When I learnt that former Blackburn Rovers winger had passed away at the tender age of 21, I’m not ashamed to say a tear or two was shed.
Emma was only at Rovers a relatively short time, but she had a major impact on everyone at the club. She arrived as this little kid from Manchester side Fletcher Moss, a player no one had heard of and made her debut in the WPL as a sub against Everton.
I’m not sure what the likes of Jill Scott, Fara Williams and Rachel Unitt thought as Emma stood on the touch-line, but they found out fast.
Fast was what Emma was all about, she had a raw talent, she was a rough diamond with a blistering turn of pace. Emma gained cult status amongst the fans at Clitheroe and one old chap nicknamed her ‘The Roadrunner’ and it stuck. I swear that you could hear her shout ‘Beep-Beep’ as she ran past another defender.
It took one moment of hesitation from Rachel Unitt, before Emma had took the ball from her, leaving the England defender trailing. Now, a player as good as Rachel Unitt wasn’t going to let that happen again, but Emma had no time for reputation. I’m not sure she even knew who Rachel Unitt was. I know Rachel always knew she was in for a tough task when faced with playing against the ‘Roadrunner’.
Tributes have poured in from around the Women’s game and that I’m sure gives comfort to Emma’s family and friends. The best tributes however, come from her teammates:
Kieran Bentley – Asst-Manager
Absolutely devastated. She was a great girl, no matter how tough things got for her, she always came to football smiling and joking. I don’t think anyone had a bad word to say about her. An absolute gem.
Natalie Preston – Captain
Lots of memories of some great times at Blackburn Rovers, and we all got to meet one amazing young girl whom we called ‘little Emma’. She had pace like we hadn’t seen before. This little girl has just passed away leaving her husband and two little girls behind. This girl is one of the strongest girls I know and we are proud to say we played in the same team with you.
Lynda Shepherd
From the moment I met Emma on a 3G pitch in the middle of Manchester, I knew she was special, a young smiley happy girl without a care in the world. Emma showed through her footballing ability that she was something we hadn’t seen before. The more I got to know Emma, (on a personal note); she always showed how caring and thoughtful she was. Emma always made the most of her life and even when she was diagnosed with her illness, she got on without a care in the world. She was still the same smiley Emma we all knew, never once heard her complain. Emma fought so hard to battle her illness and for that she is a credit to herself and her family. She will be missed deeply by many.
Katie Chattell –
Emma was the player I wanted on my team in training. Otherwise I’d spend the entire match time looking like I was pulling a caravan!
Denise Campbell –
It was a pleasure knowing her, she had fantastic talent and pace like I’ve never seen before. She will be sadly missed and my thoughts are with her family. I was looking back through my inbox yesterday and I had a conversation with her a few weeks ago and she never once complained about her illness. She was such a fantastic mum and worshiped her little girls and Stefan more than life itself. She’s pain free now though and can look down on her baby’s everyday.
Karen Burke –
Really sad news about Emma, thoughts are with her family and the special people around her. Lovely Emma, stronger and quicker than anyone, with a wicked sense of humour.
Rebecca Brown –
Emma was a larger than life, bubbly character and a friend to whoever she met. Emma and I played at Blackburn Rovers together a couple of years ago and there was never a dull moment around her, even when we were benched! A true talent to the game and also known as the Roadrunner, she excelled in tearing teams apart with her pace. A true fighter right to end, she’s a credit to her parents and her husband, as well as the two gorgeous girls she left behind. She will be so sadly missed from the game and from the many people who could call her their friend.
Nic Forster –
Throughout it all she never once let it get her down. She fought for her family, her friends and for life. Seems only yesterday we were… celebrating her getting married at her hen party, laughing and joking and at her wedding soon after. She was beautiful, a great team-mate … And my good friend. She was an inspiration to us all and I will miss her so so much.
Nicki Harding –
RIP Emma Mc. What an exciting young player with loads of potential. You will be sadly missed.
Amy Kane –
What an inspiration two us all…fought right until the end…never once heard her complain in the whole time she battled that horrible illness…always had a smile on her face!
Rhiannon Roberts –
Emma Mac (Mincher) truly amazing, beautiful, inspiring young woman! Our thoughts are with family and friends.
Krystal Parker – Emma’s best friend
Emma and everyone tonight was so strong witnessing her victory. My heart aches for everyone I stood with tonight and cried with, through the tears we know you’re now at rest with no pain. There will be no field I ever step onto again beautiful, that will ever be the same again without you. But you taught me football isn’t everything in life. You chose nutty me KP, to be your best friend when you could of chosen, trusted and could have asked any one else for their friendship in the entire world – that I will forever be honoured and grateful for.
She Kicks – the online community for women’s football
