THE pull of a safe accountancy career or the lure of being part of a new generation of Scottish professional footballers; it is a call that Kelly Clark, captain of Celtic’s women’s team, has described as a fight between heart and head.
The 25-year-old has gone through a gruelling academic process that is within weeks of its conclusion. Dedication to the books as well as to Celtic has led to “not having a life” but has also meant that now, as the club embark on its inaugural professional season, that there is a decision to make.
By Clark’s own admission the Parkhead side would love to see her commit herself to a professional contract. But it is not quite so simple as turning her back on academic studies after eight years and numerous sacrifices to dive straight into football.
"If you had asked me at 17 I would have said football, football, football,” she admitted. “But I have matured a bit since then and the education and academic path has taken a lot of commitment too. Neither Celtic nor my work are forcing me into a decision and it isn’t a decision I can take lightly.
“I am still working. I am almost a fully qualified chartered accountant. I have passed all of my exams and I became time served towards the end of last year but I still need to submit a log-book. It was great from the club to allow me time and they have still kept me on as club captain. It is massive from them that they have accepted that I have made a career for myself away from football.
“It took a lot of sacrifice. Every night I wasn’t at training I have been staying late at work; if I haven’t worked late I have been at training. I haven’t had a life. We will see what happens. My work would probably support me if I take a year out to really focus on football once I have submitted my logbook – which should be next month – but it is about weighing it up. I would then be a year behind in terms of clocking up experience and I need to think about the long-term.
“But as a child my dream was to grow up and play professional football. So, here I am, it is a heart v head battle and I think it will be the toughest decision that I will ever make.
“I think Celtic would love me to take the professional contract. But I have spoken to a lot of the guys here at the very top of the club and they have the same qualification so they know what it has taken to get it and they appreciate now how tough a call it is.
“My dad would love me to go into football full-time. He is so involved in my football and he is the reason why I started playing so he can see the pull of going full-time but my mum was a professional accountant too. She had a career with one of the big accountancy firms and so she is veering towards me focusing on my career so I have both sides of the argument in front of me.
“I don’t feel pressured. I have been at Celtic and travelled on this journey with them so it is just down to me but it is a hard decision.”
Celtic open their campaign tomorrow night against Glasgow City with Clark already seeing an improvement within the Parkhead side since they moved towards a professional set-up.
“It feels different,” she said. “This isn’t a hobby. It is a job. You can feel the shift as it is happening. We are all focused on getting off to a good start to the season tomorrow.”
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