Maya Hay made her grandpa’s dream come true when she signed for St Mirren Women.
Now she’s determined to do him and herself proud when she pulls on the stripes in her first season in Paisley.
The talented centre midfielder joined the Buddies last month, much to the delight of her 84-year-old grandpa Frank Walker - a lifelong Saints fan and season ticket holder.
After missing several years on the pitch due to a painful ACL injury that cut short her chance with Rangers, and the coronavirus pandemic, Hay is desperate to make up for lost time now she’s signed on the dotted line with St Mirren.
She told Express Sport: “I’m from Aberdeen but my mum’s side of the family is from Paisley.
“My grandpa’s a big St Mirren fan. He’s been a season ticket holder for many years and he was at all three of their cup final wins.
“He’s always told me it would be his dream to see me sign for St Mirren. So I’m delighted I’ve been able to make that happen!
“He hasn’t seen me play yet as I’ve only been involved in one pre-season friendly so far, but our coach Kate Cooper has said she will have a chair ready for him for our first league game of the season.
“That means a lot to me.”
Walker says he can’t wait to see his granddaughter turn out in the black and white stripes of the club he’s supported all his life.
He said: “I’m very, very proud of Maya. It’s still hard to believe as her grandfather that she’s signed with St Mirren.
“I’ve supported the club ever since I was a boy, getting carried over the turnstiles at Love Street.
“I’ve seen her play for Scotland before and now I’m very much looking forward to seeing her play for St Mirren.”
Hay has played football since she was seven, turning out for boys clubs in Aberdeen before earning a scholarship to Oklahoma where she played for South Western Oklahoma University.
She returned home and was impressing at Rangers in pre-season before an ACL tear put a painful stop to her football career for three years.
Hay explained: “The scholarship in America was incredible. I was training every day and playing two games a week, it was brilliant.
“When I came back to Scotland I was training with Rangers and I tore my ACL. I was out for three years waiting for an operation, which was very difficult.
“Football was my rock throughout my life, so I had to adapt to life without it.
“I’m a better person now off the field for it, but I’m delighted to be back involved in the game again.
“It’s amazing to be back playing again and being treated so properly.”
St Mirren Women are currently preparing for next week’s pre-season tour to Germany.
And Hay believes the camp will be a perfect trip to help the club prepare for a successful league campaign.
Hay added: “It’s a great way for the team to gel. There’s a lot of new players, including myself, so it will be great way to break the ice.
“It feels like the standard is being raised at the moment in women’s football and the set up at St Mirren is fantastic.
“Mentally when you’re being looked after properly and treated with respect, it’s a lot more professional and a great environment to work in.”
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