Scottish Skipper Keeping Things In Perspective (Gemma Fay interview)

Scotland captain Gemma Fay gives a candid assessment of a third successive play-off failure, a 4-1 aggregate defeat by the Netherlands. There are hidden positives in having gone further than before, she says, but the squad were disappointed in their own performances and the Dutch deserved to progress. She contrasts the inconsolable pain of the earlier defeat by Spain, which felt snatched away, with this one, which left them without answers. Drawing on her work as a sports development professional, Fay argues that a development process put in place fifteen years ago is only now delivering players, and that the squad’s average age will rise with genuine tournament-qualification experience. She welcomes sportscotland funding but insists culture change and grassroots volunteers matter as much as money.