Page 13 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.9 2020-21

WSS: Who would you say were the best players that you played alongside, or
against?
AMH: Well this list can go on forever! Working with players like Casey Stoney and watching her
grow into a great captain, and now an amazing manager which I think we can all agree on, also
Karen Hills who was one of the most unbelievable defenders in the women's game and she was
never noticed, which amazed me. Fara Williams, who can see absolutely everything and until
you ended up with a one-on-one, you never even knew she saw that run. Players against, well
that's easy - Kelly Smith who you can't put into words as she is just amazing, and soon as you
knew she was playing or coming on there was a fearfulness of that. My last one is most
definitely Jordan Nobbs, I was at Yeovil in the mini super-league and we played Arsenal twice
in one week. The first game, she walked over us and in the second, I was asked by the manager
at the time to mark Jordan. I cannot express how much I hated that decision! Jordan is sharp,
quick, explosive and reads the game so well that as someone who had to mark her for 90
minutes, she was always three steps ahead of me. To mark her for 90 minutes really showed me
how she is one of the best, if not the best in the English game. After that game I developed a deep
respect for her and the England players.
WSS: You went so close to winning the league title both with Charlton and Bristol
Academy, playing in a title decider with both. How frustrating was it to go so close
with both teams?
AMH: This is the story of my career I'm afraid. I've played in seven FA cup finals and won only
one and even then, I hit the woodwork three times during the game! It's always sad not to win
the league because that is the one and only thing I've actually never achieved, but been so close.
I'm always about turning negative moments into positives though and yes, at the time I
was heartbroken, but actually if you said to me at the age of eight that I would be in seven FA
Cup finals and two league challenges but not win, I would have snapped that right up - no
questions asked! So yes. it was hard, but I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to play a
part of these games.
WSS: Who would you say have been the biggest influences on your career?
AMH: 1000% my dad. I was at an age of having no education and not much in my life, in terms
of feeling that I was doing good, and my dad, Martin Heatherson, sat down and really thought
about how he could help me to grow into the woman I am today. He could have easily given up
on me as I was a very challenging child and I was very set in my ways. He did the most amazing
thing and made some decisions in my life that helped me a million percent. He was the person
who got me into football and made sure I worked hard and accepted that sometimes you
won't succeed and you will fail, but that's life. So he taught me that no matter how down, sad,
upset and wanting to quit, it was up to me to turn that around and blaming others wasn't going
to help my journey in life. I am forever thankful for everything he has done for me.
WSS: Your final seasons were spent at Yeovil at all of the top three levels, can you
see them moving back up the pyramid in the future?
AMH: Yeovil are currently in a great position in terms of financial stability with the new owner
Adam Murry. With him in the driving seat and all of his knowledge and position and dreams, I
have no doubt in my mind that Yeovil will be back in the top tier again. I guess that for myself,
this is the sad part as I wish Adam had been around years ago in the women's game. Now I can't
wait to watch him work his magic on Yeovil. a really dedicated man.
WSS: What are your plans for the future, are you hoping to stay in the women’s
game in any capacity?
AMH: For myself, the game has been amazing and it has really supported me through some
tough times and I am forever grateful for that, but I believe that football was there to teach me,
support me and lift me up when I needed it, but my purpose is now somewhere else. I am very
passionate about children and their struggles in life. I never got support at school because people
didn't understand my struggles. That wasn't down to people not wanting to understand, but
back in the 90's ADHD and Attachment were not very advanced like they are nowadays. Now, I
believe I hold more knowledge to help and support these students so that they can get an
education and school not to become such a struggle and be defeatist over things in our life. So,
my new role as Pastoral Care in a secondary school has given me a new drive, passion and love
for my next chapter on my journey.
Our thanks and best wishes to Annie!
Issue no. 9 - 4 February 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk