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An evening with Rose – Part One

(Rose pictured here with our Blantyre Volunteer Team)

For those who don’t know who Rose Reilly, let’s hope this short series will help you to understand the legendary sporting figure in Scotland and her journey from childhood to footballing icon.

From cutting her hair to play with the boys as a child to becoming an ‘unofficial’ World Champion with Italy, this is the remarkable story of Rose and her passion and journey through football and sport, told by herself to our Blantyre Club members at a recent visit.

In Rose’s words, her time with our members shared - “All the good bits that The Scottish Football Hall of Fame missed out”.

The wee lassie from Stewarton - How it REALLY started 

Rose recounted how, aged about three, she wandered away from the family home one day, only to be found by her mother at the local football pitch – which is now the Rose Reilly Sports Centre in Stewarton. 

Back in the day though, that’s where Rose started playing football on the pitch which was at that time made of red ash and…glass.  She reckons she’s still got bits of glass in her knees from that time! 

It was there when aged around six that Rose was asked to play for the local boys football team. Back then there just wasn’t any women’s football at all, so in order to play and stay under the gender radar, off Rose went to the local barber shop herself.  She said: “Ma Mum said I’ve to get a short back and sides to play for the boys football team” - and as everyone knew her in the small town anyway, she confidently added - “She’ll bring the money later” as of course, Rose didn’t have any herself. 

Out she stepped with the lovely wee boys haircut to henceforth be known as Ross. Rose’s Mum, however, was less than delighted and according to Rose “Nearly killed the barber and her - never ever paying the poor for the short back and sides” - But that was the start of her footballing journey.

Santa got it wrong 

At home though, nothing changed for Rose.  Her Mum did not want her playing football.  It just wasn’t the ‘done thing’, but Rose never gave up dreaming.  One of her early letters to Santa asked for a football, only to be disappointed when there on Christmas morning was a doll.  On going out to play later that Christmas day, she met a wee boy who had been given a football but wanted Rose’s doll so they swapped.  She was so pleased with her swap that she slept with it beside her for two reasons - 1) She was in love with it and 2) She was afraid her Mum would take confiscate it. 

Factory Football 

In the 1960’s there were 35 wool factories in Stewarton.  Buses used to come from all over the valleys with women to work in the factories.  Someone came up with the idea to start a Women’s football team for charity to create funds for the community.  Rose, as ever, had her ear to the football ground and heard about this.  She was still only seven or so but undeterred, she went to the park to ask if she could play.  She was told she was too small and to come back in two years. So, two years and half a second later, she was back and started playing with the ladies. This was her first experience of being in a dressing room and she had never seen any women including her Mother in any sort of state of undress.  She was amazed to see the women with “these great big Playtex bras on” IYKYK. 

The girl who impressed Celtic

Despite her Mum’s protestations, Rose was also playing for the boys’ team regularly, with there being one game in particular that Rose recalled when she had run riot and scored eight goals. It just so happened that there was a scout from Celtic FC at that game looking for future talent. 

He asked about “that wee laddie scoring all the goals”, upon being told it was a girl, he couldn’t sign her and Rose was absolutely gutted. That was probably the first time of many that gender created an insurmountable barrier to progress.  But there is a sweet sting in this tale as you’ll find out in part two.