The next edition of Stories from our City, where our people tell their story in their own words, puts a spotlight on Amy Anderson.
The Scottish midfielder returned to Glasgow City last summer almost a decade after leaving our academy. Now, she candidly shares her story on how she went from kicking a ball in her garden, playing part-time to signing her first professional deal with the Original Trailblazers.
“I never had any doubt I would return to Glasgow City one day.
With the women’s game in Scotland growing and evolving, my story from part-time to full-time football won’t be unique. But, I do hope it provides others with hope and encouragement.
It didn’t happen for me until I was 26. I had been working hard and digging away for years before I signed my first professional deal at the club whose academy I left as a teenager.
Amy and her Glasgow City teammates are back at Petershill Park this weekend, hosting Motherwell. Get your ticket here.
I always believed I would come back and those around me did, too. My dad always believed.
He is why I fell in love with the game in the first place. Him and my grandpa.
The three of us used to kick a ball around in the back garden. Things got more serious when my dad took me to the 11-a-side pitch by the field next to our house. We’d work on passing, shooting and the technical sides of my game.
That’s how I got spotted. A man was walking past with his dog. He was a coach of a local team, Strathclyde Girls, and asked if I wanted to go along to training. 
I went on the Tuesday. Again, on the Thursday. Played my first game on the Saturday morning. And that was it... hooked. I haven’t looked back since.
From there, I went to Wishaw Juniors. It was a positive time for the club, reaching Scottish Cup finals. It prepared me for a move to Glasgow City – a team I knew was the most successful in the country.
Me and a few other girls from Wishaw had been recognised. So, I joined City at 15 as part of the academy.
That first spell? It was amazing. Mind you, it was different to what we have now. Back then, we were training at nights after school. And we were training at schools – a different school every week. We’d play wherever had the space for us.
It’s world’s away to the resources and facilities we have now, but I still didn’t take it for granted. I was playing for Glasgow City and didn’t want to give that opportunity up.
Would I say my first season was successful? Aye... but I might have to take the broken ankle out of the equation.
I met one of the most influential coaches of my career then. Barry Rodgers. He was my first coach when I came to Glasgow City. We still keep in touch. He always checks if I’m in the team and how many minutes I played. He had my back since day one and still does now.
I got to make my first team debut during that first spell, too. Coming on for the final 10 minutes, lining up in midfield alongside Jo Love – it feels full circle that we’re team-mates again now.
Even though I gained so much valuable experience during my time at City as a teenager, I knew I needed to get more senior football. So, I left the club. But, as I said, I knew that wouldn’t be the end of my story here.
At 18, I joined Hamilton Accies. My experiences over my five seasons there were exactly what I needed for my career.
For me, I used every campaign to showcase what I could do. In my first season, we won SWPL 2, and I was named Player of the Year. Already, I could tell my game was improving.
I was soon named captain despite being one of the younger players on the team. My time at Accies was so valuable and led me to gaining an opportunity with a club that holds a special place in my heart... Motherwell.
To sign for Motherwell, well, it was a dream really. My hometown club. The team I go and watch with my dad on a Saturday. Special stuff.
I was one of Paul Brownlie’s first signings. He knew what I could offer and how much the club meant to me. It was a perfect match. When I crossed the white line in that amber and claret strip, I always gave my all.
I’ll forever be grateful for Paul and Motherwell. When the opportunity to join Glasgow City came about last year, they never stood in my way. They knew professional football was my aim.
To quit my 9-5 and to focus solely on football would not have happened if I had not been given opportunities with both Accies and Motherwell.
I remember there being games at Motherwell when I felt reassured that I would be ready to make the step up to full-time. Moments I always embraced.
In my second season, we reached the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup at Hampden. Wow. It wasn’t to be on that day against Rangers, but I enjoyed it so much. Played out my skin. To this day, it’s one of the proudest moments of my career.
It feels fitting when I hopefully next play at Hampden it will be with Glasgow City against Motherwell in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup. Full circle, yet again.
And when I arrived at Glasgow City last summer, I knew there would be many more high-stake encounters. Something I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into.
But my priority was to come in and enjoy my football. My unwavering love for the game is why I kept playing and working hard all those years, no matter what club I was at.
The amount of game time and minutes I got was encouraging for me. This is a competitive squad full of talent, so to play as often I did made me feel like I fit in, even if I was coming from a part-time environment.
And coming from that environment meant a lot changed for me in life. There were no more 12-hour days; going straight to training after working the 9-5 in the office.
It was a lot of change, but I took it in my stride. One of the most difficult parts was getting used to having a free evening! That wasn’t something I was used to having.
My story is a fitting one for what Glasgow City represents; the club helped give me a platform as a youngster and provided me with another one as an adult.
When I first started playing football with my dad in the garden, being a professional wasn’t the aim. But, as the game grew and as I developed, I knew it was something I could achieve.
So did he. He always believed that I would get my opportunity at Glasgow City. Beaming of pride when it arose. I’ve come a long way since he would take me out to that 11-a-side pitch.
And although Dad may be disappointed he can’t cheer me on in a Motherwell strip anymore, he is still with me every step of the way – Glasgow City season ticket in tow. Wherever I play, he’ll be there watching.”