Following the confirmation that captain Jo Love will leave Glasgow City upon the expiration of her contract, she penned a farewell to the club where she has spent 14 successful years.
This is not an easy thing to write, but the time has come for me to say goodbye to Glasgow City.
After 14 unforgettable years, it’s time for something new – for me, and the club. Time to embrace something fresh and see what the next challenge might bring.
When I first joined City, I knew I was coming to a club that had already achieved a lot. From the outside, some might have thought it would be difficult to fit in or that there may be an air of arrogance because of all the success.
But, that could not have been further from the truth. I was welcomed with open arms, and I quickly realised that it wasn’t arrogance, but confidence which had been earned. This was a very good team filled with talent and determination.
And more than that, it was a team of genuinely good people. When I was brought to the club, there was a list of requirements that someone needed to have to be a Glasgow City player.
Top of that list? You had to be a good person. You had to be someone who aligned with the philosophy and values of the club. That still rings true today.
I've stayed at this club for most of my career because I love the people here. To have achieved so much with those who mean the most to me, it’s something I will always cherish.
And to say I have won 21 trophies during my time here, with a chance of number 22 this weekend, is honestly hard to wrap my head around.
When you’re in it season after season, chasing one trophy after another, you don’t have the time to stop and count. But, when you do... Wow. It’s something truly special.
We’ve deserved every single one of those successes. I’ve played with so many talented players and every single one of them played their part in helping us become serial winners. I like to think I’ve played my part, too.
Some wins will always stand out. The league has become so competitive over the years that we really had to fight to get our hands on some of those trophies.
The win against Rangers at Ibrox in 2022/23 was just phenomenal. It literally came down to the last kick of the ball. The excitement from the fans. The trophy going from place to place. It was a fairytale ending for us.
Even though it didn’t end in lifting a trophy, reaching the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals twice is something I will never forget.
That comeback against Zurich? Unreal. Everyone had written us off, but we knew it wasn’t over. We showed the team spirit – who we were as a team and a club – to come back from a few goals down. For a standalone club from Scotland to do what we did was unthinkable to some.
And we did it again only a few years later. This time on penalties against Brøndby. Stepping up for my penalty knowing I could win us the tie to get to the last eight, I’m not sure that’s a feeling I'd want to relive! But the celebrations afterwards? Nothing can compare to that. Proper joy.
None of those experiences would have been possible without the people who have been there with me along the way.
There are never going to be enough thank yous to those who have helped me and got me through all the highs and the lows. My family have supported me unconditionally. And I found another family here at City.
This club has been a huge factor in my life for the last 14 years. I have made my best friends here. Shared some of the best moments of my life with them. They have kept me going. Kept me happy.
I can’t be the one to decide what my legacy will be, but I hope I’ve helped add something meaningful to the story of this club. Not just through what we've achieved on the pitch, but in what it means to wear the Glasgow City badge. That’s always mattered most to me.
Once City, Always City.
Your captain,
Jo