Dave McPherson helping Hearts and Hibs players achieve American dream

Former Scotland defender Dave McPherson is helping female footballers from both Hearts and Hibs earn scholarships in America for next season.

Hannah Duncan of the Easter Road club and Lucy Horn from their Tynecastle counterparts have both agreed to take their careers and education Stateside from August, coronavirus permitting.

Duncan is due to join Lake Tahoe Community College in Sierra Nevada, while Horn is heading to the University of West Alabama.

McPherson, who enjoyed two spells with both Hearts and Rangers as a player, is now a director at GlobalSportsRecruitment.com. He explained why colleges in the United States are eager to attract female footballers.

"I've been in touch with a number of colleges over there and they are desperate to get girls across to integrate them into the football," he told the Evening News.

"The issue we find with girls is sometimes just down to confidence. They can lack that little bit of belief in themselves, so part of the challenge is to help with that.

"You get some boys thinking they are great players in their teens, whereas girls seem to be slightly the opposite. We try to build their confidence because going to America is a great opportunity for them.

"It's certainly something I would have liked to do when I was younger. If I hadn't done what I did and managed to get playing first-team football at a young age [at Ibrox], I think I would have liked to try it. There are obviously far more opportunities nowadays."

Horn - daughter of Bonnyrigg Rose manager Robbie - and Duncan will quickly realise the standards expected on the other side of the Atlantic once they arrive.

"Women's football in America is really taking off and they are very big on fitness. Girls here might think they are fit but America is on a different level. That goes for females and males, to be honest," added McPherson.

"The coaches there tell you that any athletes they get from the UK or Europe are way behind in terms of fitness. It's not just me saying this. It's something they find regularly."

Whilst playing college football, both female and male scholars must stick rigidly to an education plan to maintain good grades. Their footballing future depends on it.

"The academic side is equally important, so we try to get that message across to girls at a younger age," said McPherson. "When they are 15 or 16, getting the best possible grades is vital to their chances of getting into the best American colleges and universities. If their grades aren't as good, the choice is limited.

"It's important to make the parents aware of that when we speak to them because they can obviously drum that home to the teenager. By the time they get to 18, if they want to try America, it's much easier with good grades. As I said, the colleges in the States are desperate to get female footballers in right now.

"The women's game over there is expanding rapidly and they are investing a lot in it to try to grow it. Each time we speak to a college or university there, it's about getting as many girls involved as possible."

The prospects for developing a career in professional football are strong in America. The USA boasts the most successful female national team in the world. They are the current World Cup holders after winning the trophy for the fourth time last summer.

"Because you go to America, it isn't going to stop you having a professional football career if that's your goal," explained McPherson.

"The Americans are world champions so if you do well out there then you will be picked up no problem at all. They are desperate to enhance their game and they see getting good international students over as the way to do that.

"Our girls are a little bit behind the American girls in terms of fitness as I said, but also the facilities they are used to. Their academies are just like big clubs with hundreds of players in the teams.

"They put a lot of money into it and parents pay a lot of money as well. Even the sports science and coaching at ground level is excellent. So our girls are going to learn a lot from the Americans in how to be a pro and how difficult it is.

"Post-degree, there will be a lot more opportunities because a lot of professional girls' teams are starting to pay more money. If I was a coach looking for a female player, and there were some who had played in the American College system for four years, I'd be looking at them.

"Kirsten Reilly joined Rangers not long ago and she went to the University of West Alabama where Lucy Horn is going. Kirsten would be one of many role models."