When people think of Italian World Cup winners, there are a number of figures who may spring to mind; but seldom those of women.
Most may remember stories of the legendary Vittorio Pozzo leading Italy to consecutive titles in the 1930s (the only coach to win the World Cup twice), or more likely conjure up memories of Marco Tardelli and Fabio Grosso’s similarly emotional celebrations as they clinched the 1982 and 2006 editions, respectively.
However, the story of another Azzurri winner is arguably more compelling: the story of Scotland’s Rose Reilly, who left Scotland as a teenager to pursue a football career that saw her captain Italy’s triumph at the unofficial Women’s World Cup in 1983.
Her journey though began in the rural town of Stewarton in Ayrshire.
Reilly was born January 2, 1955, and started playing at the age of six with local boys team Stewarton United. In order to blend in better she played under the pseudonym of “Ross” and asked her barber for a short back and sides.
During a game, a Celtic scout witnessed ‘the wee No.7’ score seven goals and asked the United coach if he could sign the striker, only to be informed that ‘Ross’ was in fact a girl.
While unable to continue in the men’s game, it was equally impossible to pursue a career in the women’s game in Scotland.
The major stumbling block was women’s football was still officially banned by the Scottish Football Association, as well with their English counterparts, and had been since 1921.
A year before the Scottish FA reluctantly lifted the ban in 1974 – three years after the English FA – an ambitious Reilly, with the help of a Daily Record journalist, found a club to play for on the continent.
With a growing professional scene in Europe, the Scottish teenager became Scotland’s first female football professional with Stade de Reims.
Reilly’s life would change dramatically just six months later when she left the Champagne region for Italy, joining ACF Milan to kickstart what would become a 22-year Italian odyssey.
Rose Reilly won two Scudetti and two Coppa Italia with Milan, before becoming topscorer in a league title wins with Catania in 1978. More remarkable was her achievements during the 1981 season.
Reilly moved to the south of Italy with Lecce and, because the Giallorossi played on Saturdays, the Scot would fly to France on Sundays to turn out for Reims once again. Playing two different national leagues did not faze Reilly, as she won both domestic titles that year!
These achievements did not go unnoticed by the women’s Italian national team.
At this time there was an unofficial Women’s World Cup, and with the 1983 edition being organised, Reilly was asked to turn out for the Azzurri for the tournament hosted by China.
Although capped 10-times for Scotland, there was no official recognition of the women’s game by either FIFA or UEFA. This made the switch from dark blue to a lighter shade an easy one.
The Scot actually captained the Azzurri all the way to the final where Italy faced the USA in front of 90,000 people in Peking, now Beijing. Not satisfied with that, she scored in a 3–1 victory to win the competition, before being voted the world’s best that year.
Reilly described the experience of lining up for the Azzurri as a “Scottish heart beating under an Italian jersey”. She would enjoy the pleasure in 22 appearances for Italy, scoring 13 goals.
The women’s game finally came under the umbrella of UEFA and FIFA, which ended Rose’s Azzurri career. However, she went on to continue playing in Italy’s top flight until she was 40 years old. After ending her playing career, Reilly married an Argentinian doctor and settled back in Stewarton to raise their daughter.
Had she been a man, Reilly would likely be a well known story; instead, her name has largely lurked in the shadows. It could have been used to inspire young women to take up the game but instead women’s football still struggles for recognition and respect in many quarters.
Acknowledged for her achievements in her adopted country, it took until 2007 to be honoured at home. Thanks to a changed attitude within the SFA and the work done by Hampden museum curator Richard McBrearty and his team, Rose Reilly became the first female inductee into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame.
Looking back over her footballing life, Reilly herself looks back at her once unheralded feats with something of an ironic smile.
“Not bad for a lassie from Stewarton,” Reilly said in an interview with the SFA.
On International Women’s Day, it is important to remember the game of football is for all, and stories like Rose Reilly’s can remind us of that.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB8NhzJ8ulA[/youtube]
