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World Cup Winner wows Corkerhill Club

Members had the pleasure to welcome one of Scotland finest women footballers and World Cup winner Rose Reilly to the Corkerhill Hub recently. Rose was in conversation with fellow former footballer Davie McKinnon as they gave our members a wonderful hour outlining her career in football. 

Davie is a regular guest at our Corkerhill club and often shares anecdotes of his days as a professional football, turning out for Dundee, Partick Thistle, Rangers, Airdrieonians, Kilmarnock and Forfar Athletic before embarking on footballing managerial positions and a media career. 

During Davie’s latest visit, he was joined by Rose and spoke in length with her. Rose began by sharing her background, having been born and raised in Stevenson, Ayrshire and finding her footballing legs at six years of age when she impressed the local boys youth team coach team. He asked her to play for them.  

However, there was a caveat; she had to get a boys haircut and call herself Ross! No bother for Rose but when a Celtic youth scout spotted the talented player the truth had to come out and, of course, she was passed over. Bear in mind here that Celtic FC thought she was a first-class player! 

At just 17 and having already played 10 games for the Scotland Women’s team Rose moved abroad to become a professional footballer. She started off with Reims in France, winning a League title, before moving to AC Milan. During her time in Italy, Rose won eight Serie A titles, four Italian Cups and was twice Serie A Golden Boot winner. At her peak in 1983, She captained Italy and scored one of the goals as the Azzurri defeated the USA to lift the Women’s World Cup in front of a 90,000 crowd at China’s National Stadium. 

In the meantime, the Scottish FA handed Rose a lifetime ban from ever playing in a Scotland top! But that never stopped her. What became very clear during the entertaining evening was that Rose always had clear goals and never took ‘No’ for an answer. 

She was voted the world’s best female footballer in 1983 and the welcome in Scotland had thawed enough by 2007 for her to be inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame. She is one of only 14 football players and managers in the Hall of Fame. 

This 30-minute programme available on BBC iPlayer shares Rose’s story very well and is worth a watch. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0frxp4c/icons-of-football-series-1-3-rose-reilly 

A Scottish footballing icon indeed.