Project was not Brave enough to include women
It’s good to see Project Brave making headway with the clubs. Change is due. Let’s just hope it’s not an opportunity lost that they haven’t included the women’s game anywhere near it.
In the Performance Strategy document there’s a line that clearly states: “The scope of this review does not include women’s football. There will be a separate review carried out later in 2016 by the Scottish FA.”
Obviously we’re into 2017 now and there’s no sign of that – but I’m sure they’ll give it their all when they get round to it.
My question is more why they didn’t see this as the perfect chance to integrate men’s and women’s football.
If clubs are having to submit a bid for academy status under these new proposals, why shouldn’t they have a girls’ and women’s pathway as part of that commitment?
What a revolution that would be for our game, if the girls had access to the same infrastructure, if clubs underline their commitment to the women’s game at a fundamental level like that.
A lot of the clubs already have women’s teams integrated into their set-ups anyway – some are more committed than others – but it would make sense for them to be part of the structure from the bottom up, not just the top down.
At the younger age groups, I’m a believer in the games being mixed anyway, pretty much right up to the point where you’re not allowed any more.
Certainly all I knew as a kid was playing in boys’ teams, albeit I was the only girl in the line-ups.
But it was huge in my development as a young player and I know the likes of Kim Little and Erin Cuthbert, who’s coming through now, have been the same.
This is more about the integration of the game and the advantages that would bring though.
Giving girls access to the infrastructure, to the better coaching promised by Project Brave, to be part of a club at its foundations.
Maybe Glasgow City would have given them a problem because they’re a stand-alone women’s club and obviously our most successful one.
With their independence, how do you then integrate them into an academy structure?
But for others it would be far more straightforward.
Some of our teams already get more funding and back-up than others.
Some will just give the girls the badge and the name then let them get on with it.
But I know when I was at Celtic they gave us the use of the facilities, they were supportive, and they now get a box to watch the men’s team on a Saturday. The girls feel part of the club, no question.
And having come from Arsenal, where you were very well looked after by the club, Celtic were going in the same direction.
The Gunners were fantastic. When the men won a cup they went on an open top bus round north London. But we were on it too after winning our own league.
It showcased us as part of the success story.
It was nice to hear the applause of the fans, who supported the club as a whole. It made you feel like you were playing for Arsenal, not just Arsenal Ladies.
Anyway, if the die is cast and we’re not part of this review then hopefully the one they are conducting on our behalf is as committed and detailed as Project Brave.
If ever there’s a time to do it, it’s now, when we’re staring at an era of transition after the Euros in the summer.
We’ve already spoken about the professional attitudes Anna Signeul brought with her when she became Scotland boss.
It would be fitting if what the SFA are doing now reflected her legacy.
All I knew as a kid was playing in boys’ teams, albeit I was the only girl in the line-up