Porter to add international flavour to CBU women’s soccer program

The next stop on the soccer journey for Louise Porter – who is a globetrotter, of sorts – will be the east coast of Canada.

The 18-year-old student-athlete recently committed to join the Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers women's soccer program for the 2024 Atlantic University Sport (AUS) season while working towards a business degree.

"I have always loved being abroad as my family brought me up travelling a lot. I started to see some of my teammates choosing to go on a scholarship abroad, and I knew instantly I wanted a chance to do this, too," Porter said.

She added, "When the offer came in from CBU and I spoke to [Capers head coach] Ness [Timmons], it sounded so friendly and family-like. I knew that this would be the place for me. Playing in the AUS is the next step for me and I'm so excited to get started and keep pushing myself."

For young players from Bothwell – a small town on the outside of Glasgow, Scotland, where she grew up – their "football" journeys rarely include taking the pitch for school or university teams.

"I am looking forward to that challenge," she said.

Porter "fell in love" with the sport as an eight-year-old.

"I went to a summer camp and that's where I was scouted to join Motherwell U11s," she remembered.

After a few years with that club, which included plenty of skill development, Porter moved to the Hamilton Academical Football Club, where she joined the U13 team. Over her six-year stint with the program, which also included time at the U15 level, she was a key contributor to multiple championships, including the Scottish Cup. Individually, Porter garnered several players' player-of-the-year awards.

"I worked my way through the age groups and started playing with the women's team," she noted.

In her first campaign with the Celtic U18s, they lost in the championship match of the Scottish Cup in 2023, while she collected another player-of-the-year nod.

When she spoke to CBU Athletics, Porter was a couple of days away from captaining the Celtic U18s to a second consecutive appearance in the Scottish Cup final.

"I have also had many opportunities training with the Celtic woman's first team, which I am incredibly grateful for, as even training with these players is a massive jump," she explained.

Reflecting on her start in the sport, Porter offered, "It was never something I thought I would enjoy as, at the time, not many girls played. However, my younger cousins made me go to a summer camp with them, where I was the only girl. At the end of the week, I realized I loved playing and wasn't too bad at it either."

As for her skill set, Porter said she has "always been more of a defensive player," noting that she kicked off as a left-right back for her first few seasons. When she joined Hamilton Academical, she moved to centre back.

"I instantly felt more comfortable and natural in that position, as I am a very composed player the majority of the time. I have always been able to play either left or right side centre back, which has always been good for me," she explained.

Timmons, her soon-to-be head coach, said that Porter can play "anywhere along the back line," keyed by her "technical ability," as opposed to size and strength.

And, the veteran CBU mentor added, "Louise is very quick."

As for her transition to AUS-style soccer, Timmons described it as a "bit of an unknown," when it comes to her potential impact, while noting – at this point – the Caper coaching staff is basing their assessment on video and scouting reports.

He said it is a "pleasant surprise" that Porter "showed interest" in becoming a Caper.

"For me, I am always looking to contribute to the team. I will want to try get to know how the team play and do my best to help the team progress as far as they can," Porter said, when asked about expectations for her freshman campaign in Caper orange.

"Moving to Canada will be a massive adjustment; being away from my family and friends, as they are a massive part of my life. However, I am sure I will love it once I get to know the life over there."

And, although she has travelled a great deal, Porter has never been to Canada.

"It will be a new place for me all together, so I am really excited," she said.

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