“Glasgow City gave me the taste for winning, and I enjoyed what it felt like to win trophies."
Erin Cuthbert lights up when she talks about Glasgow City. A smile as big as we will see all day beams across her face as we begin to catch up.
We are chatting to our former No.22 as part of a new series where we talk with ex-City players about the impact our club had on them and their careers.
Speaking from Chelsea’s training base in Cobham, the midfielder - who left City in 2016 and has since won 15 major domestic trophies with the London club - makes clear that the club where she spent just two formative seasons continues to hold a special place in her heart.
“I definitely got the taste for it” Erin, who won the treble in her first season at City in 2015 before a league title the following year, said. "Especially because I was so young.
"I didn’t really know where my ceiling was or where I could get to... Or if I ever would get a move outside of Scotland.
“To achieve a treble at City with that squad – I looked up to so many of those players. I remember looking at people like Leanne Ross and Julie Fleeting, who was my idol growing up, and it was crazy.
“Julie was holding the ball up as a number nine and setting it back to me, which was just mad for me. It’s crazy to even think about it now.
“That team was all about winning. Those are the similarities between Chelsea and Glasgow City. It’s winning no matter what it takes.
“That came from the very top in Laura and Cas, who would stop at nothing to make City what it was and what it is now. They are just extremely passionate people."
Cas and Laura's Impact
It is the people who make our club, like co-founders Laura and Cas, Erin says, who helped give her such fond memories.
“What Laura and Cas created – a standalone club – is so rare, especially in Scotland, where there are notoriously such big clubs.” Erin continued. “The fact they have been so successful and paved the way for the game in Scotland - they have done a remarkable job.
“To deal with the change of the landscape in the women’s game, move into a full-time environment, and to keep up with all the other clubs investing in their women’s teams... they doubled down on their efforts.
“I truly think that is down to the people and the environment that has been created over the years.
"It is a credit to themselves and how they’ve demanded and worked with the changes that have happened. It’s something that I’m really proud to be associated with. It was and still is a great place to be.
"When Cas and Laura are at the forefront, they will make sure you never fall behind.”
Although no longer with City, the club and its people don't tend to stray too far from her mind, as Erin recalls a story involving her new home.
"I just bought a new house in the summer, and when I was doing one of the viewings, I had to do a double-take because I saw Monty’s Bar in the summerhouse." Erin told us with a laugh.
“Why would it be called Monty’s? The owners’ surname was not Monty. So, Laura Montgomery really is in my head rent-free because she was the first thing I thought of!
“It was definitely fate, but I’m rocking it and keeping the name. If Laura is ever down in London, she can absolutely get an invite to Monty’s bar.”
"You can’t win that many trophies without good people"
The experiences and relationships she built during her one-and-half-year spell with us are things she still treasures to this day.
And it gives her great joy to hear that those she is close with, such as former club and country teammates, are revelling in their own adventures with City.
“Glasgow City allowed me the opportunity to play at Chelsea for so many years, so I’m forever grateful for that," Erin said fondly. "But, it’s just the people.
“You always see that big sign on the M8 and it says: ‘People Make Glasgow’ and that couldn’t be more true when it comes to City.
“Everybody cares for each other on the team. A lot of my best friends are currently in the team, and they tell me every time I speak to them how much they love it and how much fun they are having – and you can see it reflected in the results at the minute.
“I don’t think it is possible to have the success the club has had. You can’t win that many trophies without having good team camaraderie and good people.
“Having a good environment is absolutely everything. It’s no surprise that you see the likes of Lisa Evans going back and Lee Gibson, who has been at the club for years, staying for so long.
“My best friend Abi (Harrison) says she has been absolutely loving it since joining in the summer. That gives me a lot of satisfaction.”
A Professional Standard
Back when Erin was at City, full-time contracts in Scotland were virtually non-existent, and players had to juggle work or study with intense training schedules.
City, though, were pushing standards that sat far above the domestic landscape, and Erin felt the benefit of that immediately.
Those training sessions helped her make 60 appearances and scoring 24 goals across two season. She admits it was a hard work, but worth it for everything she gained… Especially if a team social was waiting afterwards.
“We used to do one sprinting drill,” Erin said. “The ball would be kicked out in front of us, and we’d be in partners. We’d be chasing the ball, shoot, and it’s down the other end. It was high-intensity stuff.
“I remember us kicking lumps out of each other. It was so competitive. I was like... ‘Wow’ because it was proper professional stuff.
“We only trained three or four times a week at the time, which was a lot back then, but every single training session, you had to be on it.
“And the team socials we did – the amount of them... I’m sure it’s the same now! I was such a young girl when I joined City. I wasn’t even 18, so the fact that they welcomed me into the group with such open arms was really important.
“But they weren’t afraid to give me some tough love when I needed it. They didn’t baby me, but they always looked out for me in the environment, and I really thrived under that.”
All of those experiences – winning, forging relationships, and learning what it took to perform at the highest standard – put Erin in good stead for what came next, and it is something she will always be grateful for.
“It undoubtedly put me in great stead,” she added. “If I hadn’t had that, coming to Chelsea would have been a bit of a culture shock.
“It was ideal preparation and a great stepping-stone for me at that point. I’m very proud to have worn the shirt.
“Would I have loved it if at the time it was full-time, and would things have changed? Possibly. But, it’s nice that everyone’s paths are different.
“Scotland has improved so much, and Glasgow City are still competing at the absolute forefront domestically and in Europe, and it’s nothing less than the club deserves and wants.
With her experience at City clearly an important chapter in her career, we finish our conversation pondering whether a return could ever be on the cards for Erin.
“Abi keeps telling me to join on loan!” she replied. “I don’t think Sonia (Bompastor, Chelsea’s manager) would be too happy with that, but I’m sure I’d have an absolute hoot.
“You never know what path life has got for you, but I know that City will always hold a special place.”
For everything she has gone on to achieve, we will always be proud that Erin once called Glasgow City home.