Analogous to an arcade game Anna Moorhouse is the boss on the pitch. You have to beat her to take something out of the game. She will always give her best to deny the strikers effort, that’s for sure. Read the article and find out how she handles to be in such a decisive position.

When did you start playing football? When did you realize that playing professionally was something you wanted to pursue as a career?

I started playing football when I was about 5 years old. My brother used to go to a soccer school and I always wanted to join in and do everything that he did. I think when the WSL was formed is the time that I really thought that I could make it professionally. From a young age it was all I ever wanted to do with my life. When I was younger it wasn’t something that you could do as a job so I always had to make something else up, but really football was the only thing that I wanted to do.

What do you love the most about football?

I love how much can change over the course of the game. There are so many ups and downs within football. It’s crazy how many different emotions you can feel just through 90 minutes of football, you can be on top of the world one minute and then feel at rock bottom the next. You have to take both with a pinch of salt and not let either of these emotions affect you too much because the game changes often. Another thing I love about football is the team can be your second family. I moved away from my family 3 years ago and I’ve made some really good friends at Arsenal and now at West Ham. Beardie, my current coach, has created a real family atmosphere.

What is your first significant memory with football?

I was 15 and went for trials at Manchester United the team I had supported my whole life. It was at the famous Cliff training ground and as soon as you walk in, you know it’s a special place. I remember it specifically because I was unsuccessful and I thought at the time it was my last chance, as the maximum age in the academy was up to U16 so the next year I would be too old. However, the next season passed and the FA announced they were changing the age groups to up to U17. I had another chance and this time I was more prepared and I was ready. I was successful this time and got in.

In my senior career winning my first trophy with Arsenal was a special moment for me. Arsenal is such a big club and winning trophies is a big part of their history and to add a little bit towards that was amazing. I was over the moon that I was even at a club like Arsenal and to win a trophy there was incredible.

What is one of your favorite saves, moves, or passes you like to do on the pitch? That moment really pumps you up and gives you confidence.

Simple things give me confidence. I think I’ve learned this more as I’ve matured as a player if you do the simple things right then the big saves and big plays will come with that. Sometimes I do forget that and can get frustrated but I really do play better when I’m relaxed and doing the simple things better.

My favourite play is the big switch out to the opposite full back. I think it can help relieve pressure off the team and utilises the space on the opposite side of the field.

 Have you thought about life after football? Any other goals or occupations that you would like to pursue?

Right now I’m trying to complete my personal training course and I’m looking into doing some coaching badges. So hopefully in the future, I can combine the two together with my degree in sports science and do a specialised coaching/fitness business. That plan is way in the future and right now I’m trying to get as far with football as I can.

If you could start all over again, would you become a goalkeeper or would you try your luck on a different position?

I did use to be a striker but I think I would still be a goalkeeper. I love it. You have to be a certain type of person to say that I think but I think for all the hard times that come with goalkeeping the good moments are the best. In the last moments of a game when you make a big save to keep the three points with your team is way better than scoring a goal for me. You can have so many moments in a game to score a goal, but one mistake as a goalkeeper and you can lose your clean sheet and points for your team, so to get the shut out is a great feeling.

What would you tell your younger self now considering all the lessons you have learned to date?

Things aren’t always going to go the way you want them to every time. Stay calm and do the simple things the best you can. This is something that I still have to tell myself now so I would definitely tell my younger self.

Do you have any rituals before matches to help calm nerves?

The only nerves I get are usually in the pre match meeting we have, but before the game I don’t normally get them. So I don’t really have any rituals that I do other than putting my left sock, shin pad, tape, and boot followed by all my right ones.