Emma Brownlie’s career is a collection of defining moments and experiences which have shaped her into the player she is today.
A trailblazer in her own right having been the first professional player at both Rangers and Hearts, Emma is now ready to create more moments at a club that has built a legacy on giving women and girls an opportunity to shine.
The 31-year-old defender has arrived at Petershill Park on a two-year deal, bringing vast experience with her from time playing in Scotland’s topflight and in England with Everton.
Between winning silverware and signing pioneering professional contracts, Brownlie has enjoyed a career characterised by success and trailblazing.
With many more moments sure to come in City colours, our latest recruit reflected on the route taken. A kaleidoscope of career highlights that has led to her arrival at The Peasy today.
Winning silverware
In Brownlie’s second spell at former club Hibernian, there is no denying she was part of a dominant side in Scotland’s cup competitions. Three years, and six trophies later, the defender developed a taste for silverware which has not diminished.
A first triumph saw Hibs lift the Scottish Cup in 2016, beating City on penalties, with Brownlie’s former side going on to win the competition twice more in a row.
The same can be said about the League Cup as three consecutive wins in 2016, 2017 and 2018, ensured an impressive haul of six winners’ medals.
“100 per cent when you win your first one, you don’t want to let go of that feeling,” Brownlie told us.
“I remember I lost my first cup final with Hibs and that was not a feeling I wanted to go through again.
“It was great to go on and win six cups during my second spell there. To win as many as we did, it was good going into those finals with a winning mentality in the changing room. But, we didn’t go into the finals knowing it would be an easy game.”
Becoming a professional
Following that success, Brownlie seized a new opportunity down in England. She signed for Women’s Super League club Everton – her introduction to professional football.
Making her debut against Chelsea in the FA Cup, she would go on to spend six months in Merseyside, embracing everything that came with life as a full-time athlete.
“At the stage, I wanted to make the jump to go pro and to see how I got on as a professional athlete,” she said.
“It was a complete shift because when I was at Hibs I was training in the evenings, so your lifestyle changed because you were training in the day and had everything that comes with being a full-time footballer.
“It was great because I noticed a lot of difference in terms of how much you can recover after games which was very important, and then the intensity in training was a lot higher.
“It was so valuable for me as a player, to go into a completely different environment because I had no idea what to expect before I went.
“Going straight into a game against Chelsea could feel like being thrown in at the deep end, but it was great because those are the sort of harder games you want to play in.”
Trailblazing in Scotland
Upon her return to Scotland, Brownlie joined Rangers where she would become one of the first women at the club to sign a full-time professional contract.
She would continue to set standards when she joined Hearts three seasons later, becoming the first female at the Edinburgh club to be a professional player.
To be able to play professional football in her home country was a highlight, as was the development of the game that happened because of such investment into players.
“I grew up in an era where professional women’s football in Scotland wasn’t there,” the defender reflected.
“It is nice now it is an option for us as players and for the kids growing up and coming through – it’s great for them to have role models at professional clubs in this country.
“Being the first pro at Rangers and then Hearts, it was nice that the clubs saw that opportunity in me and that I could be that person.
“Coming back to Scotland after being at Everton, with City having professional players and then Rangers and Celtic starting to signing professional players, there was definitely a shift.
“Now, there are five full-time team in Scotland and the level of the game and the league has improved massively because of it.”
Joining Glasgow City
The next chapter of Brownlie’s illustrious career has taken her to City. Having played in Scotland for many years, she knows what it means to be at this club – now, she’s excited to go live it for herself.
“I’m excited for it. For as long as I’ve played in Scotland, City have been one of the top teams,” Brownlie said.
“Particularly when I was at Hibs, it felt like City were our main rivals at the time. To flip that now and to be with City, it is quite a shift!
“For me, it’s a great opportunity for the stage I’m at in my career. It’s exciting that I can come into a club and really look to test myself.”
The best way to ensure you get to see Emma in action for City in the upcoming season is to buy your 2025/26 season ticket here!