Having signed her first senior contract with Glasgow City ten years ago this week, Erin Clachers penned the next piece in our Stories From Our City series to celebrate the milestone.
With six league titles and almost a century of appearances behind her, our goalkeeper reflects on her time at the club and why there is still even more to come from her a decade on.
“Ten years. Wow. Time has flown by.
“So much has happened over the last decade. To see how the club has developed alongside how I’ve grown, it is night and day.
“We’ve gone from training on school pitches across Glasgow to having our own base and playing in some of the best stadiums across the country.
“I’ve gone from a girl who had a dream to play for this club – even just once – to someone who has lifted silverware, experienced historic European nights, and met so many people who have helped shape me into the player I’ve become.
“Speaking of European nights, it’s hard to believe that the youngster who was a ball girl back in 2014 against FC Zurich when City reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time would go on to spend a decade here.
“Getting to be a part of those moments back then, I saw up close the dream I wanted to achieve.
“My mum did a Facebook post for that game, and the caption said something like: ‘Erin’s first taste of Champions League football for Glasgow City, albeit it’s as a ball girl but you have to start somewhere...’ That makes me laugh when it pops back up every now and again. Knowing it became my reality.
“Even with those big hopes and dreams, could I have imagined that I would still be at the club 10 years later?
“I definitely would’ve hoped to have still been here, but it’s rare to stay for so long in football.
“I’ve stayed because this is my home. This club has brought out the best in me. It has challenged me in ways I don’t think anywhere else could have.
“This environment is so demanding. It always has been. The desire to win has been a constant throughout the decade – a thread woven through the club. And one of the biggest reasons for that is the people. Those who drive the standards.
“When I first started with the senior team, I was working with the likes of Hayley Lauder and Leanne Ross. Two people who are still at the forefront of everything we do.
“I learnt what it takes to be a City player from them and from so many more. They could be harsh, but they had to be. To be a winner, you have to be ruthless.
“There have been no easy days, but that is what makes you improve.
“For most of my time here, I’ve had the perfect example of that in Lee. Working with her every day... She is the kind of goalie I want to be.
“I’m still working on that. That’s another reason why I have stayed for as long as I have. I have a lot more to give. I don’t think people have seen the best of me yet.
“I’ve been here for a long time, but I feel like I’m just getting started. That is what excites me.
“This club is infectious. It is special to feel a part of something like this – to be a part of what we stand for.
“We wouldn’t be where we are if it wasn’t for what Laura and Cas sought to achieve back in 1998. Over the last 10 years, I’ve been part of squads that keep striving for more. For better.
“It’s not just me who has found a place at the club. My dad can often be found in the stands - home and away. This season, he followed us across Europe. Happy to lend a hand behind-the-scenes, too.
“My mum, like she was back when I was just a ball girl, has been a constant support. She struggles to watch the big games, though, so she might be found clearing her head out on a walk rather than at the Peasy, but I can guarantee she’ll be keeping an eye on the scores.
“I wouldn’t have been able to reach this milestone without them.
“They have been there to see me share many special moments with this team. Watching me making my debut, captaining the side, and being part of a SWPL-winning squad on six occasions.
“That last league title win in 2022/23. That’s a highlight. A late winner at Ibrox. Vindication after the hurt from the season that had come before. I just wish I could relive it. To enjoy it even more.
“So, to the 16-year-old Erin who has just signed that first contract... Just keep doing what you’re doing. Keep working hard and enjoy the journey. Enjoy being a part of it. It will all work out in the end.”
Erin is still available for sponsorship opportunities. Contact our commercial team at cas.stewart@glasgowcityfc.co.uk for more information.