IN the latest episode of our Getting to Know series, new Women’s Head Coach, Leanne Crichton, sat down to answer some questions on her footballing journey and vision for the club.
The former Scotland international reflected on her distinguished career in the game, her earliest football memories, and the qualities she looks for in her players.
Here’s what she had to say…
What was your earliest football memory?
It was definitely in primary school. I grew up in a generation where girls weren’t supposed to play football. I was quite clearly one of those who broke the mould, knocking down doors and insisting that it was made possible.
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I definitely go back to P6 or P7, being part of the boys team at that time, and being the only girl in terms of the West of Scotland in the district league. We went on to win a quadruple in my final year at primary school, which is still one of my biggest achievements to date!
What was your favourite memory playing for Scotland?
There were a few. The World Cup is a go-to for other people when I speak about the women’s game and achievements over the years, but I would probably say the qualification for the European Championships in 2017 was the sweetest of them all.
I know once we got to the tournament that we lost a lot of key players who ultimately lost out on the opportunity to play at the tournament, but when I look at the journey that Anna Signeul and Ann-Helen took on in terms of the 12 years of dedication to the women’s game in Scotland and the players that were there at the time – the likes of Gemma Fay, Jo Love and Ifeoma Dieke – and for them it was unbelievable to think we had finally got there and managed to overcome that.
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We had a super talented group and there are players now who are still continuing their careers all over Europe. For us to finally get to that major tournament was everything that the national team had been longing for, and to share those experiences with some really special people was the best part about it.
What has been the driving factor in getting you into coaching?
The love of the game. Again, it’s a bit cliché, but I don’t think you can remain in football and have a career that spans 20 years without having that love, passion and desire to continue to better yourself, invest in other people, and create a better experience and journey for them.
I’ll go back to being a serial winner. What motivates me is winning and nothing can really replace and replicate that matchday experience of being in the thick of it. It’s a bit different being on the other side of the white line, but actually contributing to that and preparing a team is a huge drive for me.
Watch the full series now on the official Rangers YouTube channel.
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