Scoring Goals in the Dark: The Extraordinary and Brave Story of International Footballer Clare Shine

by Clare Shine, Gareth Maher

As a young footballer, Clare Shine appeared to have it all. She won her first international call-up at age 13, and by 15 was part of the Republic of Ireland Women's under-17 squad. But the pressure of being a star striker weighed heavily on her young shoulders. By age 19, she had played in a UEFA European Championship and a FIFA World Cup, scored the winner in a Cup Final, won her first senior international cap and become a full-time professional player. But she had also become addicted to alcohol, experimented with drugs, suffered panic attacks and attempted suicide for the first time. This is the story of someone trapped in a world where the weight of expectancy and the battle with personal demons was all washed away, albeit temporarily, whenever she put the ball in the back of the net. It is the story of a girl struggling to find her true identity, a journey in search of confidence and self-belief from someone who seemingly had it in abundance, and a remarkable tale of recovery and achieving new goals.

151 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 6, 2022

Reviews

[Áine Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a young woman who has opened up about her mental health issues, taking you on what I would describe as a story train of her life. She speaks about playing sport, mental health and creating a healthy lifestyle after struggling with everything that life brings to us. There is not enough books out there about mental health. For a woman who has always been known as a great player, or as she says 'star player'. It goes to show that even with a smile on your face and a good game, you can still struggle. The way clare described depression, anxiety and her struggle with substance abuse, really shows the reader what the horrible illness is about. She not only speaks about her journey, but speaks about how she got through everything with the help of friends and family. After going through quite similar problems, it really helped me deal with what i have been through.
This book is a real eye opener on what people struggle with daily. And Clare shows you, that it's okay not be okay.

[Shane Mulcahy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant book and one that I would highly recommend. Claire Shine's story provides an absorbing read about her football career and her struggles outside of the game. There are plenty of recent sports books that tell the stories of athletes and players who have struggled with their mental health. However, I don't think I've read any that articulate the matter as well as this particular book. Credit should also go to Gareth Maher, who has done a superb job in ghostwriting this book.

[Craig Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've watched Clare Shine play football on many occasions. She's a great player and has always stood out because she's been so open about her struggles with mental health and addiction. This book is a stark, emotional and inspiring story of a young woman who had the world at her feet, hit rock bottom and managed to get back on top. A great read.

[Lewis Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

such a brave story to tell especially from an active player - more of this. however, how the book was presented on the page did throw me out of it - all centre text, big margins, larger font sizes and double spacing

[Stephane Watteeux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely, heart warming and sobering (!)
Thank you for being so open Clare

[Niamh Doran]

Such an inspiring story!

[Grace Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would recommend to anyone looking for a book to make them think. Clare Shine does a great job speaking of her troubles and it’s such a brave story that deserves more recognition. I really enjoyed this book.