Specsavers, the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner of the Scottish FA, brought Scotland icon Rose Reilly and current star Lee Gibson together to reflect on how far the women’s game has come.
Approaching the anniversary of the first Scotland-England women’s international football match, Rose and Lee compared their careers and explored how modern ways have changed the experiences of women and girls involved in football.
Scotland and England faced off for the first time in the women’s game at Ravenscraig Stadium in Greenock, back in November 1972.
Exactly 53 years on, much has changed since the Auld Enemy ran out 3-2 winners against the Scots, and no one is better placed to discuss it than Scottish trailblazer, Rose Reilly.
Rose Reilly, 70, played in the game and scored Scotland’s second as a fresh faced 17-year-old.
In pursuit of more opportunities to play the beautiful game, Reilly headed to Italy where she played most of her club career for the likes of AC Milan, Napoli and Bari whilst making 14 appearances for the Italian National team.
Nowadays, Glasgow City goalkeeper Lee Gibson is Scotland’s No 1 as the women’s game continues to grow in scale and popularity across the country.
The 34-year-old has seen the game progress in her near-20 years as a professional and she sat down to pick Rose Reilly’s brains on how far things have really come in over five decades.
Rose Reilly says: ‘Wearing a Scotland shirt for the first time, a wee bit homemade but it was a Scotland strip, getting piped out, that’s when your heart beats really fast.
‘We never took no for an answer and that was essential for the growth of the game in Scotland, but we’ve got here and I’m proud of the girls playing nowadays.
‘I’m just the spokesperson for the other ladies playing in that game and the whole league at the time. A lot of them aren’t with us anymore so great credit to the other women of Scotland.’
Rose adds: ‘The biggest change is that you’re professional footballers now. I had to change my country and go to Italy to become a professional footballer.
‘That was my dream, so I first went off to play for Stade de Reims in France and then AC Milan playing in the majestic San Siro.
‘It was massive for me, but I just closed my eyes and said, ‘Rose it’s only two goal posts and a ball just like back in Stewarton’.’
Rose Reilly flipped the script and asked Lee Gibson what it’s like to be a Scotland player in the modern age.
Lee says: ‘It’s a joy. I’ve been really fortunate to be involved now for quite a number of years.
‘It’s the biggest honour and it’s always something that, as soon as you get the phone call, you’re just delighted to come away, and I’ve been really fortunate to play with some of my close friends. We’ve almost grown up together.
‘It’s changed a lot even for me growing up, I was born in the 90s and you played mostly with boys because we didn’t have the same opportunities, but we do now.
‘It’s certainly changed days, you go to games and it’s Caroline Weir and Erin Cuthbert on the back of tops and it’s really special to see that.
‘Even in my era growing up, I didn’t expect to see things like that and see how the game has grown, and we want to continue to do that and be the best role models possible for young girls.’
Specsavers announced in 2024 that it was renewing its’ sponsorship deal, becoming the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner of the Scottish FA, marking 24 years of support and beyond for the partnership – one of the longest agreements of its kind in sport.
The deal sees the partnership not only helping with the training and development of referees but also supporting the growth of Scottish football in both the men’s and women’s game.
As the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner of the Scottish FA, Specsavers is here to change lives through better sight and hearing, by making expert care accessible and affordable for all.
Visit www.specsavers.co.uk or go in store to book an appointment with one of our hear care experts.
