Player Interview: Lynsay Anderson

Posted on 14. Oct, 2012 by Stephen Kennedy in Features

I first spotted this girl a few months back as I covered a couple of Hearts matches but by far her most prolific match, which I attended was the SWFL Second Division Cup Final at Alloa. Her skill and pace on the ball provided a formidable task for the Aberdeen Reserves’ defenders and despite numerous partnerships lined up against her, Lynsay always came out on top.

Since then, I have enjoyed observing her cause havoc amongst the defences of other sides and it goes without saying she is usually at the heart of most of her club’s creative play and has been known to pop one in the back of the net now and then.

Jo and April from Stewart First Aid Training present Lynsay with her award

Even Against Spartans Reserves recently, the hosts attempted to mark her out of the game by playing a girl with Premier League experience against her, Lynsay eventually won the battle for supremacy on the right wing.

Here is her online interveiw – took a while but is it worth the wait? You decide!

Name: Lynsay Anderson

Age: 21

Home town: Dalkeith

Employment/Education: Student, Adult Nursing at Edinburgh Napier

Team: Hearts Women FC

Position: Right Midfield

Time at club: Three and a half years

Previous clubs: Musselburgh Windsor

Team supported: Heart of Midlothian FC

Favourite food and drink: Definitely chicken nuggets and maybe the odd shot when I’m out partying!

Favourite TV show or film: Celebrity Juice

As our Stewart First Aid Training Player of the Match please tell us how you feel and what it means to you:

I was absolutely delighted to be given the award as I had trained hard and I knew how important it was for our team to win the League Cup that night.

I train alongside dedicated players, so to be picked out from such a talented team meant so much to me. It was thanks to all the ladies hard work and determination that I was able to perform to such standard.

If you hadn’t been chosen as our POTM, who would you have given it too and why:

It’s difficult for me to single out an individual in my team from that night as we were such a strong unit but if I had to choose it would be Gemma Piaskowski who read the game well and was able to get into great positions within the box, she was able to latch onto each cross that was put into her and scored some good and well deserved goals.

SWFitba: Totally agree. Gemma has been so close to winning POTM on a number of occasions but unfortunately has been pipped at the post by an extremely good performance. However, if I was giving an award for consistency on the park – Gemma would be first every time.

How did you get involved in football: 

When I was younger, I wasn’t interested in football at all, in fact I’d go as far as saying I couldn’t stand it. I was more interested in going to my dance classes twice a week. Until one day the girls in my PE class asked me to join the girls’ school football team. If I’m being honest I went along because it was my friends that had asked me, not because I was interested in playing.

I played in one of my first few football games when my current coach Tam Milne, was there to support some of the girls who were in his then team – Musselburgh Windsor Girls. Tam had passed on a message to my friends asking me to attend their team training during the week. I went along  to the training session and can honestly say I’ve never looked back.

Who were your heroes that inspired you to play the game:

Although I absolutely love football now; both the men’s and women’s game, I was never really interested until I started playing for my school football team. I didn’t have heroes who inspired me then but now players like Kim Little who has achieved so much in the women’s game inspires me to work hard and be dedicated to my club.

SWFitba: She is a class act and a good role model for younger kids to follow

What is your best memory from the game:

It would have to be when the final whistle went and we knew that we had won the League Cup! Seeing the faces of my team mates, coaches and dedicated friends and families who had come “en masse” to support us. To see them all cheering and clapping was the best feeling in the world.

And your worst:

It would have to be when I went over on my ankle and had to be taken off with only minutes until the end of the game.

What is your greatest achievement in the game: Winning the League Cup with a team of girls who I class as my closest friends.

What would you like to achieve: Promotion this season!!!!!

SWFitba: Well only a complete and utter disaster will prevent Hearts from going up

Ever fancied coaching/management: Yes – I think I would enjoy coaching as I enjoy encouraging the younger Hearts’ teams to do well.

Which team is the most difficult you have played against and why:

It would have to be Spartans Reserves because they are fighting for the League Title against us and games between us are always physical, tough battles.

Which current player impresses you the most and why:

In my team it would have to be our team captain Megan Paterson, even though she was injured for a while, she was still dedicated enough to come along to every match, training sessions and support the team. Since returning from injury she has added to the strong defence and has taken on full responsibility as captain. She had big boots to fill as our team captain Kim Borthwick is out due to injury too but she has adapted to the role well.

What can be done to improve the status of the women’s game in Scotland:

I think wider coverage and publicity of the women’s game would encourage more people to get involved and support it.

Who is the club’s party animal: We have a brilliant social life as a team and we all love to party… like animals!!!

Who is the club’s comedian: Kirsten Reilly AKA “GINGEY”. She’s hilarious but is often oblivious to how funny her random outbursts actually are.

What is your funniest moment connected to the game:

When one of our players came on for literally two minutes to get smacked in the face with the ball and had to go straight back off again. Doesn’t sound funny writing it on here but it was hilarious at the time.

Tell us something about yourself we do not know: I loveeee Olly Murs – not sure if anyone is aware of this so might as well put it out there now!

Well Lynsay “Ollie” Anderson – your team mates know now! A superb interview and well worth the wait. Many thanks and good luck in your final match of the season and I look forward to watching you and the girls in the First Division – hopefully!