IT’S always good to catch up with old friends, particularly when that old friend has come through some really testing times. That was the case last week when Eddie Wolecki Black, the most successful women’s football coach Scotland has ever had, came into the RockSport studio as a guest of #letshearitforthegirls.
Eddie is well known for having taken Glasgow City the furthest they have ever gone in the Women’s Champions League, and won four league titles, four League Cups and four Scottish Cups during his 14 years in charge. However, nowadays he may be better known as the man who fought back from a devastating brain haemorrhage.
Eddie had moved on to Airdrie FC to take charge of their men’s squad and on March 5, 2016, suffered a major stroke at half-time during a game. Around a year and a half later, Eddie said: “Everything was fine. I went to wash my hands and I couldn’t turn the tap on.
“I grabbed our physio and said, ‘I don’t feel too well, something’s wrong’.”
That was an understatement. Eddie has since made a remarkable recovery and has been appointed head coach of Celtic’s women’s team. The only visible sign of what happened to him is that he walks with a stick.
Joining him was his wife Emma, who was six months pregnant when Eddie became ill, and his gorgeous daughter Sophia. They make a lovely family that talks passionately about the support they received from family, friends and the wider football community.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams opened up this week about her fears as a new mum, tweeting: “Last week was not easy for me. Not only was I accepting some tough personal stuff, but I just was in a funk. Mostly, I felt like I was not a good mom.”
Coming from a world-class athlete, this statement will give a lot of comfort to other new parents out there.
By being open about their problems, Eddie and Serena have made others feel more comfortable about their own issues and given hope to those who may be in a similar position. The power of sport never ceases to amaze.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here