Thursday 5 March 2015 13:08, UK
Multi-talented Scottish rugby union international Nuala Deans says former Arsenal Ladies striker Julie Fleeting is one of her sporting heroines.
The Wasps outside centre made her debut for Scotland in their Women’s Six Nations clash with France last month having represented her country in football and cricket at youth level.
Deans was once part of a hugely successful Hibernian Girls side and the 26-year-old says mum-of-two Fleeting, who has 116 goals in 121 international matches, is someone she admires greatly.
“When I was younger my elder brother and my mum were role models. My mum can still do more keepie-uppies with a football than I can and she’s been a big influence on my career,” Deans told Sky Sports.
“But when I was a young footballer I really looked up to Julie Fleeting who was obviously one of the most prolific goalscorers in the history of Scottish women’s football.
“She went on to play for Arsenal and showed she could help produce results on that stage as well as in America.
“She was someone I really looked up to when I was an aspiring footballer and I have noticed recently that she has been back in the Scotland set-up after giving birth to two children which is quite remarkable.
“I think that’s a positive move for Scottish football because she is a phenomenal talent. I think that she offers something different that Scotland don’t really have in terms of their other centre forwards.”
