season resumes on Sunday for Hamilton Accies Women it’s the beginning of the final chapter in stalwart Elaine Fleming’s career.

The goalkeeper will end a 20year association with the New Douglas Park club at the end of the term, but for now she’s focused on Sunday’s Scottish Cup tie with Granite City.

It was before some of her current team-mates were born that a 15-year-old Fleming made her debut against an Ayr side that included Julie Fleeting, and a hat-trick from the soon-to-be Scotland superstar provided an introduction to the game.

Elaine now hopes she can mentor some of the club’s youngsters and help them in their own careers.

She said: “I had opportunities to go elsewhere but I’ve always been drawn to Accies. I feel like it’s a proper family and community club, and I’ve always enjoyed playing my football here.

“When I started playing away back it hadn’t really taken off as it has now.

“We began at the Jock Stein pitches and decided to start up a girls’ team.

“I was lucky to have the support of my parents and Ian Steele, our coach – if it wasn’t for Ian and all his advice throughout my career I might have drifted away from the game.”

Fleming has been impressed with how the game has changed in the 20 years she has been playing, and says that bodes well for the future.

She said: “You can see the professionalism slowly seeping into the game.

“When I started it was a largely recreational sport, but now there’s definitely a more professional mind-set.

“Even in the last seven years at Accies you can see the level of professionalism under Kevin Murphy and now Gary Doctor, and gym work we now do under Mark Mckenna.

“We all believe that we are probably as strong as weightlifters, and that is one of the reasons I am still playing as well.

“It is all about injury prevention, so I’ve been lucky in the last few seasons that I haven’t really had any serious injuries apart from thumbs and fingers.

“The bar is getting a lot higher, and if you’re a youngster making your way in the game there’s no reason why you can’t succeed if you work hard.”

Team spirit is also key, and Elaine adds: “I’ve been very lucky to have gelled with some good players in my time, who are also some of my best friends.

“Lindsay Hogg was a great centre-half for Accies and is still massively involved in the club.

“Claire Gemmell is now at Rangers, but was such an inspirational player to have on your side.

“I’d like to think younger players can look to me and think they can make it in the game. Goalkeeper Carys Hopkins is very talented and asks a lot of questions – she has a great future.”