Scotland coach Kerr soaked in celebrations Scotland are going to the World Cup in France next summer. It will be the first time the women's team have reached the game's showpiece tournament and the first time any Scottish side have since the men opened the 1998 finals in Paris. The achievement follows on from their major tournament debut in last year's European Championships, but who are these new heroes? What impact will their qualification have? And will it benefit the game in Scotland? BBC Scotland asked some of those closest to the game in this country... Are all of Scotland's players professional? Nineteen of the 23 players in Shelley Kerr's squad for the final two qualifiers against Switzerland and Albania are professional. Fifteen play in England, two in Sweden, one in Italy and one in the United States. The remaining four - three from Glasgow City, one from Hibernian - play in the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL), which consists of two divisions, and is almost exclusively amateur. "You could probably count on one hand the number of players who are paid," says Laura Montgomery, a former captain of Glasgow City who now runs the club around her day job of head of sales and sponsorship at Hibernian. "We pay a couple of players, but it is just expenses - petrol money, things like that. It is certainly not anything you can go and buy a car from. There is just not the money available." Glasgow City's Jo Love, 32, works full-time and uses all of her annual leave to play for her country. "She will probably be the last one of a generation who does that," says former Scotland goalkeeper Gemma Fay, who won 203 caps. "It really isn't possible to earn any sort of decent living playing in Scotland." Hibs recently lost two of their Scotland internationals, Lizzie Arnot and Kirsty Smith, to Manchester United's new women's team. "It is hard to turn down that carrot of professional football, as there is nothing up here to entice girls to stay in Scotland," says Hibs club-mate Rachael Small. "It is incredibly difficult working and trying to run a house and car and pay the bills as well as trying to compete with girls who are professional - their fitness is on another level." How big is the women's game in Scotland? The Scottish FA says there are around 12,500 registered players in the country - compared to 6,500 five years ago - with six regional administrative centres across the country. But attendances at club games are sparse, often just a smattering of parents and friends of the players. Glasgow City, who have won the past 11 Scottish Women's Premier League titles, have a loyal band of 50-100 supporters, though their matches in the Women's Champions League can attract up to 2,000 fans. On the international front, Scotland's following has been growing, with several thousand fans at each of the home World Cup qualifiers. Indeed, the 4,098 who attended last Thursday's 2-1 win over Switzerland in Paisley was a new record for a women's game in this country. The SWPL only gained a sponsor for the first time last season, and while a new three-year TV contract with BBC ALBA for Scotland's World Cup and competitive home games will boost investment, a professional league is currently considered a distant prospect. "To continue to have a good Scotland national team, we need to work out how we get our league professional," says Montgomery. "The more we can produce real quality players, hopefully we don't just qualify for major tournaments but go on and do well in them." What effect will World Cup qualification have? The Scottish FA anticipates "another strong influx of girls" taking up football on the back of Scotland's success. Donald Gillies, its head of girls' and women's football, external-link says the achievements of Kerr's squad "present a great opportunity" to develop the game, but perception is also a key driver for change. Fay admits some of the reaction to Scotland's achievement betrays an "ignorance" about the women's game that "makes her blood boil". She says some have belittled the triumph "because they are women". The 36-year-old believes comparisons with men's football are unhelpful, with more education about the women's game required. "We have had a BBC World Player of the Year in Kim Little, and others who play for Arsenal, Chelsea, Seattle, Bayern Munich," she says. "If these were male footballers, they would be lauded as absolute gods. But because it is women's football, that takes second place to the fact they are women. That attitude is the thing that needs to change." Scotland's first World Cup finals in more than 20 years - for men or women - will inevitably bring greater media exposure, and perhaps more appreciation of what the women's game has to offer. "If people start to realise it is completely different to the men's in terms of tempo and aggression, they will come round to the fact that technically the women's game is as good as the men's," says Small. Montgomery, meanwhile, thinks World Cup qualification offers companies opportunities around Scottish women's football, which has a "different audience from the mainstream men's game". "Just because you are one of the 60,000 Celtic fans who go to the men's games, doesn't mean you will go and watch Celtic women play," she says. "Women's football is much more accessible. It is very family-orientated and this is a great commercial opportunity to target that."<doc-sep>THIS is the thrilling moment Scotland's female football squad go mad in their dressing room after qualifying for next year's World Cup. The women's national team has bagged a spot in the competition for the first time ever after beating Albania 2-1 in Shkoder. 3 Scotland's Women's National Team are set for the World Cup next year Credit: Christie Murray/Twitter It came two minutes after Switzerland failed to beat Poland in the other deciding Group Two game. The results put Scotland top of the group for the only time in the qualifying campaign — and takes them to the finals in France next summer. Touching footage posted by the official Scotland National Team (SNT) account shows the team celebrate their momentous win Players and staff alike can be seen jumping around on benches and waving their arms in the air with jubilant cheers of "wooo" ringing through the air. 3 The team celebrated their win over Albania in the dressing room Credit: Scotland National Team/Twitter 3 Players and staff cheered to celebrate heading to France next year Credit: Scotland National Team/Twitter Sharing the behind-the-scenes footage on social media, SNT said: "No Scotland no party." The clip has already racked up more than 70,000 views and 2,500 likes since it was posted on Tuesday night. Nicola Sturgeon led the congratulations to the women's squad - and says she is"very proud". Writing on Twitter, the First Minister said: "Scotland qualifies for the World Cup. "Massive congratulations to our women's team as they show us how it's done. "I'm a very proud team patron." And other football fans have joined in with online messages to the squad over their qualifier triumph. Scotland qualifies for the World Cup!! Massive congratulations to our women’s team as they show us how it’s done. I’m a very proud team patron! #SWNT #OurGirlsOurGame https://t.co/NIUQ5zchF5 — Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) September 4, 2018 One Twitter user said: "Congratulations Scotland huge achievement." John Stewart added: "Well done the woman's football and hope you do well in the world cup." Meanwhile, Jim Kerr wrote: "Congratulations girls. Fantastic achievement. You have made Scotland proud." MOST READ IN SCOTTISH NEWS 'OBSCENE' Scots racist who kneeled on pal's neck after George Floyd murder forced out home Breaking TRAGIC FIND Woman found dead as arrest made and 'forensics search next to River Clyde' Exclusive BLAZE TERROR Scots taxi boss horrified after wife's motor torched by fire maniacs Live Blog BUG LATEST Sturgeon 'undermined' COBRA meetings by 'babbling' on TV, says Cummings 'I FROZE' Scot nearly crashes car as giant huntsman spider crawls across windscreen NO-SHOW Quarter of vaccine appointments missed at major Scots jag hub Goals from Kim Little and Jane Ross got the Scots over the line, despite Albania scoring a shock equaliser on half-time. Speaking after last night's victory, coach Shelley Kerr said: “It’s not sunk in yet and I don’t think it will until I get home. Nothing compares to this. “The players have to take the credit for this because they put in all the hard work.” Neymar scores sublime goal in training… and follows it by doing Cristiano Ronaldo’s trademark celebration<doc-sep>
Scotland captain Rachel Corsie says "not everybody will support" a women's team but believes sealing World Cup qualification will attract more fans. Shelley Kerr's side booked their place at the finals for the first time with Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Albania. It follows their debut at a major tournament at Euro 2017. "You can only do so much and we want as many people to support us. We've seen a lot of growth and want that to continue," Corsie told BBC Scotland. The Scots' crucial France 2019 qualifier with Switzerland in Paisley last week attracted a crowd of 4,098 - a record attendance for a women's international in Scotland. "It's our responsibility to provide football that's entertaining to watch and most importantly, football where we win," added defender Corsie, 29. "Fans ultimately will follow you if you're successful. Us qualifying for two major tournaments - fans start to take note and want to get behind you." In last year's European Championships in the Netherlands, Scotland - then coached by Kerr's predecessor Anna Signeul - lost their first two group fixtures, including a 6-0 humbling by England, before bowing out with a 1-0 win over Spain. Corsie says the Scots have "set a benchmark" with their World Cup qualifying feats and must "prove we deserve to be there with these top teams". "We felt in the Euros we didn't express ourselves and do enough to show what we're capable of," she added. "Now we have the opportunity to do that on a bigger stage and that's exciting." 'By far the best moment of my life' - Cuthbert Scotland striker Erin Cuthbert declared herself "utterly speechless" as she described sealing qualification as "by far the best moment of my life". "There are times in a campaign when you are up against a wall and trying to score and it isn't working out for you," she told BBC Scotland. "But champions find a way to win and we did that. Every single one of these girls deserves to go to the World Cup. This is by far the best moment of my life." Inspired to try football? Find out how to get into football with our special guide. The 20-year-old Chelsea forward admitted she had "not a clue" about what was happening in Poland, where group leaders Switzerland were being held to a goalless draw to hand the Scots their opportunity. "It was stressing me right out," Cuthbert said. "We just had to concentrate on the task in hand. At 2-1 it was still tight and there was always a chance they would get a breakaway like they did in the first half. "We had to stay completely focused but when the girls came running on, I just collapsed to my knees and started crying. It has been a crazy campaign but we deserve this. "These girls have been absolutely excellent the full campaign. They are all my best friends and I want to do everything for them on the pitch. I have got a black eye to show for that! "I would run through a brick wall for these girls and they would for me. Nobody deserves this more than us."