Lauren Davidson has always backed herself.
A Tesco delivery driver, enduring arduous ten hour shifts, before turning up for training at Glasgow City, the forward took the plunge into full-time football for an initial six-month trial to see if she could make a go of it.
She’s done more than that.
Davidson netted the goal that delivered Glasgow City their last SWPL title in the most dramatic of circumstances at Ibrox. But life has moved since then with Davidson now a year into a two-and-a-half year deal with Brann in Norway.
Still only 23, it has enabled her to kick on again.
“I was definitely out of my comfort zone when I first came over but I think that is a good thing,” she said. “It has definitely made me mature a bit on and off the pitch.
“I will be honest and say I have been lazy with the Norwegian, though! The girls all speak excellent English – probably better than me! – and so it has been good. I do try but I could definitely do more.
“There are moments when they will be chatting in Norwegian and I can’t keep up with it but I am fine with it. I live in an apartment underneath a family just across the road from the stadium.
“So for me it has been eat, sleep and play football. That was this was all about. Just totally focussing on football and testing myself to see how far I can go.
“I have made a lot of small improvements to my game. I loved working with Martin [Ho, who has gone to Spurs]. He was the first manager to take Brann into the group stages of the Champions League and he was invaluable for me.
“I do think he really helped me improve my game and made me realise that it didn’t always have to be big, massive changes. Just some very small adjustments and pointers really helped me to come on.”
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There will be a familiar face to play alongside this term. Brenna Lovera, whom Davidson played with at City, has made the move to Brann. The Norwegian side are keen to make a dent in the Champions League this season – as are City.
“It would be weird if we met one another!” said Davidson. “I am still in touch with a lot of the girls at City. I spoke to Brenna and I had also spoken to the club here about Brenna. It will be nice to have an old team-mate and friend coming out and I think she will make a phenomenal impression here.”
A three week break at home in Bishopbriggs was enjoyed before the demands of the season resume now for Davidson.
And while the downtime was necessary, Davidson admitted that she did her best to avoid any coverage of the Euros, so raw are the wounds that still remain from Scotland’s failure to make it.
“It is still sore and I have tried to avoid watching it as much as I can,” she said. “I have a couple of Finnish team-mates who obviously put us out and while I wanted them to go and do well, it was a hard one to take.
“I think, though, that going away and playing at this standard and in a different environment has definitely made me a better player.
“There is a new regime with Scotland now under Melissa [Andreatta]. I thought the first camp felt like a breath of fresh air. It was all very positive and encouraging but the aim now has got to be to go and get ourselves to the World Cup.”
