MY LIFE
IN NUMBERS
Rachel Corsie CA
Former professional footballer; TV pundit
MY LIFE
IN NUMBERS
Rachel Corsie CA
Former professional footballer; TV pundit
Rachel Corsie CA made the last of her 155 appearances – many as captain – for Scotland in May, after a career that saw her play with Glasgow City, Aston Villa and three US teams among others. Before committing full time to the sport, she was an Audit Executive for EY in Glasgow. Now a TV pundit, she has ambitions to combine her expertise with a new career in the business side of football
Interview: Cris Andrews
7
I was seven when I started playing football. We couldn’t initially play at my school but I was naturally drawn to the sport from a young age and that didn’t curb my interest. My mum is a season ticket holder at Aberdeen, and my dad played for, and then coached, his club team. So, if my grandparents couldn’t look after me at the weekend, I went along with one of them and football became part of my weekly routine. I enjoyed it, but it was probably non-negotiable.
7
I was seven when I started playing football. We couldn’t initially play at my school but I was naturally drawn to the sport from a young age and that didn’t curb my interest. My mum is a season ticket holder at Aberdeen, and my dad played for, and then coached, his club team. So, if my grandparents couldn’t look after me at the weekend, I went along with one of them and football became part of my weekly routine. I enjoyed it, but it was probably non-negotiable.
2
At school, I was very much a 1+1 = 2 girl – more into maths than English. I struggled with the whole creativity thing, but with maths there was a solution. Maths seemed a natural way for me to follow that path towards a sensible career choice.
2
At school, I was very much a 1+1 = 2 girl – more into maths than English. I struggled with the whole creativity thing, but with maths there was a solution. Maths seemed a natural way for me to follow that path towards a sensible career choice.
1934
My great-grandad built the original dugout at Aberdeen’s ground, Pittodrie, in 1934 – the first of its kind anywhere. He was a craftsman as well as a player and became a bit of an Aberdeen icon. Back in the early 20th century, when he played, football wasn’t a desirable career, and his mum wanted him to get a “proper” job, hence he played under the alias Donald Colman – rather than his birth surname, Donald Cunningham. My grandma held on to all his medals and they are still a family keepsake.
A lot has been added to the dugout down the years, but up until recently you could see the original bricks that my great-grandfather had laid.
1934
My great-grandad built the original dugout at Aberdeen’s ground, Pittodrie, in 1934 – the first of its kind anywhere. He was a craftsman as well as a player and became a bit of an Aberdeen icon. Back in the early 20th century, when he played, football wasn’t a desirable career, and his mum wanted him to get a “proper” job, hence he played under the alias Donald Colman – rather than his birth surname, Donald Cunningham. My grandma held on to all his medals and they are still a family keepsake.
A lot has been added to the dugout down the years, but up until recently you could see the original bricks that my great-grandfather had laid.
6
I had six operations during my career. When I was recovering, I kept my rehab programmes on an Excel spreadsheet. It would contain gym and running programmes, my diet and sleep patterns – the tabs were all linked. It might have seemed a bit crazy, but that’s the accountant in me. You need a very high level of discipline and commitment if you’re going to be a professional athlete or achieve success in anything, I believe.
5
When I was playing football, training for the game, working and training to be an accountant, all at the same time – my days began at 5am and finished at midnight. I was playing for Glasgow City, so although we weren’t paid at that time, we trained and played as professionals. We were – and the club still is – the most successful women’s team in Scotland. During my time there, I won six Scottish Women’s Premier League titles and seven other domestic cup trophies, while also playing in the Champions League and for the national team.
4
We trained four mornings and evenings a week and played on Sunday, so we had just two nights off along with Saturday. That was the time I got to study. When you’re younger you don’t think too much about all the demands. As you get older you know more and you realise that it’s beneficial to get more sleep, eat better and prepare, recover and rest better. The commitment was unsustainable, but during those years I was determined not to sacrifice either my academic or football career and it’s a period I look back on very fondly.
5
When I was playing football, training for the game, working and training to be an accountant, all at the same time – my days began at 5am and finished at midnight. I was playing for Glasgow City, so although we weren’t paid at that time, we trained and played as professionals. We were – and the club still is – the most successful women’s team in Scotland. During my time there, I won six Scottish Women’s Premier League titles and seven other domestic cup trophies, while also playing in the Champions League and for the national team.
4
We trained four mornings and evenings a week and played on Sunday, so we had just two nights off along with Saturday. That was the time I got to study. When you’re younger you don’t think too much about all the demands. As you get older you know more and you realise that it’s beneficial to get more sleep, eat better and prepare, recover and rest better. The commitment was unsustainable, but during those years I was determined not to sacrifice either my academic or football career and it’s a period I look back on very fondly.
2014
I was an Audit Executive for EY in Glasgow in 2014 and Jim Bishop CA, the Senior Partner in the EY audit office, was a great supporter of football and particularly the Scotland national team. He encouraged me to have a crack at being a full-time professional footballer. “You’ve got an opportunity to go and do something now that, if you don’t do it, you might never get another chance,” he told me. “Go and try. If it doesn’t work out, you’ve built a good foundation as a CA.”
2014
I was an Audit Executive for EY in Glasgow in 2014 and Jim Bishop CA, the Senior Partner in the EY audit office, was a great supporter of football and particularly the Scotland national team. He encouraged me to have a crack at being a full-time professional footballer. “You’ve got an opportunity to go and do something now that, if you don’t do it, you might never get another chance,” he told me. “Go and try. If it doesn’t work out, you’ve built a good foundation as a CA.”
50
After I turned professional, I no longer had to work 50 hours a week in the office. I moved to England to play for Notts County, who were then in the top flight. That was the only thing that changed; the training was no more or less intense. Going full-time pro was a big challenge financially. I left a safe job with a good salary to go to a career that’s volatile and unpredictable. Now some players earn six or seven figures with endorsements but that was not the case a decade ago. My financial knowledge and natural instinct around numbers helped me make good decisions, but looking back it still feels like a very brave decision.
50
After I turned professional, I no longer had to work 50 hours a week in the office. I moved to England to play for Notts County, who were then in the top flight. That was the only thing that changed; the training was no more or less intense. Going full-time pro was a big challenge financially. I left a safe job with a good salary to go to a career that’s volatile and unpredictable. Now some players earn six or seven figures with endorsements but that was not the case a decade ago. My financial knowledge and natural instinct around numbers helped me make good decisions, but looking back it still feels like a very brave decision.
7
I spent seven years playing in the US, 2015–22 – three years in Seattle, three in Salt Lake City and a year in Kansas. Women’s football is huge over there and the opportunity to travel and immerse myself in different environments was life-changing. The US were world champions then and the national team players were some of the most high-profile athletes in America. How they celebrated sport, female sport and the commercial side of things was very eye-opening.
100
My 100th game for Scotland was Poland away in June 2018. It was quite a euphoric match. We were 2-0 down with 12 minutes to play and won 3-2 to qualify for the 2019 World Cup – so a fitting way to mark my century.
100
My 100th game for Scotland was Poland away in June 2018. It was quite a euphoric match. We were 2-0 down with 12 minutes to play and won 3-2 to qualify for the 2019 World Cup – so a fitting way to mark my century.
12
Twelve of us from the Glasgow office at EY did our ICAS training together, so there was a team vibe about my work life too – which I loved. You build a connection together, exams are tough, you’re taught a lot of information. There’s a natural pressure because you want to pass first time – I did and I’m very proud of that. It’s up there with the proudest moments of my career. You put in so much hard work. I wanted to be qualified, I was motivated by learning.
My ICAS training also helped me with my football career. It’s the same determination and discipline – you’ve got to do the work, find the time, make sacrifices and find a way to get through it.
12
Twelve of us from the Glasgow office at EY did our ICAS training together, so there was a team vibe about my work life too – which I loved. You build a connection together, exams are tough, you’re taught a lot of information. There’s a natural pressure because you want to pass first time – I did and I’m very proud of that. It’s up there with the proudest moments of my career. You put in so much hard work. I wanted to be qualified, I was motivated by learning.
My ICAS training also helped me with my football career. It’s the same determination and discipline – you’ve got to do the work, find the time, make sacrifices and find a way to get through it.
155
I played 155 times for Scotland and scored 20 goals. I have a naturally analytical mind and that’s helped me during my football career, particularly how I have refined my knowledge of the game and certain attributes that I valued. As football gets more serious, training becomes more regimented, which can take some of the authentic joy away, but it is very hard to beat the euphoria of competing on a match day.
155
I played 155 times for Scotland and scored 20 goals. I have a naturally analytical mind and that’s helped me during my football career, particularly how I have refined my knowledge of the game and certain attributes that I valued. As football gets more serious, training becomes more regimented, which can take some of the authentic joy away, but it is very hard to beat the euphoria of competing on a match day.
2
The biggest win we had over England was 2-0 in 2011. I don’t remember the celebrations being too significant, it was during the Cyprus Cup tournament, which used to be an annual invitation when I was first in the national team. When I look back, I suppose there were times when I wish I’d celebrated more and appreciated the moment. But you’re always thinking: what’s next?
36
I’m 36 now, and I enjoy being involved in the sport off the pitch. I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to work as a pundit across the men’s and women’s game and I’m looking forward to more of that over the coming seasons. In the future, I’d like to have a role that perhaps marries both my skillsets of business and football. The growth of the game means there are now many different opportunities. I have a passion for football, but I also understand some of what it takes behind the scenes to create the outcome people see on the pitch.
Built with Shorthand