This years’ Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week is being held from Monday 6th to Sunday 12th of October.
This week marks an awareness campaign dedicated to promoting and celebrating the involvement of females in all levels of sport and physical activity.
It aims to highlight the achievements of women and girls in sport, from grassroots to elite level, whilst also encouraging greater participation in physical activity by addressing barriers such as gender stereotypes, access and representation.
The campaign also helps support gender equity in sport organisations, leadership roles, coaching and media coverage, whilst helping to inspire the next generation of young girls to take up sport in any form by showing role models and positive stories within the game.
As part of Scottish Women & Girls in Sport week, we sat down with St Johnstone WFC captain Hannah Clark to talk about her pathway in sport, her love of football and the importance of friendships in the game.
What are your earliest memories of sport?
I have been brought up in a family that loves football, my dad especially. I have two older brothers who never had an interest in football, so I was almost my dad’s last hope!
At school I always played with the boys. I was the only girl who wanted to play football. I actually remember being told I wasn’t allowed to play with the boys anymore and I had a big meeting with the school. Even the boys wanted me to keep on playing.
The boys used to come to our door to get me out to play and my mum would always shout on my brothers, but it was me they wanted to play football with!
I went along to Glenrothes Rovers with my friend Robbie. They didn’t have a girls’ team at the time so I went along to their training for a wee while.
Eventually the first girls’ team I signed for was Glenrothes Rovers when they launched their team. I played with them for a good few years and it all started from there.
Was it always football that you wanted to get into?
To be honest, no. You always hear of footballers starting from a young age kicking a ball around but things were pretty late for me.
I never joined a team until I was 11 or 12. From then I knew it was something I wanted to pursue, but before that I didn’t really have my heart set on it.
I have always had in my head the realism that it is very difficult to make a career out of football. That goes for men’s and women’s football.
I concentrated on school because I knew I would have to have a separate career on the side of football.
How proud are you of your career in football so far?
I am very proud. Perth has become a second home to me. It is 10 years this year since I have been playing my football in the city.
I can’t imagine being anywhere else or being surrounded by any other players. It has just become home.
I don’t think it is just because I am comfortable where I am, St Johnstone Football Club just means so much to me. The club has been such a big part of my life.
My time at the club has taught me so much about football but life in general too. My football has shaped me into the person that I am today.
Making friends for life…
Through sport, there are girls that I have been friends with since I was at Glenrothes Strollers or Raith Rovers.
We have been in each other’s lives for such a long time so we are so close as friends as well as teammates. The friendships that you make are special. The girls mean so much to me.
It is not just football where we speak, we go out and do things together as well outside of football. It is so much more than just being on a team together.
It is a support system for everyone. Making the bonds and friendships it is so much more than just playing football together.
How does it feel being captain of the club?
It is something that I am very proud of. I am not shy in admitting that. I know it is a big responsibility, not only representing St Johnstone, but the city of Perth.
While having that responsibility, it is important to not let it take over. I don’t let it weigh me down.
At the end of the day I am just a teammate to everyone, and hopefully I can be a role model to others. It is important that all the girls feel comfortable coming to me and being able to speak openly.
What’s your life like outside of football?
I’m currently not working as I am at home looking after my mum because she is waiting on an operation. I am caring for her.
Family comes before anything. My dad is here too so it means I can go away and play my football and do other things.
My mum is able to manage about the place and do things, but for me it is obviously a big worry. I don’t want her doing too much.
It is nice to come to training and switch off for a few hours. The past year, especially, to have that escape and switch off from everything else is nice.
A message to any aspiring sportsperson?
Just do it. Get involved. You don’t have anything to lose, you have so much to gain.
Women’s football is becoming massive. It is bigger now than it ever has been.
The only person holding yourself back is you, just go out there and enjoy yourself.
