FOOTBALL ACE ON FAMILY SPORTING GENES
Sunday Mail
Former rugby star John Beattie, now a sports pundit and radio presenter, played for Scotland 25 times as well as representing the British Lions.
But a knee injury forced him to retire from the game in the run- up to the inaugural World Cup.
Now Jenny, whose brother Johnnie also played international rugby, is hoping she will help the Scots to qualify for their f irst FIFA Women’s World Cup in France next year.
They currently sit in second place in their group and play two vital games over the next three weeks that could see them earn the place. And her dad will be among the team’s most ardent fans.
Jenny, 27, of Glasgow, said: “My dad never got the chance to take part in a World Cup because of injury.
“We are not the kind of family who compare what we have
done against each other
but taking part in a World Cup would be really amazing.
“My dad is cheering all the girls on and, like everyone else, is hoping we qualify.”
John said: “I’m incredibly proud of all Jenny has achieved – and delighted for her that football has taken her all over the world.”
Jenny, who play s for Manchester City Women, said she never felt any pressure to follow in her father’s footsteps as she was growing up.
Her earliest memories are of playing a variety of sports in her back garden with Johnnie, now 33, and sister, Julie, 29. She spent her chi ldhood playing in boys’ teams, including with Hamilton Academical.
Jenny went on to sign for Queen’s Park Ladies, Celtic Ladies, Arsenal Ladies and French team Montpelier HSC, before signing for Manchester City Women in 2015.
Johnnie played his last rugby game for Scotland in 2015 after earning 38 caps – but none of them at a World Cup. He now captains French second division side Bayonne.
The family’s sporting genes have had much more to do with Jenny’s success than any pushy parenting.
She said: “As much as I come from the most supportive family in the world, dad was not the type of guy to push us. He let us pick the paths we wanted to.”
Scotland, coached by Shelley Kerr, need to beat the leaders of their qual i fying group, Switzerland, by at least two goals at St Mirren Park, Paisley, on August 30. The match will be broadcast live on BBC Alba.
They then need to beat Albania away on September 4, a team they previously beat 5- 0 at home.
Jenny is in no doubt qualifying would give women’s football in Scotland a huge boost.
She said: “In England, we have clubs playing in the Champions League in front of crowds of up to 30,000, which wouldn’t have happened five or 10 years ago.
“Qualifying for the World Cup would be wonderful for the game in Scotland and for the next generation of players coming through.”