Scotland captain Rachel pays visits to get former schools ahead of the World Cup Finals
31 May 2019
Scotland Women’s football team captain, and proud Aberdonian, Rachel Corsie, paid a visit to her former secondary school, Hazlehead Academy today (Friday 31 May) ahead of leading her country in the World Cup Finals in France in nine days’ time.
Today’s visit was preceded by Rachel dropping in yesterday to her former Primary school at Ashley Road where pupils gave the international defender a great send off for the finals.
During today’s visit to Hazlehead Academy, which since 2012 has been one of only seven Scottish Football Association (SFA) Performance Schools in the country, Rachel met the school’s girl’s football team and Scotland Under 15 starlet, Brodie Greenwood, who also wished the former pupil every success at the forthcoming tournament.
Rachel’s career has seen her amass over 100 caps for her country and take her on a football trek which has seen her play in Scotland with Aberdeen Ladies and Glasgow City, England with Notts County, Australia with Canberra United and the USA with Seattle Reign and currently with Utah Royals FC.
Education Vice-Convener at Aberdeen City Council, Councillor M. Tauqeer Malik said: “I’d like to add my congratulations on behalf of the council to Rachel on her well-deserved honour and the best of luck in what will be a fantastic tournament.
“Rachel has done her city proud with her exploits and is an inspiration to young footballers, male and female, across the city and beyond”.
Gary Giles, who was Rachel’s PE teacher at Hazlehead, said: “Rachel was a model pupil in her time here. She was very talented across a number of sports, not just football. It was Rachel’s tremendous effort and attitude towards her schoolwork that really stood out to me. We are all very proud of Rachel’s achievements.”
Stuart Glennie SFA Regional Elite Performance Coach, said: “To see the Scottish Women’s National team compete in the forthcoming World Cup finals in France is a huge boost for the whole of Scottish football and an inspiration for all the young girls participating in local football. The fact that a former pupil of Hazlehead Academy, Rachel Corsie, will captain the side makes the event even more special, and I am sure many of the school staff and children will be glued to their TV’s to see Rachel lead Scotland out at their first World Cup.
“Rachel has taken time to visit whether that has been to train with current Performance School pupils, or to attend Performance School trials. Rachel should be commended for the way she conducts herself both on and off the pitch, and young players should recognise this but should also recognise that pathways such as Rachel’s are possible with the right application.”
Scotland kick off the in the World Cup Finals in France against England in Nice on 9 June and then play Japan in Rennes on 14 June and Argentina in Paris on 19 June in the group matches.