The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Player sings praises of club’s trailblazing duo
much wasn’t any women’s football in Scotland 25 years ago. Carol Ann and Laura have done a fantastic job from what was a massive uphill struggle and they helped change everything.
“In the early days, when they talked about reaching the Champions League, it seemed like a pipe dream to many people. But that didn’t stop them.
“It reminds me of the days (in the early 1980s) when Fergie used to tell the Dons players he wanted the club to dominate in Europe.
Not everybody believed he could do it either but look at how things turned out.
“I’ve been at Glasgow City since 2015 and I know this chance came about because of what Carol Ann and Laura did to bring their dream to fruition.”
The TV show reveals the motivation which drove on the duo, and the scepticism and downright hostility they occasionally endured earlier in their lives.
Stewart, 53, said: “I just remember thinking ‘I’ve got to change it. I’ve just got to do something to make this possible and keep pushing forwards, as it’s not fair’.”
Montgomery, 44, was equally passionate about tearing down old prejudices and encouraging inclusivity.
She said: “Even as a young kid, I would never accept girls shouldn’t be allowed to do something. Even though everyone perceived that as the norm, I certainly didn’t and I set out to change it.”
The women revealed they were very close to giving it all up due to personal problems at the height of the club’s success in 2016.
Montgomery’s partner of 16 years, Kat Linder, was struggling with mental health illness and Stewart’s brother was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
They discussed whether they could continue running the club as they wanted to be there for their loved ones. Although they worked hard to meet everybody’s needs, there was no happy ending for those closest to them.
Stewart’s brother died in
August 2017, aged 48, and last February Montgomery received the devastating news her partner had killed herself.
She said: “The day Kat died is the worst day of my life. She was my world.
“When something good happens to me, the only person I want to tell is Kat, but she’s not there to tell anymore.
“It is really challenging and I really miss her.”
The Women Who Built Glasgow City is on BBC Alba on Sunday at 9pm.