Page 12 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.9 2020-21

Just before Christmas, one of the women's game's best known
players and biggest characters in recent years, Ann Marie
Heatherson announced her retirement from playing football.
After making her breakthrough into the first team at
Charlton Athletic, then one of the major title challengers in
the Premier League, and winning the FA Young Player of the
Year award in 2004, the striker scored the winner in the FA
Community Shield against Arsenal a few months later, the
start of a season which culminated with them winning the FA
Women's Cup Final, beating Everton 1-0 at Upton Park.
Following successful spells with Fulham and
Millwall Lionesses, Annie went on to join Bristol Academy
when the FA WSL began in 2011 and she came very close to
more trophy success, reaching two more FA Cup Finals and finishing as runners-up in the league.
Annie then joined Yeovil Town, staying with the club until the end of her career, and
enjoyed more success as she helped them win the WSL 2 title in 2016.
We talked to Annie in length about her career and her plans for the future:
WSS: Annie, was there anything in particular that made you decide to hang up
your boots?
AMH: Unfortunately, due to having covid and then it progressing on to Long-Covid it has
caused me some health issues. As we are all aware, I'm not a young spring chicken anymore (not
like I have ever been a spring chicken!) and at the age of 36, it's time to consider a new path in
life and it feels right to say goodbye to football.
WSS: How tough a decision was it?
AMH: The decision, unfortunately, has been quite easy. After getting relegated two
divisions and the club going through the financial difficulty they have, I believe that was the
turning point for me. I've had a great career and I don't regret anything in my football career,
it just happens to be that covid hit me at just the right time and with some of the youngsters and
the great direction the club is going in, I can finally leave and know the club I fell in love with is
in great hands.
WSS: When you started off as a youngster at Charlton, could you ever have
envisaged the progress that women’s football made during the course of your
career?
AMH: Oh God, no! When i started playing, I had to pay to play and even though there was a
pathway to being an England international, that was all there was. Centre of excellence and
pathways was not a thing in those days. Then Charlton came along, and it was one of three clubs
I believe at the time who had sponsors and money from outside business. To be a part of
something where people and business want to invest was unique, but at the same time, it gave
you hope that the women's game could grow - but all female footballers knew it would have to
take someone with drive and passion to get this up and running. What the FA have done for the
women's game and how that has pushed and pushed to make sure women have the same rights
as the men is actually incredible! A lot of people won't know this, but this is only the beginning.
The women's game has gone a long way and I have faith it will get further.
WSS: So what would you say was the highlight of your career?
AMH: I have so many to be grateful and thankful for. Winning the FA Cup with Charlton was
amazing and working with those players was a dream. Being selected to play for my country
and my time at Bristol Academy was amazing. I always loved being an underdog and what we
achieved at Bristol Academy was a fairytale. It's always nice wanting to show people that
anything is possible - like Millwall, Fulham, Yeovil, Charlton and Bristol achieving the status
that everyone would agree wasn't possible is always something I loved. I guess it was a way to
show people that working hard, working together and putting your belief in something could
help you achieve anything.
Issue no. 9 - 4 February 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk