Arsenal defender Jen Beattie wants more investment targeted towards girls in the Scottish grassroots to ensure those who dream of becoming professionals can envisage a clear path to following in her footsteps.
Beattie, 32, won 144 caps and scored 24 goals for Scotland before announcing her decision to step away from international football in January.
The Glaswegian and Gunners team-mate and captain Kim Little are amongst the highest-profile Scottish women in football, and Beattie feels a “responsibility” to leave the game in a better place than they found it.
She told the PA news agency: “The money needs to be put in to allow girls to have opportunities to go to training, whether that’s before or after school or university or whatever it is.
“Whether that’s the national team setup or clubs. It’s so important to celebrate volunteers and coaches and clubs who are investing in the grassroots, because I think grassroots is the most important time to be able to do that.
“[In Scotland] it’s definitely a space of growth. It’s hard to compare it to England, but there’s more and more numbers playing every year, and I think that’s the most important thing, making it more accessible, making it diverse and an equal opportunity for as many kids as possible.
“That’s the most important thing in Scotland. The more opportunity that is given to young kids the better, [so that] the pool is as big as possible. It’s giving support around schools, giving support around education, and creating a pathway up towards professionalism.”
Beattie began her senior career aged just 15 with Queen’s Park in the Scottish Women’s Premier League then joined Celtic before, in 2009, starting her first spell at Arsenal and winning a top-flight title in her debut season.
Spells with Montpellier and Manchester City – who also sent Beattie on loan to Australian side Melbourne City – followed before she returned to the Gunners in 2019 after the end of the Women’s Super League’s first fully-professional campaign.
Scotland are now more than halfway through their campaign in the new UEFA Women’s Nations League, a tournament that serves as the European qualifier for next summer’s Paris Olympics.
Bizarrely, if Scotland’s top talents have any hope of playing in France, they cannot fare better than group rivals England.
The Lionesses, currently third in Group 1, are the nominated home nation to qualify a Team GB, with only the group winners advancing deeper in the tournament where two Olympic berths are up for grabs.
England boss Sarina Wiegman is lined up to lead Great Britain should they qualify for the 12-team tournament.
Scotland sit bottom of their group with two games left to play, including one on December 5 against the Lionesses at Hampden Park, but World Cup finalists England have also struggled in the tournament, most recently losing to Belgium.
Little, who has since retired from international football, and Real Madrid midfielder Caroline Weir were the sole Scottish names on Hege Riise’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic squad, but the latter would face an uphill battle to be fit in time for next summer after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament in September.
While Beattie agreed it feels important to have Scottish representation in any Team GB squad, she is less sure about how ruthlessly competitive Dutchwoman Wiegman would approach the potentially sensitive situation.
Beattie added: “It’s completely up to Sarina. She is a mentality monster, she’s won back-to-back Euros, got to finals of World Cups, she knows what she’s doing, so I’m not going to give Sarina any advice on selection.
“But Scotland have had representation in previous tournaments and I 100 per cent think that there’s good enough girls to be picked for GB in that Scotland squad.”
Jen Beattie was speaking at the annual Scottish FA Grassroots Awards in partnership with McDonald’s Fun Football. The awards recognise volunteers who are dedicated to making a real difference to community football in Scotland.
Vilahamn wants to use FA Cup final defeat as 'beginning' for Tottenham Women
Tottenham Women manager Robert Vilahamn believes his side will use their FA Cup final defeat to start something special, rather than ending their good work.
Spurs were hammered 4-0 by Manchester United Women in Sunday's Wembley Stadium showpiece as Ella Toone and Rachel Williams were on target before Lucia Garcia's second-half double.
Vilahamn's side failed to manage a shot on target but the Spurs boss suggested his team will catch up to the women's elite clubs.
"The main thing I said was this is not the end, it is the beginning," Vilahamn said.
"We still have a gap between us and the top teams but that's normal. We are closing the gap but we haven't closed the gap yet."
Tottenham finished sixth in the Women's Super League as well as reaching this final, their first FA Cup showpiece appearance in their short history.
Vilahamn wants his Spurs players to use this defeat as motivation going forward.
"If you take away the feelings right now, you need to look at these players doing some incredible things this year," he said.
"We are at Wembley playing in front of our fans and they are actually enjoying it and staying, and supporting us after.
"We got a good experience today and we are learning how to play at Wembley more times. We need to look at it that way because the players are amazing."
Erik ten Hag: Man United fans are understanding of situation
Erik ten Hag is confident he still has the understanding of supporters after Manchester United's poor run of form continued with defeat to Arsenal.
United were beaten 1-0 by Premier League title chasers Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday in a game that saw them create little.
While United did well to restrict Arsenal's chances, they had just two shots on target themselves - long-rangers from Casemiro and Antony.
The Red Devils have had to contend with a number of injury problems this season, not least against Arsenal with a makeshift defence fielded.
And for that reason, Ten Hag - whose job beyond this season has been called into question - believes the fanbase remain supportive.
"They understand where we are and where this club is," he told Sky Sports. "We have so many injuries in key areas.
"The fans don't get what they deserve, but they understand this and that is why they are behind the team.
"I think that is why they are with us we are united. Hopefully we can pay them back in the future."
Ten Hag pointed out that United were without seven possible starters, forcing him to field veteran Jonny Evans alongside Casemiro at centre-back.
Casemiro was at fault for Arsenal's goal as he was slow getting back up the field, meaning Havertz was onside before teeing up Trossard.
Ten Hag, though, was not willing to point the finger of blame at the underperforming midfielder.
"In that situation he is a midfielder playing in that position and making a small mistake, but it has hard consequences," he said.
"Before that, in possession we could have done better in others positions. It's details."
Eighth-placed United have won just one of their past eight league matches in a run that includes a 4-0 thumping at Crystal Palace earlier in the week.
The Red Devils have lost 19 games in all competitions this season, which is their most since 1977-78 when also losing 19.
Asked if he believes he is the man to turn things around, Ten Hag said: "I have no doubt about this.
"Mostly, this team has the right spirit and they execute the rules and principles of the game even if they have to adapt in their positions.
"I can only be happy and it is a big compliment for this team that they executed all that they could and they were fighting."
Manchester United Women 4-0 Tottenham Women: Garcia double secures Red Devils' first FA Cup triumph
Manchester United Women banished last year's FA Cup demons to lift the trophy for the first time in their history after smashing Tottenham Women 4-0 at Wembley Stadium.
United suffered a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea Women in the final of this competition last term but exacted revenge after Lucia Garcia scored twice in a comfortable win on Sunday.
Ella Toone's eye-catching strike in the first half set the tone before a goal for Rachel Williams and Garcia's double added gloss to a convincing scoreline, despite Beth England hitting the crossbar for Spurs.
Marc Skinner's side dominated the opening half as Millie Turner saw a header cleared off the line by Martha Thomas, while Williams headed over.
However, there was no stopping Toone on the stroke of half-time as she exchanged passes with Lisa Naalsund before arrowing a rocketed right-footed finish into the top corner from the edge of the area.
Further punishment followed for an underwhelming Tottenham after the interval when Williams headed down from Katie Zelem's free-kick to double United's lead in the 54th minute.
Goalkeeper Becky Spencer then handed Skinner's team more joy just three minutes later, mindlessly playing straight to Garcia, who slotted into an empty net.
Garcia capped the scoring after 74 minutes, receiving an offload from Turner before curling a delightful finish past the powerless Spencer as United secured their first major trophy in club history.
Data Debrief: United ease pain of last year
United fell short last year against Chelsea but continued their impressive record against Spurs here, extending to 13 games unbeaten against Tottenham since being founded in 2018.
This defeat will remain painful for Spurs in their first FA Cup final appearance, also ending a seven-game undefeated streak since losing to rivals Arsenal at the start of March.
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