MARIA’S MAKING HER WAY TO THE TOP
Youngster dreams big after meteoric climb through the ranks
Whitehills footballer Maria McAneny has set her sights on turning professional after a whirlwind few months.
The 14-year-old was playing with East Kilbride YC at the start of the year, but her rapid rise has seen her join Celtic under-15s, win a League Cup with the Hoops and turn out for Scotland.
Midfielder Maria is also making a habit of playing above her level.
She featured in a handful of games for the Hoops’ under19s and played twice for the national team’s under-16 squad in Poland, scoring in the second of two 1-1 draws against their hosts.
This week she is set to make her debut for Scotland’s under15s in a friendly double-header in Wales and now Maria, the daughter of ex-Alloa defender Paul McAneny, is dreaming of playing her way to the top.
“From February it’s all taken off,” the talented teenager admits.
“One moment I was getting picked for the Scottish Schools team, then I was signing for Celtic and getting picked for Scotland. It’s just been going up and up.
“It’s been really good and I just want to keep working hard and improving.
“I never thought I’d be in the Scotland squad. I know everyone says work hard and you’ll get there, but genuinely that’s what you have to do.
“I’ve played a few games with the Celtic 19s and that was brilliant, playing in games with a great atmosphere.
“The coaches are brilliant and we are all like one big family.
“I’ve won the league cup and we are invincible in the league right now, so it’s started really well.”
Maria is also hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow East Kilbride player Lee Alexander, the Glasgow City and Scotland senior squad goalkeeper, and cites national star Erin Cuthbert as her big inspiration for pursuing a pro career.
She added: “Lee is some player, what she has achieved. She’s been really good at Glasgow City and is someone I look up to.
“And Erin Cuthbert, she’s my favourite player. She’s at Chelsea and is someone I’d love to follow.
“They’ve helped Scotland qualify for the World Cup for the first time, so the girls in our team, we want to be just like them and achieve something like that.
“Erin plays in my position and she’s gone from Glasgow City to Chelsea. She’s full-time, which is the dream for me.
“Going down south to play for one of the big teams like Chelsea, Arsenal or Man City would be amazing.
“For my first Christmas I remember I asked for a ball. We’ve got the Ballerup pitches across the road from us, so I would just go over there constantly with my friends.
“It was the one thing in mind and all I wanted to do was play football.”
Since first kicking a ball at the age of four, the St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School pupil spent her formative years at East Kilbride YC and believes the experience of playing with the boys’ teams throughout her nine-year spell has proved vital to her development.
“There’s been some challenges along the way with the boys’ teams, but that helped me a lot in terms of getting more physical,” she said.
“It’s very different to girls’ football. It’s a faster pace as well, so it was good to have that experience.
“I played with YC since I was four and my coach nominated me to train with the SFA teams when I was in primary five, playing with the best boy players around Lanarkshire.
“There were boys who played with Celtic and Hamilton Accies. They were really good players and I took on the challenge of facing them early, which has helped me.”
Maria’s love of the game also extends to coaching.
Every summer since primary school Maria has assisted with Soccer Schools at K-Park, helping out with coaching and collecting her hours toward the Scottish Government’s Saltire Awards for volunteering.
“I’d like to keep in at my studies as well so that if playing football doesn’t work out I’ve got something to fall back on,” she reveals.
“Maybe I can go into PE teaching or become a football coach.
“But it would be a dream come true to play for the (Scotland) senior team.
“As a young girl or boy, you want to represent your country, sing the national anthem in front of all the fans and do your country proud.
“You are living the dream right now if you are part of the A squad going to France for the World Cup.”
It would be a dream come true to play for the senior team Maria McAneny