ON this day 13 years ago the Tele told how a talented female footballer from Port Glasgow was part of a team making history in Europe.

Clare Gemmell was a member of the Glasgow City team who were the first Scottish women’s side to reach the last 32 of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

The top Scottish team were set to take on some of the best professional sides in Europe, even putting the Old Firm in the shade — as neither Rangers nor Celtic were competing in the men’s Champions League that year.

Clare had been playing for more than 10 years and had to juggle a gruelling training regime with a full-time police career.

(Image: Newsquest)

She said at the time: “We are playing against professional teams from other countries.

“In England the teams are semi-professional while most of us have full time jobs, and train four nights a week with the club and play on a Sunday.

“It’s very difficult for me as a police officer but I do all the training I can, probably more than 20 hours a week. But my work comes first.”

And Clare said that makes the team’s success all the more remarkable and was thrilled with her club’s achievement.

She said: “It’s good for women’s football in Scotland.”

The midfielder was passionate about the beautiful game and was relishing the challenges ahead.

She said: “I like being part of a team and the fact we train so hard and seeing all that hard work paying off. It’s just a brilliant game.”

The players were gearing up for their first-round clash and hoping to freeze out Icelandic champions Valur Reykjavik at their home ground at Petershill Park.

The home and away leg would be the first ever time a Scottish team has been involved in the knockout stages, with City looking to manage the impossible and reach the last 16.

But City were able to overcome their Icelandic rivals, cruising into the round of 16 with a 4-1 aggregate win.