City Players Call It Quits

04 January 2012 10:16
The demands of playing at the highest level while balancing work and private life has proved too much for two of Glasgow City key players who have made the hard decision to hang up their boots.

Midfielder Clare Gemmell and defender Jill Paterson have been instrumental in City’s success over the past few years. However, pressures outside football have forced them both to retire from the game. Joining from Newburgh in the summer of 2007, Paterson went on to win the last five Premier League titles, two Scottish Cups, and two Premier League Cups, with City before deciding to hang up her boots at the very young age of 24 years old.

A player who turned out in a number of positions for City, she was most at home in defence and could play either centre half or full back with ease. A horrific cruciate ligament injury two seasons ago, put Paterson out of the game for some time, but she battled back to full fitness to be part of City’s success both domestically and in the UEFA Women’s Champions League last season.  

Paterson is a full-time PE teacher which made it very difficult to juggle her working life with the commitments placed on a top footballer and sadly something had to give.

She said: "I will really miss it, I loved my time at City. It was a very hard decision to make and one I had been thinking about for a long time, but I can't afford to take time off work for the Champions League and as a player that's where you want to play. I know the team will continue to improve and I wish the girls all the best for the future." 

Commenting on the decision, City head coach Eddie Wolecki Black said: "Sadly Jill has decided to call it a day and quit playing football. In her time at the club Jill has played in a variety of positions, which is a great credit to her adaptability and game awareness. Jill was very unlucky to suffer a knee injury up at Aberdeen and this led to her missing 15 months of competitive football and her return this year was just reward for her perseverance and hard work and I am delighted she was able to walk away with a League and Cup double. I would like to thank Jill for all her efforts at the club during my time and we wish her well for the future." 

Gemmell joined from Celtic in November 2008 and became an instant hit with players and management with her extremely likeable personality, which brightened up any tough training session. With an immense left foot and an incredible will to win, it is no surprise that she shone for City last season in particular as she more than found her home in City’s new style of play.

Starting every single Champions League game for City in a squad where everyone plays, highlighted her importance to Glasgow City in some of the team’s biggest games ever. Trying to balance a career in the police with ever changing shifts and working demands and the high training and playing commitments with City both at home and abroad, sadly proved impossible to continue to be managed.

Gemmell said: "I'd just like to say thank you to everyone at City for the support I got as a player and for the opportunities that came from playing with the club. Leaving is an extremely difficult decision and one that I had considered for months especially since I was playing alongside some of the best players in the country and at such a high level. I know that there are plenty more achievements ahead for City and I wish everyone all the best. I am looking forward to watching from the stand (obviously not shouting at mistakes lol) and seeing the team achieve what they deserve as I know first hand the commitment it takes to get where they are. Thanks again to everyone at the club and of course...MON’ THE CITY." 

Wolecki Black said: "I think it’s a sad day when someone at the age of Clare at 25 years old has to retire due to anything other than injury. I think it’s fair to say that she has enjoyed the best form of her career over the past 12 months, so much so that Bernd Shroeder the Potsdam Head Coach picked her out as a top player during our Champions League games. Last year Clare became so important to the team that she was sorely missed when not playing. She is such a popular person with her team mates and everyone will miss her. It has been a privilege for me to work with Clare over the past few years and she leaves with a lot of great memories. I speak for everyone at the club in wishing her all the best for the future."

Source: FOOTYMAD