A long and winding road as Kerr reaches pinnacle
● New Scotland boss acknowledges how far the women’s game has come in this country but says even more can be done
Much has happened in Shelley Kerr’s life since she made her Scotland debut 28 years ago but the memories remain crystal clear. That means that she is perfectly placed to judge justhowfarthewomen’sgame in this country has come since.
For many the evolution has not happened swiftly enough nor has it extended far enough, with critics slamming what they believe to be paltry media coverage, a lack of credibility and limited financial backing. But while Kerr would love to wave a magic wand and shine a light on the burgeoning talent, introduce professional leagues into the Scottish game and add strength, depth and monetary weight to the game here, she says people have to recognise that huge strides have been taken.
“I got my first Scotland cap, against England, in 1989 and the changes are massive since then. We played at Stark’s Park. We lost 3-0 and I came on as a striker, though I was a centreback. We didn’t have as many games back then but we met in a hotel just the same, trained and then had the game.”
The ambition back then was to improve and develop and that is one of the few things to remain constant, according to the woman who has been appointed as the new head coach of the Scotland women’s national team.
Back then she combined playing with working in a factory and most her team-mates performed a similar juggling act. Now, almost three decades on, attitudes and opportunities are professional. The women she will now try to successfully guide through the World Cup qualifying campaign train on an almost daily basis, matching the regimes, without reaping the rewards, of many of the topflight men’s teams. They take full advantage of nutritional information, sports science and strength and conditioning knowhow and many have made a career in the game, signing for professional clubs in USA, Iceland, Scandinavia and England.
“There have been massive changes and we are always trying to improve. We are talking aboutprofessionalleaguesbut we have to remember where we came from. Even back in 2001/2002, Scotland were still a B category team. We had to beat Wales and I was in the team. We felt under so much pressure because it was so significant. That is not that long ago and that has been a major turning point. We were successful and became an A category team. A lot of good work has been done in the women’s game since then. We just need to make sure we continue in the same vein.”
Kerr knows that she is returning to the women’s game at positive time. This summer will be spent participating in the European Championships, in Holland. There Kerr will be no more than a highly interested cheerleader as current coach Anna Signeul sees out her contract and Kerr works her notice at Stirling University, where she has spent the past three years in charge of the men’s Lowland League side.
It is only after that tournament is over that Kerr