As the last line of defence and so often the one to spark attacks, for shot stopper Megan Cunningham, it’s a job that she has taken on with pride having taken up the game at a young age and took in her stride during various years in the SWPL.
Speaking to RangersTV in our first part of our exclusive features for Scottish Women & Girls in Sport week, the 30-year-old shared her journey between the posts and representing the club having joined when they moved to their professional status back in 2019.
She said: “I started playing football from a very young age just because my best friend was a boy the same age and we naturally just fell into it; he would always play in the park with his dad kind of thing.
“Back when I started there wasn't a lot of girls football so I started off in a boys team, found a girls team probably about 11 or 12 years old.
“I naturally started as an outfielder and obviously what happens is usually you're terrible so you get shoved in goals which was kind of my story.
“I always worked hard but technically terrible, threw me in goals and I was kind of just an idiot so jumping and diving about at that age it is quite unheard of.
“Nobody really wants to be a goalie so that was how I started.
“Made it to first-team football very quickly and got picked up by the national youth team and stuff and that was when I met Jenna [Fife].
“The club has probably been one of the best clubs I have worked under in terms of how much they try and support the player, with what they can offer and what they are trying to offer.
“They are trying to create this environment where they do look at good humans as well as just the players.
“I think that is quite rare, it is really important the kind of person that comes into this club is a certain type of person.
“To wear the badge that is the kind of expectations that have held at this club as well as being natural winners. It is always hard to get that balance.
“Since I have come in, the players that have come from the start and have come all the way through my time here you can see naturally the ones that have stayed and maybe have done well at the club have fit that mold.
“That is really nice to see that there is still a real identity, wherever it is females, males or youth.
“They try and really hold that identity throughout the whole thing and I think as long as you buy into that the club is so willing to support you in any way they can.
The goalkeeper made the move to Glasgow six years ago alongside Jenna Fife, as she reflected on their time and memories they’ve shared along the way to date.
She continued: “When I have heard that Jenna was coming, it almost put me off a wee bit, because I was like no chance I am going to play now.
“I am so glad I took the chance and did come because you might go through different stages of, I am coming in as a first or second choice or I am coming in as this and that and it about you are to manipulate that mindset.
“As a goalkeeper you always want to play and that is hands down what I have always came here to do and try my hardest to try and play.
“I think over the years my role has really changed. In terms of being more of a team player in the goalkeeping side of the department anyway and it has been amazing to see the goalies that have come with us along the journey as well and how they have progressed.
“She [Jenna] has been great to work with and I think a big part of why I have stayed so long is because I love to train with the group that we have got here.
“We have got such a good goalkeeping community here and good goalkeepers tend to come out of the club so it has been great to progress. Not only as a goalkeeper but as a person as well.”
Fife, who has shared the journey side by side with her fellow shot stopper, spoke of the person she has continuously shared a dressing room alongside and what it has been like having her as a teammate for several years.
She said: “Megan and I have known each other for ages, I think she was my first ever roommate at Under-17's Scotland.
“We have known each other for a long time. I hate saying this but she is an absolute joy to work with.
“I love working with her, she can be so annoying sometimes though. I get a slating constantly from her but we work so well as a pair and obviously with Telma [Ivarsdottir] and I just love the wee goalkeeping union we have got, with Chris [Flockhart], Telma, Megan and me.
“It is so enjoyable coming to training every single day. As much as she slates me every day for everything I do but other than that it is good. We have been here a long time and I have loved working with her.
“Our journey together? It is mental to be honest. When we first joined obviously it was the first ever time they had went professional so we were the first professional women's team and it was great when we first went in, but if you compare it to now it is night and day.
“The way we have progressed, the way the club have backed us, but the professionalism around it now is night and day from when we first joined. It just shows the progression from the club since then.
“Megan and I's relationship goes past goalkeeping.
“We know the position; we are old enough to know that it is selected by the manager and we both go and train 100 per cent and work as hard as we can and whoever plays at the weekend especially when it was just the two of us it was just an acceptance.
“It never ever effected our relationship as a friendship and there has never been any negative competitiveness between us. It has always been so good to work with her and hopefully she would say the same.”
Cunningham admitted she wishes she was just starting her football career now given what is available to youth players to go far in the game, as she encouraged people to take up the role as a goalkeeper and the highs and lows that come with it.
She added: “I feel even though you play in a team sport it is a very individual position and it is quite a tough one in terms of mentality.
“I would say 80 per cent of it is a mentality and 20 per cent is probably your physical and your technical ability.
“That misconception that you always put the terrible one in goals and things that like but there is a lot more to it. Especially mentally it is a lot harder than any other position where you can get away with making mistakes without being punished.
“I wish I was starting out my career because the opportunities now that are coming from women's football is frightening and I just think when I look at the young team I am always so jealous of them.
“I am like I am just getting ready to hang my gloves up and these are just starting their career and the opportunities they've got.
“Just always be humble and remember that you don't get anywhere without hard work.
“Don't even give up, I think the highs football gives you is way greater than the lows will ever get you and you'll get out that low rut, it doesn't last forever.
Fife also added: “Follow your dream, if you want to become a goalkeeper there are some many opportunities especially in the women's game.
“Nowadays you can go professional a lot easier than I could when I was younger.
“Just work hard, enjoy it and pursue the dream because it can definitely happen.”
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