Monday 3 August 2015 21:41, UK
It’s a phrase so old and clichéd that most news organisations ban it from use, but you would be hard pushed to find a better example of the fabled "dream debut" than Suzanne Grant’s first game for Motherwell Ladies FC.
Grant scored an incredible 11 goals as her new club swept to a 21-0 demolition of Edinburgh South on Sunday.
On an impressive CV, her previous clubs include Arsenal, Celtic and Glasgow City; so it’s no surprise Grant managed to make a perfect start for the club she joined back in early July.
In fact, it was such a remarkable debut that she forgot how many goals she was involved in. She said: "I don’t think I’ve ever scored that many in a game before. I got a few assists as well but I can’t remember exactly how many I got though!"
Having only reformed in recent years, Motherwell Ladies currently play in the third tier of women’s football in Scotland. Despite over 100 caps for Scotland and winning the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2009, Grant claims she was worried about not performing to the standards of her new side.
"I’ve played at a higher level for my whole career and going down to that division I did feel a bit of pressure to get on the score sheet," she said.
"I would have been happy with one, never mind eleven so it’s a great start to playing with Motherwell.
"For me, I’ve achieved what I wanted to achieve playing at all these places. I think Motherwell are going in the right direction. They have ambition for the club and they’re keen on improving women’s football."
With 10 wins from 10 matches in their league campaign so far you’d be forgiven for questioning the quality of opponents squaring up to Grant and her team mates. The former Scotland international does have sympathy for clubs on the wrong end of Motherwell’s dominance and claims the club tried to get moved up a division out of fairness for their opponents.
She said: "I think that the calibre of girls Motherwell have, a lot of them have played in the top flight and so I think they did say to the league that we would win most games in the division comfortably.
"It’s just a matter of time before Motherwell are up in the top division, it’s just going to take a couple of more years than originally planned. But like the game on Sunday, you’re beating them 21-0 and it’s not fair on them especially."
I played full contact until I was 3 months pregnant, I trained until I was 7 months pregnant and I came back and played 90 minutes when Oscar was 5 weeks old.
Playing through the pain
Scoring 11 goals in a single 90 minutes is one thing, but it almost pales in significance compared to what Motherwell’s newest striker has put her body through before.
Her love for football goes well beyond playing, as proven by her engagement to former Dundee United and Ross County player David Winters.
When she found out she was pregnant with her first child in 2013 Grant could not bear the thought of over a year without playing, so she decided not to let that stop her.
"I played full contact until I was three months pregnant, I trained until I was seven months pregnant and I came back and played 90 minutes when Oscar was five weeks old.
"It was sore the next day I’ll say that!"
She says being the fiancé of someone who knows all about the stresses and strains of juggling family life with football is something that can’t be measured.
"If it wasn’t for David I don’t think I could have played for as long as I have," said the former Arsenal striker.
"I think because we are both into football we both understand and respect each other’s commitments. It’s difficult because he trains and I train, he plays on Saturday and I play a Sunday now. But he’s been really supportive of me in my career.
"This is my fourth year of college now so it’s really hard with exams and things right now. It’s a challenge for me and I'm quite happy to try and give all three a bash at once; being a mum/fiancé, a footballer and do full-time education and work.
"I can’t wait for Oscar to come and see me play as well. He’s getting bigger now so he understands more and loves football so it would be great for him to see me play."
Scotland
With 13 goals in 104 caps for Scotland already, Grant will undoubtedly be back on the radar of the national team if she continues this imperious form. But with the recent arrival of her first son Oscar, the former FA Cup winner says she hasn’t thought about a Scotland recall from head coach Anna Signeul.
"I’m quite happy with what I've achieved with Scotland. The squad is so strong now so I’ve not had contact with the SFA since I have had the wee man.
"Oscar is my priority so until I get that text or phone call from Anna then currently I am not really interested in going back to the squad just now.
"Anna has come in and done a fantastic job for women’s football in Scotland. She’s set up a new structure and I think it’s only a matter of time before the national team achieve something, the girls deserve it and I was just happy to be part of it at some point in my career."
