AFC Women goalkeeper Katie O’Hanlon previewed this weekend’s trip to Rangers, while also taking time to reflect on her switch North on loan from West Ham United.
Sunday's game is a 4.10pm KO at Broadwood Stadium, with the match broadcast on BBC Alba.
New surroundings
“I’m enjoying it. I'm settling in. I’ve done a bit of exploring, seen a few castles. Some nice countryside around here, it’s been good to explore.
“I’ve been here a while now, so I'm getting my routine together, It’s a bit quieter than London, but I do like it. It’s too different to compare, but I like them both in their own ways. It makes it a lot easier to focus on what I’m here to do.
“Cormack Park actually reminds me quite a lot of Chadwell Heath at West Ham. People know each other, you walk past and you say hello to people you might not necessarily know across the club, and it’s a good environment, and it reminds of what I know from back home.”
A good bunch
“They are a good group of girls. We all get on really well. So we’re just trying to get those relationships from off the pitch onto the pitch, make sure we can transfer that togetherness into matchday.
“I’m living with Briana and Selin, which has been really good. Really chill. To be fair, I could live with any of the girls. They’re all really nice girls, and it’s made it so easy being away from home.
“I’m an only child, so it’s always just been me, my mum, my dad. It was definitely daunting at first to move out and be away from home, but to be honest, I’ve taken to it a lot better than I thought I would.
“I think I’ve learned a lot about myself, on the pitch with football, but also, in life in general. Overall it’s been a really positive move for me.”
“My Mum’s from Scotland, so any excuse to come back to Scotland and she’s there, so everyone has been up visiting. My dad always says he feels dead calm in Aberdeen, they like the city.
Reflections on so far
“On the pitch it’s been a mixed bag. We know what we need to do, but we’re not shying away from what we need to improve on. We’ve been working really hard at that and these things, they won’t change overnight, but we are making the right decisions and taking the right steps to make those changes as soon as we can.
“I want the team to do well. I want this club to do well.
“So as much as I’m grateful that I’ve had good performances and I’ve had good recognition so far, I think it’s important for the whole team to get that because everybody works hard every week. It’s important that everybody gets that recognition for their hard work. So hopefully that’s to come.”
“I think the SWPL is a really good level. Of course, there’s a mixed bag in terms of teams, but overall, the league is a really good standard. I’s very beneficial for me to come and play every week. I’m grateful to do that and just show a bit more about what I can do, but also try and help the team as much as possible.”
The challenge of Rangers
“We know they are a good side, they are top of the league. They are where they are for a reason. We will show them respect, but not too much respect.
“I think if we take our defensive performance from Glasgow City, I think we can do really well and show what we have been working on. We’ve got to bring the right mentality and bring the right energy to the game.
“I’ve always been the baby of the bunch, so it’s nice to take on a bit of a different role, a bit more of a leadership role. It’s been different for me, but it’s been something that I’ve really enjoyed so far.”
