It was the sliding doors moment for Sam Kerr that is now opening them for others. After turning her back on a career on the ice she is aiming to sweep the board at Ibrox.
Kerr's first sporting love was curling rather than football and it wasn't until she entered her teenage years that she swapped the rink for the pitch. A childhood affiliation with Rangers, and an admiration of a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Manchester United, ultimately took her down the road to glory with the ball at her feet rather than a stone in her hand.
She can recall a time when Kim Little was the only major figure that she could look up to in the game. Today, Scottish football is full of such sources of inspiration and Kerr herself acts as a role model to the next generation as a rising star at Rangers.
Last week, the 24-year-old took time out of her schedule to give something back to the grassroots level as she joined former Ibrox hero Kenny Miller at the Riverside Museum to coach kids. She knows the benefit as well as anyone.
"When I was younger, there were limited sources to get involved and play football," Kerr said as she pointed to the progression of Emma Watson, Kirsty Maclean and Jodi McLearly as they have risen through the Rangers academy system. "If you did, you had to pay money and some people can't afford that.
"The McDonald's Fun sessions are allowing children to come and join in for free and play football. It is an amazing opportunity across Scotland and anyone, whether you are a girl or a boy, can join in and I hope they take advantage of that and fall in love with the game.
"The lack of role models back in the day was a big thing and now you can see the number of girls and boys coming to our games and wanting to get involved. I find it hard to believe that I could be a role model for someone but it is great to see the number of people getting involved and to be part of that, to potentially inspire just one person, is amazing.
"I didn't get involved with football until I was about 12 because I didn't know any local teams in my area and they never really recruited anyone. I just played with the boys in school and never really had that passion or got involved with it.
"It wasn't until I tried out for the School of Football that someone saw me and really tried to push me to join. Before that there wasn't really anything out there that I could see or relate to or any opportunities."
Kerr was a late convert to the beautiful game but she has made up for lost time. Silverware success with Glasgow City has been followed by historic moments for Rangers.
The midfielder became the first women to score a goal at Ibrox during the win over Aberdeen on the way to the SWPL title last term and she can take pride and encouragement at the way in which female figures are now held up in their own right.
"I used to play curling before football, so I could have been a curler," Kerr said. "I went to Uni and I have a Sports Science degree so I would have probably continued down that route.
"I wanted to go professional and I played until I was 12, 13 before I moved into football so I was quite late. I went to the Royal Caledonian Curling Club and was with some popular people then but I don't know how I would have turned out. I thought I was class when I was 12!
"When I was younger, Eve Muirhead was playing in the groups above me. It was amazing and obviously I looked up to her.
"Now you look at the amount of media that covers women's sport and there are multiple role models out there - be it in football, curling or whatever sport - and it is great. When I was younger, it was only Eve Muirhead and Kim Little for me so it is good that the coverage is growing and people are getting that recognition."
If all goes to plan in the coming weeks, Kerr and her Auchenhowie team-mates will rise in prominence once again and leave another mark in Rangers' history.
A run of four fixtures - starting with a trip to Hibernian this afternoon - will determine their fate in the title race. Later this month, Hampden and their Old Firm rivals await in the Scottish Cup final.
"It is unbelievable," Kerr said. "Hopefully we get a big crowd and it just shows that Women's football is progressing with that game at the National Stadium.
"We have a league to take care of, we know that. We are going to try and win all of our games and hopefully win the league and then win the Scottish Cup.
"There are really exciting times ahead for Women's football in Scotland and hopefully we get as many people as we can to the games and they want to continue participating in sport and see us as role models for that. It is exciting.
"When I was younger, you would play finals at Hamilton. Having games at Hearts and Hibernian is unbelievable and to be at the National Stadium and on the pitch is what you would dream about when you were younger so to know it is an achievable goal now is huge for the game in Scotland."
*Samantha Kerr joined children for a McDonald’s Fun Football session at The Riverside Museum, Glasgow. McDonald’s provides free fun football coaching for 5–11-year-olds across the UK.
