SCOTLAND captain Gemma Fay says signing a professional contract with Icelandic champions Stjarnan was a prudent move ahead of Euro 2017 this summer.
The 35-year-old, who was injured in the first of two friendlies against Denmark in January, and again in last month’s Cyprus Cup, started this season as No 2 goalkeeper to Lee Alexander at Glasgow City. She has not played a full 90 minutes this year, and announced earlier in the week she had signed with Stjarnan.
“If you look at any international team you need to be playing,” she pointed out. “I had discussions with Scott (Booth, the City head coach) about that.
“The whole thing is slightly unfortunate for me in getting the injuries when I did. It put me in a difficult situation.
“Scott didn’t want me to leave – he said it was too early. But this scenario is best for both me and for Lee.”
The two keepers are in the Scotland squad for Tuesday’s friendly against Belgium in Leuven – along with Fay’s international deputy Shannon Lynn, who plays for the Swedish club Vittsjo.
Fay says there is no animosity between her and Alexander, who has yet to play for Scotland. “Lee has ambitions, I have ambitions and it’s the best thing for Scottish football if we’re both playing,” she said.
“People might not get this, but goalkeepers don’t tend to be enemies. That’s not the type of people we are.”
Fay will join up with her new club at a training camp in Rome following the Belgium game.
Stjarnan have won the Icelandic league for four of the last six seasons but lost their long-term goalkeeper to rivals Valur and results in 2017 have been poor.
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