Farrah's story

Farrah Mackenzie can attest to the power of football as well as anyone.

Health concerns and the pressures of everyday life got in the way of her love of the game.

Rediscovering that childhood passion – thanks to a chance Facebook post – has transformed Farrah and her family alike.

This is her story.

My name is Farrah Mackenzie and football saved my life.

That might sound dramatic but it’s no exaggeration.

My love of the game started back when I was in primary seven. I’d play every lunchtime at school, joining in with the boys because there wasn’t the number of keen girls at that point to allow for our own game.

I loved it. My Mum didn’t. No wonder, because I was consistently ruining my good school-shoes, so I nagged her in the end to find a proper team for me to play in.

I started to train with Dundee United Ladies, and I thought that was me.

Debilitating asthma in my teenage years wasn’t part of the plan. I ended up in hospital and on steroids for six months, which meant I couldn’t run or keep up with the rest of my team-mates. I got disheartened and stopped playing.

Truth be told, I never thought I’d get back to it. As the years went on, so did the weight.

Two years ago, I was back in hospital as a type two diabetic. The next step was being put on insulin unless there was a dramatic turnaround and the thought of that petrified me.

When you hear ‘insulin’, it’s the associated potential complications that hit home.

My eldest son is severely disabled. He will always need to live with me and my husband, so the thought that I’d potentially shaved 10 years off my life through poor lifestyle choices and wouldn’t be around to care for him was hard to take. I couldn’t – and can’t – afford to fail as his Mum.

I always made excuses for my deteriorating health as the busy mum and teacher who had to run a house. There was no time for me.

That culminated in me weighing 21 ½ stone, struggling to walk around the block without leaving myself out of breath. I remember climbing on a bike and feeling like I was going to have a heart attack after five minutes.

I looked at the kids and I looked in the mirror. I had to change and give that way of life the red card.

A year later I’d managed to lose two stone, but things had plateaued.

That’s when I saw a post on Facebook from Sam Milne, who is also from Carnoustie and works for the Scottish FA as Club Development Officer for girls’ and women’s football.

She was looking to start a women’s recreational football team locally – Carnoustie Panmure Women’s Rec.

My heart skipped a beat, and I knew right away that it could be a game-changer for me.

I was anxious about it. I thought I’d be the oldest there, the biggest and the slowest on the park, but I also knew I had to overcome that self-doubt and get back to doing something I loved so much as a kid.

Sam was so supportive when I told her about those nerves. Before we played our first game, she set up a Zoom call for everyone to ‘meet’ as a wider group and that took the edge off.

That first game? What a buzz. Don’t get me wrong, I was absolutely shattered but I was determined to keep going.

The second week wasn’t as successful. I didn’t warm-up properly and tore my quad running on to a pass.

Previously that would have been the perfect excuse for me to give up, but girls who I’d only known for a week rallied round and Sam put me in touch with a sports physio who was able to help me with a rehabilitation plan.

The others were always messaging or phoning, offering to take me for walks or a run when I was up to it again. I had six weeks of rehab for that five-inch tear and they kept me going, every step of the way.

I’d never felt part of a real team like that. I wasn’t just this one woman on my own trying to lose weight. I had a squad behind me.

What those girls did for me – then and since – I’ll never be able to repay them for.

Two years on and I’m six stone lighter. My diabetes is in remission and I’m off the vast majority of my medication.

My doctor can’t believe the turnaround in my physical and mental health.

That game we play on a Sunday night in Carnoustie really is the highlight of my week. It’s the one thing that I do for me.

It’s women empowering women and the banter is relentless, whether it’s on the pitch or in the ‘lively’ WhatsApp group chat. We’ve met up for Scotland games, gone for walks, pub lunches, nights out, you name it. It’s becoming something much bigger than a kickabout.

That was summed up when we had an awards night. I wasn’t expecting to win anything, so I offered to film the girls winning their awards, but ended up getting ‘most supportive player’.

I was in tears when they said my name. I know it’s just a wee trophy, but it means so much to me.

All I keep thinking is – despite them voting for me – that their support has been priceless. It’s given me the resilience and motivation to keep going. I want to get healthier every week because I want to play better, so I owe this way of life and this body to those girls.

We play at Hope Park and it’s fitting because that place has filled me with hope.

Not just me either. Our household now plays football five days a week. My husband has joined the men’s recreational game that’s appeared on the back of our one and my son plays for an autism-friendly team.

I’ve also started to coach at the primary school in Arbroath where I teach, with 43 girls signing up after the initial message went out. Sam’s given me loads of drills and I’ve been able to point the girls who are really keen in the direction of suitable local teams.

The kids call me Messi Mackenzie. I know I’m still a work in progress but I’m happy. I’m proud of where I am.

I’m no longer the fat girl. I’m the football girl.

I don’t recognise myself. The journey has completely changed me and my passion for football is now 10 times stronger than it ever was. I used to play in goal because that’s where I thought someone of my size should play. Now I play up front and score goals.

I used to have to fake confidence. Now it’s real confidence. I used to hate my body. Now I love it.

What Sam and the others have done for me is beyond words. Nothing I say here will do her justice.

She keeps saying the team makes the team, but there was no team without her. She’s more like a mentor – on top of being a phenomenal player and a phenomenal coach.

She is the type of coach I want to be. With an obvious love of the game, passion and empathy for others that spreads like wildfire. She’s an inspiration.

You might be reading this and be in a similar situation to the one I was in. You might have played football before, or maybe you’ve never had a kick.

If you think you can’t, I promise you can. I couldn’t tie my shoelaces without being out of breath, but now I have a new wardrobe and a new mindset.

One weekly kickabout has saved my life. It can do the same for you.

Get involved

If you’ve been inspired by Farrah’s story and want to get involved in football, at any age or stage, click here to find contact details for our regional staff in your area.

They’ll be only too happy to point you in the right direction.

Power of football

Football has the power to do so much good by enriching and improving life in Scotland every day. It brings communities closer together, it builds relationships that will last a forever and it is a lifeline for so many who need it.

We want to help tell unique stories from every corner of the Scottish game. Is someone in your community making a difference through football? A character who's the heart and soul of your club? An individual in need of a pick-me-up? Let us know via story@scottishfa.co.uk.

Click here to learn more about the power of football in Scotland.