Squash star who could have played football for Scotland

Georgia Adderley might have been playing football for Scotland against Belgium in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier if she had taken her own advice as a young teenager.

Instead, the 25-year-old is currently ranked 26 in the world in squash, with her eyes firmly on being number one and qualifying for the Olympics.

"I remember when I was 10 or 11 writing a 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' and it was all about being a professional footballer," Adderley told BBC Scotland. "I played football and squash until I was 16."

Indeed, she played for Spartans in the Scottish Women's Premier League.

"I played football to a high level," Adderley said. "I played a couple of times with Spartans and represented Scotland through the age grades. It got to a point when I was 16 where I had to make a really tough decision.

"I am really happy with the decision I made and I am really happy with where I am.

"With every decision there is a loss - that is the reality. I absolutely love football, but I am very thankful for the decision I made and thankful for the time football gave me."

Being a prodigious talent both with a ball at her feet and with a racquet in hand meant spare time was at a premium for Adderley growing up.

She would be in the gym before school twice a week and would double up with both football and squash after school on Mondays and Fridays.

Every evening in midweek was filled with training before squash tournaments and football matches at the weekend.

"I got my homework done in the day and managed all right at school too," Adderley recalled.

"So my time management when I was younger was very good. I am a lot worse now somehow - I am always late for everything."

Football's loss has been squash's gain.

In 2017, Adderley became the first Scot in nearly 25 years to win a British Junior Championship and that success has translated to the senior ranks.

Last month, she won the Richardson Wealth Women's Open in Canada, her sixth PSA Tour title success and her first since March 2024.

"I am playing a lot of the bigger events, so I am facing a lot of tough opponents in the first and second rounds and not always winning," she said.

"It can feel like you are losing a lot of matches and not making that much progress, but you are and then winning a tournament like that, I felt like progress came together."

Adderley reached a career high world ranking of 22 last season but is setting her sights far higher.

"I want to try to be the best player in the world," she said.

"Obviously that is a big ask with where I am right now, but I will keep working away to get myself to be the best player I can be and make sure I leave no stone unturned.

"My next goal is top 20 in the world, be a bit more process orientated and try to get the performances."

Adderley is hoping to continue her good form at the upcoming European team championships in the Netherlands before the World Championships in Egypt.

Meanwhile, the whole squash community is counting down to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where the sport will make its long awaited debut.

That is a piece of history Adderley would dearly love to be a part of, with only 16 players being part of the inaugural event.

"When squash was announced in the Olympics, it was super exciting for every single person in the sport - as long as I have played the sport it has been something we have been pushing for," she added.

"Obviously it is a goal. I would love to get myself there. It is very clear what we have to do to get there, so I am just trying to focus on my game, getting my game in a good place and getting myself into a position where I can try and get selected."