Heading into Canada's 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup hosting duties, Canadian Women's National Team central midfielder Desiree Scott took time out of her preparations for her 2014 club season to help grow the game in the prairies over the weekend when she helped host a one day skills clinic at the Yorkton Regional High School for aspiring footballers to hone their skills.
Scott, who is 26, is one of Canada's regulars in the midfield for the CWNT and was a crucial figure in the team's magical run to bronze in the 2012 London Olympics where the Canadians took their hated American rivals into extra time on the back of a Christine Sinclair hat trick in the semifinal round before losing and settling for a bronze medal win over France in what was Canada's best finish on the world stage in the beautiful game for men or women.
From Winnipeg, Scott was one of the heroes of Canada's bronze medal win over France as she cleared the ball off the goal line with the score tied at Nil-Nil to allow the Canadians to stay in the game and find the winning goal in a 1-0 win over the French in London.
Well the bronze medal game didn't have the organic explosion of television and worldwide media coverage that their epic battle with the USWNT had, Scott and the CWNT have became household names making it no surprise that local girls (and boys) wasted no time in flocking to the YRHS to meet a Canadian national team player as well as to learn some valuable skills.
The well attended event showed just how popular the game has became in Canada and whether you call it football or simply soccer, Scott is happy to see that the game is growing more and more in the province.
"We had a good turnout today which is great because I love seeing how much the game is growing in the prairies," says Scott. "Being from Winnipeg born and raised I grew up playing soccer in this area so whenever I can give back and help grow the game here it is a thrill to watch all of these young players get passionate about the game."
Scott mentioned that the game in Canada, which is still growing at the grassroots and national level to earn the attention of the mainstream even with the success of the women's national team, has really exploded since the London experience.
"It has been nearly two years now since we went to London and still people will come up to you in the street and talk about the game against the Americans and winning bronze. Which is nice because you don't always get the opportunity to experience having that fan interaction so we definitely appreciate all the love we have got from our country and it is something I am extremely grateful for and is why I try to give back as much as I can."
Scott's aim to help grow the game comes at a time where the Canadian women are looking to grow the game even further next year when they host the Women's World Cup in 2015 following the men's version in Brazil this year, playing in front of the country Scott is hoping that not only the fans come but that herself and her teammates can put on a show to make the country as proud as they were after the Olympics.
"We did some great things in London and a lot has changed since then, but we are still a really focused group that is determined to go out and play for our country every time we step onto the pitch so playing in front of our own fans in our own country is definitely going to motivate us to try to take that next step," says the veteran Scott who has 71 caps for the national team since 2010. "Playing in front of our home country is an experience that is always special, but hosting the World Cup is an entirely different once in a lifetime experience that we aren't taking for granted so there is a lot of work to be done between now and 2015 to prepare to play for our country at the best level possible when the time comes."
Part of that preparation will be the club season as Scott and the rest of the CWNT will part ways to different North American, South American and European clubs for the next few months before returning to the National Team camp to prepare for the World Cup. Scott is taking on a new experience for the club year, heading over to Notts County after a long North American club career following her collegiate success at the University of Manitoba.
"Next up for myself and for my national team teammates will be the club season so we are currently on break from national team training and are focused on getting ready for the long haul."
Scott played for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the old W-League before spending a year with FC Kansas City in the new National Women's Soccer League before transferring to England to play for Notts County over the winter. Moving from North America to England for her club career, Scott says that she is most excited to help grow the women's game in a country that is famous for being one of the most passionate areas in the world for the game.
"I had a long career in North America playing for the Whitecaps and spending a year in Kansas City helping grow the game here, but I am excited to get to spend part of my year over in a soccer mad country like England trying to grow the game with a new experience so I am definitely looking forward to going over there and getting started with Notts County."
