ACCIES ACE KIRSTY FLIES FLAG FOR SCOTS

Hamilton Accies Women star Kirstie Mcintosh says hard work has paid off, after making the Scotland squad for the Under-19 European Championships.

The midfielder’s red-hot form has paid dividends as she was included in Pauline Hamill’s squad for the finals, which will be held on home soil.

Scotland kicked off their Group A campaign against France in Paisley on Tuesday, and continue against Norway tomorrow (Friday) and the Netherlands on July 22.

A top-two finish would secure a semi-final berth for Hamill’s side, along with a spot at next year’s FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup.

As well as St Mirren Park, matches in the tournament will take place at Partick Thistle’s Firhill Stadium, Forthbank Stadium in Stirling, and St Johnstone’s Mcdiarmid Park in Perth.

Mcintosh is looking forward to the tournament and said: “When I found out I was just buzzing.

“I had been waiting on the call and was hopeful, but you never know, so when I knew I was going, I was really happy, because all my hard work had paid off.

“I have been working really hard at my game this season and have even been pitching up with a few goals, which I had never really done before.

“Sometimes I have been playing wide of a front three too, so I hope being versatile has helped me.”

Women’s football is really beginning to take off, and Mcintosh hopes to be able to play professionally in the coming years, but none of this would have been possible without years of graft.

Kirstie has been playing since the age of four, and now regularly takes coaching sessions for young children who are getting into the game for the first time.

She said: “I have been really lucky so far with my coaching.

“My first club, Whitburn Girls, were based locally to me in Bathgate, and they gave me confidence and belief.

“From there I went on to Linlitghgow Rose, who had a pretty impressive set-up, and it was so popular that we had two teams playing in the league.”

Kirstie then moved to Central Girls FA, where in a three-year spell she helped the team to a number of honours, including winning the treble.

Six months at Rangers followed, before she made the move to her current club, Hamilton Accies Women.

Kirstie took in Scotland’s Women’s World Cup match against Argentina in France, and says that has inspired her to want more from the game.

“It was amazing, really inspiring, and let me know there is a pathway there for me to go on to play at the very highest level,” she said.

“There are no professional clubs in Scotland, but there are more opportunities in England and abroad.

“My aim is 100 per cent to go on and play professional football one day.”