Courtney Brosnan is one of the most reliable and at times spectacular goalkeepers in the most competitive league in the world, the WSL.
The goalkeeper sat down at a laptop to speak with me from Everton’s Finch Farm training ground. Despite being in the heart of pre season, often characterised as a nightmarish time for the professional footballer, she beams down the camera lens, awaiting my first question.
I anticipate that this is far from the view any WSL striker will receive when bearing down on the Everton goal this season. And judging by the 187 saves Brosnan has made over the past two seasons, more than any other keeper, mine is a far more hospitable experience.
The Everton number one, is up there with the best Irish players in a generation and she sat down to speak exclusively with The Halfway Line ahead of the new WSL season.
Brosnan excited for Everton women to ‘tell our own story’ at Goodison Park
The 2025/26 season promises to be an historic one for Everton women, their first in which Goodison Park will be their sole home.
“We’re all really excited.” Brosnan said about the move to the Grand Old Lady. “We know how historic Goodison Park is, and obviously the history there that the men’s team created.
“It’s a really exciting time for us to be able to create our own history and tell our own story.
“Everyone’s really looking forward to to the move. And I think it just shows the ambition of the club and the direction that we want to go.”
Brosnan delights in ‘high quality’ summer signings
Brosnan is one of the longest serving players at Everton having joined the club in 2021. She is uniquely placed to tell us how her side might fare this season, with a number of exciting familiar names joining the Toffees.
With Maz Pacheco, Yuka Momiki and Katie Robinson all joining from other WSL clubs, ready to hit the ground running. Yet being familiar with the WSL is not necessarily being familiar with Everton’s style of play Brosnan explains.
“Here at Everton, under Brian [Sørensen], we have a really clear style of how we want to play and of our identity on the pitch.” Brosnan said.
“We’ve brought in a lot of new players this transfer window, a lot of players with really, really high quality. So I think, yeah, it’s been an exciting start to pre season.
“And everyone’s just really looking forward to forming those new relationships, getting to know each other on and off the pitch, and see what we can do this season.”
Brosnan ‘loves to play’ in the Merseyside derby
The fixture generator has been kind to us this season. Everton kick off their WSL season away at Anfield against Merseyside rivals Liverpool. The mouth watering clash is one that Brosnan has become very familiar with.
“Obviously being at Everton for a few years now it’s [the Merseyside derby] part of the club and the atmosphere here” Brosnan tells me.
“You know how important the Merseyside derby is how much it means to to the club, to us as players, to the City.
“So obviously it’s a game that we’re always really excited and up for. [I] love to play in those type of games. And I think it’s extra exciting.
Obviously great to get to kick off the season with such an intense rivalry, [and] give the fans an exciting game to watch.”
Not unlike many match going fans in Liverpool, Brosnan has friends on the other side of the Merseyside divide. Most notably her Ireland and former West Ham team mate Leanne Kiernan.
“We’ve not spoken about it yet” Brosnan chuckles. “Leanne’s one of my really, really close friends. So yeah, it’s funny” she admits with a rye smile.
“I feel like you don’t really speak about it leading up to it, but obviously it’s amazing to see her there, and afterwards to have a big hug and everything like that. It’s an exciting game for both of us, so I definitely look forward to seeing her.”
Brosnan “extremely grateful and proud” to have captained Ireland
Brosnan was raised in a place called Short Hills in New Jersey and qualifies to represent Ireland through her late grandparents. It seemed fitting that given her upbringing the first time she would captain Ireland would be in the USA, against the Olympic champions on her fiftieth cap this summer.
“It’s hard to put into words. I know that sounds so cliché, but it was amazing” Brosnan recalled with a smile.
Brosnan was eligible to represent the United States but turned down a call up to the Under 23s to continue her journey with Ireland, she waxed lyrical about the hour of representing her nation.
“It’s [Ireland] home for me, and it’s a massive deal to even represent your country, and obviously to lead them out for my fiftieth cap.” Brosnan happily recalled.
“It was a really big deal for me, and just a proud moment for me and for my family, and because it was in the US, a lot of my family could be there for the game, which was really exciting as well.”
Leadership and learning from leaders like Megan Finnigan, Katie McCabe and Emma Byrne
One of the few players to have been at Everton for longer than Brosnan is captain Megan Finnigan. Finnigan has been at the club since she was nine years old, and Brosnan praised the Toffee skipper’s impact.
“I think she’s [Finnigan] not only a great player and a great person, but she is an unbelievable captain and leader” Brosnan explained.
“So it’s great for me and for other all the other players to have her leading us by example. I think that really helps the team and helps me to grow as well.”
At international level Brosnan tells me there is no shortage of leaders either. There is her captain Katie McCabe, as well as goalkeeper coach Emma Byrne.
“I feel like at Ireland, we’re really lucky” the Irish number one smiles.
“Katie McCabe has been a great leader and captain for us as well, everything she does on the pitch, but off the pitch as well fighting for things and for the team just pushing things forward.
“And I think for Ireland as well I’m really lucky to have Emma Byrne as the goalkeeper coach. She has a vast, vast experience on the international and club level at Arsenal.
“So I think it’s for me to have her as a mentor and a coach has really helped me [to] develop my game and my leadership style.”
Brosnan employs ‘positive’ leadership style
With all these influences on her, what is Brosnan’s own vision for her leadership style?
“As a goalkeeper, naturally, you’re always going to be a leader” she clarifies.
“You’re communicating and talking a lot. So I would say that my leadership style is a lot in my communication and I would say more positive and encouraging my teammates, and obviously in terms of organizing [the team].
“Just try to lead by example and do everything I can to be professional and help the team.”
