Who knew a kickabout in Carnoustie could make such a massive impact in the lives of those taking part?
Scottish FA Club Development Officer Sam Milne had given up on ever kicking a ball again until watching Scotland in the Women's World Cup sparked an incredible comeback story.
The inspiration behind women's recreational football in her hometown of Carnoustie, Sam has transformed the fortunes of new team-mates who quickly became lifelong friends.
On International Women's Day, this is her story.
After a career-ending injury at 28, getting treatment for skin cancer and becoming a mother of two, I thought I was finished playing football.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
I’m a Club Development Officer for girls’ and women’s football at the Scottish FA, covering Tayside and Fife – one of the six regions across the country.
My role is primarily funded by the Cashback for Communities fund and the main goal is to increase participation, support local clubs with their infrastructure, help increase the number of volunteers in the game and generally increase opportunities for girls within football.
I also volunteer at Carnoustie Panmure Football Club, where we have a women’s recreational football programme.
An extended group of around 45 of us play on Sunday nights. A bit of coaching and then a game.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoy it and how much I appreciate it. Especially when I thought I’d packed my football boots away for good.
Football has been a massive part of my life for as long as I can remember. Since I was old enough to walk.
I played for Forfar Farmington in the top-flight of the women’s game here. At least until a major knee injury in 2012 when I tore my ACL, meniscus and MCL.
I was told that was it. I’d never play again.
I was 28 years old and, deep down, accepted it. Two years later I got the crazy, unexpected news that I had skin cancer. Then, in 2016, I became a mother for the first time.
Looking back, what made it worse was losing the changing room. I went from playing seven days a week with the same group of 18 girls to… nothing. I lost friendships. Everything I knew and lived for.
Fast forward to June 2019 and I remember watching Scotland against Argentina in the Women’s World Cup. For some reason I had so much built-up energy and didn’t know what to do with it. So that night I went for a run, to the surprise of everyone in the house.
It was 1k and it took me 11 minutes. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
My knee was a bit sore but it helped my head, so I gradually stepped it up and started to wonder if there were others out there in a similar situation.
I knew about women’s recreational football in Dunfermline, Glenrothes and Kinross, but these sessions were all an hour-and-a-half away. So I thought ‘let’s see what’s out there in my little town’ and posted a message in the local Facebook group, explaining my own circumstances.
Within two days we had 45 women signed up.
Before that first night, I remember feeling so nervous. I didn’t know if I’d be able to play, or how good these other women would be. So many different stories – bad injuries, some who hasn’t played since school, some who had never played at all.
We had a Zoom call before that first night to try and break down everyone’s little barriers and then on to the first training session.
On paper, none of us would have had any reason to know each other. Football brought us together and we haven’t missed a session in two years.
It seemed to strike a chord. Maybe because there’s no commitment, so you’re not letting anyone down if you can come one week and not the next. You’re still part of the group.
Football became a bit of a by-product to the friendships that were created. It went beyond the pitch to pizza nights, trips to the theatre and all sorts of other activities.
We realised even the WhatsApp group was a huge benefit for so many women in the town.
It’s one of those group chats that’s always on the go. I think, writing this, there’s been about 600 messages in the last two days alone.
There’s never been a single bit of negativity and that’s so important. I’m really proud of the strong culture they’ve all helped create.
It’s women supporting women. There’s advice and chat around any sort of topic you could possibly imagine. It’s heart-warming to see people rally round the way they do. Some of these women haven’t been to sessions in a few weeks but we’re here for them if and when they’re ready.
There’s a space for everyone. It doesn’t matter what level you’re at.
We do a light training session for half an hour that covers the basics. Some people have been happy just joining in with that and not, at least initially, sticking around for the game and that’s absolutely fine. We have water breaks every 15 minutes so that people can head home or jump in. Not everyone can spare that full hour and a half when they have busy lives.
The biggest win for me is seeing their confidence develop. Seeing people come out of their shell. I think that comes from being part of a wider group. Football is the vehicle for that.
Football’s all I’ve ever known. I’ve played or worked in it, in some capacity, for my whole adult life. So it’s fantastic to see so many women experience for the first time what I’ve known my whole life.
Helping to set up that game is the best thing I’ve ever done and my mindset has completely changed as a result.
I accepted I was done at 28. Then when I was told I had cancer, I thought that really was it. That’s a scary thought. I’m nearly 40 now and convinced I could still play at a decent level.
I don’t see an end now. I want to still be playing at 60 or 70, even if it’s walking football. There are so many formats and we need to keep finding new ways to keep people engaged with the game.
Word is spreading and new games are springing up all the time. In Tayside and Fife, we now have 27 centres for around 600 players. Each month we run a festival so the different groups can play against each other and the last one was fully booked inside 20 minutes of going live. It’s the same across Scotland.
I hope this will strike a chord with someone who is maybe in the situation I was in, or just fancies giving something new a try.
The best thing you can do is to get in touch with the Club Development Officer in your region. They’ll be able to point you in the right direction.
Remember, it’s non-committal and the barrier of cost has dropped significantly. The games also tend to be held on nights that might suit your lifestyle, as we find Fridays and Sundays maybe suit mums best.
Take the first step. If you’re nervous, find the leader of the game and tell them that. They’ll allay any fears you might have over a coffee.
Football is for everyone.
Get involved
If you’ve been inspired by Sam’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 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.