Kingussie High School teacher proves a class act for Inverness Caledonian Thistle
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More often played in defence at this stage of her career, Julia Scott made the most of a rare opportunity further up the park last weekend.
The Caley Thistle Women’s veteran scored a hat trick as Buchan were dismissed 5–2 at Canal Park.
That made it six points out of six for ICT, and Scott – a PE teacher at Kingussie High School – says she made the most of techniques she teaches her pupils to turn in a top-drawer performance.
“I’m always on about positive talk, deep breathing, visualisation, and I used a lot of that before the game last Sunday,” Scott said.
“I was talking myself up, thinking I’m the oldest player in the team but I can still get goals, and to get a hat trick was the icing on the cake. To continue to score at this point in my career is brilliant.
“I suppose I did have a point to prove, but the main objective is always three points.
“Not to be harsh, but it is women’s football and it’s easier to play a little bit later in your career in the women’s game at the level we’re at now.”
At 38-years-old, Scott does not feel under any pressure to keep her spot in the team with a new generation coming through.
In fact Scott suspects her experience has helped carve out a new niche for herself in defence.
“It’s frustrating at times,” she admitted.
“It’s a personal battle every week, but it’s more about if I’m fit enough. I’m not comparing myself to the young ones because I can keep up and I’ve played everywhere.
“Caley put me back into defence, and I think that was because of my understanding of the game and being able to communicate to other players where they’re meant to be.
“I’ve always been a winger or a striker, and I want to fight for my position in attack, but if it means I’m playing in the first 11 every Sunday I’ll stay back, no problem.”
It has been a unique year in football, with even more uncertainty as the Championship North has been paused, but Scott tries not to look too far ahead.
“I just take every Sunday as it comes,” Scott explains.
“In my whole career, even when I was in the Scotland squad, I would take every game as it comes – and it’s the same with the pandemic.”
