Scottish footballer
Rachael Johnstone (born 2 March 2004) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Heart of Midlothian.
She has previously played for Celtic and Spartans, and has represented Scotland at under-17 and under-19 level.
Early life
Johnstone was born in Glasgow in 2004 and was brought up on the Isle of Lewis where her interest in football began.[1] She began playing for Stornoway Athletic’s under 15 boys team – an outfield player who got placed in goal temporarily, impressing when she did.
By the age of fourteen she was chosen for the Scotland national team, making her debut in a match against Poland.
Club career
Celtic
At the age of 16, Johnstone was in the first team at Celtic while also playing in the Scotland under-17 team.[2] Her family and particularly her mother Rhona were very supportive of her ambitions – the long distance between her home in Lewis and Glasgow made attending matches and training difficult. In November 2020, she moved to Glasgow, living in a flat in Paisley that she shared with five other teammates.[3]
In September 2021, Johnstone signed her first professional contract with Celtic.[4] She played in the 2021–22 Scottish Women's Cup final against Glasgow City, winning the match 3-2.[5]
Hearts
On 18 January 2024, Johnstone signed an 18-month contract with fellow SWPL team Heart of Midlothian, with the option of a further year extension.[6]
International career
Johnstone was not originally in the 26-player Scottish squad to play in the 2022 Pinatar Cup,[7] but injuries to Erin Cuthbert and Chloe Logan resulted in Leah Eddie and Johnstone being called up to the squad.[8]
Personal life
In 2022, Johnstone was playing football with an ambition to study business.
She wore the number 52 while at Celtic, which is the same as her family's house number in Balallan in Lewis.[3]
References
