“I’m content. I feel like I’ve done everything I could do. And I’m pretty happy with that.”
With little daughter Lola laughing away in the background, Jade Greenshields proudly reflects on a footballing career of loyalty, special memories and plenty of success.
The curtain was recently brought down on a memorable journey which included more than 10 years at Jeanfield Swifts and St Johnstone, as well as spells at Monifieth, Dundee United, Forfar Farmington and Partick Thistle.
So often a tireless runner in the middle of the park, Greenshields, who works as a firefighter, captained both Swifts and Saints with a competitive edge and unending passion.
Now aged 33 (she made sure to reiterate she has just reached that number), the time felt right to hang up the boots. There was sadness, of course, but other aspects of life needed to take priority.
“There was one game when I was nightshift Saturday night and we were then playing at East Fife at 12.30pm,” Greenshields recalls of a recent fixture.
“I was having to leave work straight away from Perth, drive through, not seeing my family, then was nightshift on the Sunday too. I would be home for a couple hours then straight back to work.
“I was so lucky to have the support of my family, but it wasn’t fair. My family still would have supported me to continue but it was unrealistic.
“It was sad to stop too because you feel like it is part of your identity and people would always ask if I had a game on Sunday. Now is anyone going to ask what I’ve been up to?
“But since having Lola I realised my life has changed now. I’m looking forward to going to games - taking Lola - and knowing that I don’t need to be there at this time or that time. I can go, enjoy it and watch it from a different perspective.”
Greenshields, who is from Auchterarder, started her football adventure playing alongside the boys until under nines or 10 level before continuing to develop at Monifieth, Dundee United and Forfar Farmington.
They were all enjoyable in their own right but home is often where the heart is and time spent with Swifts and Saints - having the skipper’s armband in the process - will always sit at the forefront of memories.
“I ended up going to Jeanfield Swifts, which I was really glad about,” Greenshields recalls. “It was one of the best decisions because I got to work with some really good people. And I was there for 10 or 11 years.
“It was a really good group at Jeanfield and we started from the bottom. We built everything up, the relationships with the players and coaches. Women’s football was becoming more popular and it was a really good time to be involved.
“The girls were all together - that was really nice - and everyone had their idea of what they wanted.
“We became St Johnstone and people realised how much the game had developed and what the opportunities were. It was even just a privilege to be asked to be captain - and then continue throughout the years.
“I learned so much from fellow players and coaches, which helped me develop and become the player I was. Having the responsibility was brilliant, the leadership and the progression. I would never have changed it.”
There was, quite recently, a brief stint at Partick Thistle in the top flight of women’s football and that emphasised the drive to always push the boundaries and play at the highest level.
She even netted the club’s first ever SWPL1 goal with a rasping strike from the edge of the box.
It would have been quite easy to call time on playing after that short but successful chapter but Greenshields got back involved with the Saints set-up.
“I just wanted to still play, be involved and be part of it,” she said with a smile. “I’m competitive, driven and can only ever do things 100 per cent.
“It just became difficult to give that 100 per cent. I can’t be involved in something if I can’t give it my all. I found that difficult. There has always been something pretty special about St Johnstone. It has not always been easy.
“But if they keep working together and trust the process at the club then good things will happen.”
As highlighted earlier, Greenshields is already planning to get down to cheer on the team whenever she can. She just needs to make sure not to pack the boots.
Signing off with a laugh, Greenshields said: “I think I’m worried where, if I go, I get that feeling that I could be playing. And then I’ll be away home...”
