A well deserved break for AFC Women after a successful start to the year presented itself as the perfect time to catch up with January recruit Alix Mendez for the first time since she signed for the Dons at the start of 2025.

It has been constant action for Mendez since her arrival, she has featured in every game, from the start, after making her debut at the start of February against Partick Thistle.

For Alix, long may it continue.

“I’m loving it, everything about it – the football side, being with the girls, it all.”

“I think I settled in quite quickly. I think because I had a game so early on when I came in, I was just straight into it, and I think it’s better that way, I didn’t have time to think about it, which was a good thing – it was straight to it.”

“I think the pace of the game in my debut against Partick was so quick. It took a bit of time to adjust, but I grew into it. Then we had Rangers, which was a different standard altogether, it was insane. For my second game to be against Rangers, I was on the pitch thinking, oh my god!”

“There is a big difference from the League of Ireland, mainly the physicality, the pace of it. Playing against more internationals, and better managers, but I am also training with quality players every week. There is a difference, 100%. I do think that the League of Ireland standard has helped me to make the transition easier.”

Since joining from Cork City, Mendez has been an ever present in the Dons XI, seamlessly moving from right centre-back to right wing back from game-to-game.

“I didn’t expect to arrive and play every game. When I arrived, I had about three days’ notice before my debut. I was like to myself, it’s going to probably take a few weeks to even get into the squad. I was thinking there’s no way I’d be straight in starting games.”

“I am happy to play anywhere, if that is centre back or wing back, I actually love it. I love the transition. I love experiencing different positions, and I think that helped me as well to get used to the league more, trying out different positions. Because when I’m playing wingback, I understand what they need from a wingback in the league. So then when I’m put into right centre back, I know what a wingback is going to try and do. I am grateful to Scott, because he has trusted me.”

“The girls are great. Everything about them, there’s so much heart in the squad, and they are quality players. I think Scott’s brilliant. When I spoke to him over the phone, I knew how ambitious he was about the women’s side, which is really good to see. He has played the game before at a great level, which helps, and he’s really good in training. With Katie as well, little bits they tell you actually helps massively on the pitch. And, again, I just think he’s so positive. Even in the Rangers game, it was poor, but he found the positives from it.”

Friday night at Pittodrie was a mark for Alix that she had done the right thing in crossing the water, and that the North-east was the best place for her career to develop. The big occasions keep coming, with a history making Semi-final at Hampden also now not too far away.

“Pittodrie was unbelievable. I text all my family afterwards to say, it was the best experience I’ve had in my career yet. It was incredible. The fans were unbelievable, everyone behind the scenes was great,  everything was unbelievable.”

“That was when I felt like, oh my god. I am playing professional football. It was such a noticeable step up for me. Hopefully we can play there again. It would be really good.”

“Hampden will be a big occasion of course. It will be a difficult game, but we have nothing to lose. We just go out there and play our game. We can’t let the occasion get the better of us, we just need to try and show what we are capable of.”

In the flat with Megan Sidey and Niamh Noble, it is a tight knit group with the Irish girls, Holly McEvoy, Ellie May Cowie and Emma Ilijoski all just around the corner as well.

“I’ve never lived away from home. I am only 20, so it’s my first time away from home. I’m not homesick at all. I thought I would be because first time away, being in a different country, but the girls in the house and the flat have been amazing, so welcoming. You’re never really on your own. There’s always someone that would do something. Whether we’re going for a walk, a coffee, just chilling around the house, they’re great.”

“I knew Kerry before I came here. Kerry is an example of a true professional. Her mindset, how she trains, just everything about her. I just think she’s unbelievable. Obviously, her quality as a player shows, the experience she has as an international. Having so many Irish girls had definitely helped.”

“I think they struggle with my accent sometimes! Megan and Niamh definitely struggle with mine. Macca’s got a strong accent, really strong. She texts how she speaks – it is like she has her own language! I just don’t understand her.”

“As a team, the goal is to get as much wins as we can, because I think we have the ability to top the split, so to finish top of that, and get as much wins as we can, that would be great. Personally I want to just be starting and performing as well as I can, consistently. I am hopeful if I work hard I can earn an international call-up.”

“I love it so much here, I love everything about it.”