Goalkeeper Annalisa McCann on staking her claim as Aberdeen Women’s first choice between the sticks

By Sophie Goodwin

November 8 2022, 6:00 am

Annalisa McCann has started the last two games for Aberdeen Women. Image: Shutterstock,

Aberdeen Women goalkeeper Annalisa McCann has a taste for more game time after making her first appearances for the Dons this season.

The 17-year-old, who hails from Elgin, has played in the last four games for Aberdeen across all competitions, with two of those appearances coming from the bench.

She made her first top-flight start under the lights at Balmoor Stadium against Hibernian and retained her place for the clash against Glasgow Women at Pittodrie.

At the club stadium, she kept the Dons’ first clean sheet of the season as Aberdeen Women won their first-ever game at Pittodrie with a 2-0 victory.

And the young goalkeeper is grateful to have had a chance to stake her claim for the Reds’ number one jersey after patiently biding her time for the opportunity.

McCann said: “It’s obviously a confidence boost knowing the managers trust you and they see that you can do well in those high-pressure competitive situations.

Annalisa McCann talks with Aberdeen co-manager Emma Hunter at half-time at Pittodrie. Image: Shutterstock

“It’s very competitive because there’s only one position – but at the same time, me and AJ (Aaliyah-Jay Meach) work really well together.

“It’s good to learn things from her because she’s a really experienced goalkeeper.

“I was really happy to get that opportunity to prove myself in games, because there’s only so much you can do at training. I think I’ve done well in the games I’ve played.

“Once you start playing – you strive to keep playing. You just have to take each game as it comes and if you start then you have to work as hard as you can on the pitch.”

SWPL 1 and Scotland experience

McCann had SWPL 1 experience before playing for Aberdeen as she previously turned out for Forfar Farmington, who no longer have a team in the top-flight.

She reckons, while she might not have played many games, it was a good insight into the level required to play at the highest level.

The goalkeeper said: “I moved to Forfar when I was 15 and that was a big step up coming from under-16s football to playing in the top-flight.

“I didn’t play many games, but it was a good experience working with Lauren Perry, who was in the Northern Ireland national team at the time.

“I learned a lot there, so it was a really good experience.”

Aberdeen Women goalkeeper Annalisa McCann. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

When Forfar Farmington’s SWPL 1 team folded last year, McCann returned to youth football as she made the move back up north to play for Aberdeen Ladies’ U19 team.

She believes that playing U19s football for another year was the right choice as she played more than she would’ve done if she had stayed with a senior team.

McCann said: “It was good, because I was getting more game time and then I was training with the first team twice a week as well.

“It was really nice to come back to Aberdeen and play with my friends from before.

“It’s good to play at that level – even though it is a high standard – (and) it didn’t feel like there was as much pressure on you compared to SWPL 1.”

McCann has been named in the last two Scotland U19 squads and, although she’s yet to be capped at that level, she has enjoyed being involved with the national team.

She said: “Although I didn’t play, it was a really good opportunity to go down and experience international football.