by DEBORAH ANDERSON , Evening Times

Although apprehensive about leaving her friends and family behind for four years, Eilidh can't wait to take her place in her new team, the Scarlet Hawks women's side.

It was her own determination to continue with her football career, which saw her hunt out a scholarship opportunity.

Former Rosshall Academy pupil Eilidh, from Hillington, said: "I have been playing football since I was at primary school and just knew I wanted to do more. There wasn't really anything in this country that would have allowed me to combine both sport and study on this scale, so I Googled 'sports scholarships in America' - and here I am."

Eilidh's online investigations led her to First Point USA, and after going through an interview process and trials a video package was put together and sent off to various US colleges and universities .

She followed a tough training regime ahead of her trials and became a familiar sight around Nethercraigs running track week in week out.

The young defender said: "I can't believe this is happening. I wanted to be able to play more football while being at college and the best opportunity seemed to be in America.

"I found an organisation online which helps you apply and Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago came back with an offer."

Eilidh will be leaving behind teammates at her current team Paisley Saints and will be pulling on a jersey for the college's Scarlet Hawks women's team.

She began her career while in primary school playing for Govan team Harmony Row before moving on to play with Paisley Saints in secondary school.

She added: "I will be studying chemistry and biology in my first year and maybe go on to do forensics, but I will have a great opportunity to do sports as we will be training every day and there should be opportunities to play in the college leagues, which are huge over there.

"I hope to be able to go into women's coaching when I have finished my studies as it is such a growing sport."

Following in her footsteps is younger sister Kaitlyn, 15, who plays in goal for Rangers under 17s. She and parents Lesley, 43 and Allan, 46, will be flying out with Eilidh on August 1.

Proud mum Lesley said: "We are very excited. It is something Eilidh has wanted to do for a while and she now has the courage to go for it. We will miss her terribly, but it is an opportunity of a lifetime.

"I don't know where the girls got their football talents from - certainly not from me. They don't seem to have followed my shopping and shoes passion - maybe that will come later."

Copyright 2009 Newsquest Media Group All Rights Reserved
	Terms & Conditions     Privacy Copyright © 2009 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.