Let’s hear it for the girls
Ben Ramage chats to the players making their mark on women’s football across Renfrewshire
Check out our new feature – Spotlight on women’s’ football
With all the action on the pitch coming to an abrupt halt, we thought there was no better time to get to know the players behind our women’s football teams.
Each week we will speak to players from clubs around Renfrewshire to learn about why they fell in love with the game, their favourite players and teams and their most treasured memory so far.
We’ll also discover what their work is off the pitch as they combine their love of the sport with their full-time jobs.
This week we caught up with St Mirren defender Karen McCabe, Renfrew midfielder and skipper Ruadh Houston and Bishopton captain and centre back Colleen Donnelly.
Karen McCabe
ST MIRREN - KAREN MCCABE
NAME, AGE AND WHERE FROM:
Karen McCabe, 25, from Balloch
POSITION:
Centre half
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING THE BEAUTIFUL GAME?
I’ve been playing since I was about five, so probably about 20 years!
HOW LONG HAVE YOU PLAYED FOR YOUR CURRENT TEAM? DID YOU PLAY FOR ANYONE ELSE BEFORE THEM?
I’m currently in my second season at St Mirren, having signed from Glasgow Girls a few years ago.
WHY DID YOU PICK UP THE SPORT? DID ANYONE INSPIRE YOU TO DO SO?
A few friends and I decided to start a football team in my local area, mainly just to give us something to do I’d like to say it was my dad that inspired me to play football, but really it was Roberto Carlos!.
WHAT’S YOUR JOB OUTSIDE OF FOOTBALL? HOW LONG HAVE YOU DONE IT AND DO YOU ENJOY IT?
I’m a technical manager. I have been doing it for almost four years now and I absolutely love it!?
FAVOURITE PLAYER?
I’d have to say Alan Archibald when he was still at his peak. He was an incredible player for my team.
FAVOURITE TEAM IN FOOTBALL?
Partick Thistle
PROUDEST MOMENT IN THE SPORT SO FAR?
I’d have to say getting to Hampden with my school team. That was an amazing moment to play in that historic stadium.
WHAT IS YOUR AMBITION FOR YOURSELF IN FOOTBALL? I would love to lift a trophy with my club St Mirren. Fingers crossed we can do that soon!
Colleen Donnelly
BISHOPTON - COLLEEN DONNELLY
NAME, AGE AND WHERE FROM: Colleen Donnelly, 31, from Paisley
POSITION: Centre Half
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING THE BEAUTIFUL GAME? I’ve played football since I was about eight, with a six-year break when I was 19.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU PLAYED FOR YOUR CURRENT TEAM? DID YOU PLAY FOR ANYONE ELSE BEFORE THEM?
I’ve been playing for Bishopton for around five years, since the team was actually formed. (However long have we been formed)
Before that I played for Paisley City Ladies, formerly known as Arthurlie Ladies and Blackstoun United Boys.
WHY DID YOU PICK UP THE SPORT? DID ANYONE INSPIRE YOU TO DO SO?
Being the only girl with five big brothers I didn’t really have a choice! But it was the best choice I could have had.
WHAT’S YOUR JOB OUTSIDE OF FOOTBALL? HOW LONG HAVE YOU DONE IT AND DO YOU ENJOY IT?
I’m deputy general manager of a restaurant in Glasgow called the Raven in Renfield Street. I’ve been there since I was 18 while at college, have worked my way up and I still really enjoy it.
FAVOURITE PLAYER?
It has got to be king Henrik Larsson. I’d also say Erin Cuthburt, who is doing ladies football and scotland proud!
FAVOURITE TEAM IN FOOTBALL?
Celtic
PROUDEST MOMENT IN THE SPORT SO FAR? When Bishopton Ladies won the League and being able to lift that trophy after all our hard work over the years.
WHAT IS YOUR AMBITION FOR YOURSELF IN FOOTBALL.
Being older I’ve pretty much done all I can do. I want to keep enjoying it until my old legs stop me but I also want to encourage other females to take up the sport, especially my daughter and make it bigger and better than it already is.
Ruadh Houston
RENFREW LADIES - RUADH HOUSTON
NAME, AGE AND WHERE FROM: Ruadh Houston, 31, from Falkirk originally but now living in Glasgow.
POSITION:
Centre midfield
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING THE BEAUTIFUL GAME? I’ve been playing since I could walk really! I signed for Falkirk when I was eight-years-old and have never stopped since then.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU PLAYED FOR YOUR CURRENT TEAM? DID YOU PLAY FOR ANYONE ELSE BEFORE THEM?
This is my third season at Renfrew Ladies, but I’ve played at a lot of other clubs too.Before Renfrew I played for Falkirk, Rangers, Hamilton, Preston Lions and Stirling University.
WHY DID YOU PICK UP THE SPORT? DID ANYONE INSPIRE YOU TO DO SO?
I think the sport picked me to be honest. I have been playing since I could walk.
There was always football on the television growing up because my dad and both my grans loved it. Football has always been a massive part of my life.
WHAT’S YOUR JOB OUTSIDE OF FOOTBALL? HOW LONG HAVE
YOU DONE IT AND DO YOU ENJOY IT?
I’m a sales and marketing manager. I’ve been doing it for six years and I love it.
FAVOURITE PLAYER? My favourite players are Ronaldinho and Zinedine Zidane. I also love Kim Little because I think what she has achieved in the game is incredible.
FAVOURITE TEAM IN FOOTBALL?
Arsenal.
I fell in love with the Invincibles team in 2003/04 and I have followed them ever since.
PROUDEST MOMENT IN
THE SPORT SO FAR?
I’m going to cheat because I actually have two.
The first would be my first season at Rangers, the year their women’s team was formed.
We won the First Division unbeaten and got to the Scottish Cup final. We beat Spartans in the quarter-finals, who were one of the top teams in the Premier League at the time.
The other is when I was playing in Australia. It was always my dream to play abroad and I’m so glad I managed to achieve that.
WHAT IS YOUR AMBITION FOR YOURSELF IN FOOTBALL?
I would love to help Renfrew get into the Premier League.