Career
She played for clubs in the American West-League, the Japanese L. League and the English FA Women"s Premier League. Scanlan began playing with Rush Athletic as an 11-year-old. While attending Saint Joseph"s Secondary School Scanlon also played camogie and cricket.
She became the first female to play hurling at Croke Park with the school team, and marked the occasion with a goal.
In 1992 Scanlan took up a soccer scholarship to Mercyhurst College in Pennsylvania. After graduating Scanlan signed a full-time professional contract to play for OKI F.C. Winds, a club in Japan"s L. League.
She returned to Ireland for a brief spell with Shelbourne, before heading back to America in August 1999. Meanwhile, Scanlan had joined Leeds United and was playing for the Yorkshire club in the FA Women"s Premier League National Division during the winter season.
After three seasons at Leeds, Scanlan joined Bristol Rovers as player-assistant manager to Gary Green.
Scanlan made her debut for the Republic of Ireland in an Under–18 fixture against Northern Ireland in 1989. In February of that year a half-time presentation during the Irish men"s national team World Cup qualifier against Georgia at Croke Park recognised Scanlan"s contribution to Irish football. While playing for Bristol Academy, Scanlan was employed as the head coach of the Female Football Development Centre at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College.
She left to take up a post as assistant coach at Troy University, where she had previously worked as a graduate coach between 1999 and 2001 while completing a Master"s degree in Education.
Scanlan is also on the coaching staff of the FAI and was an assistant coach of the Irish team who reached the quarter-finals of the 2010 Fédération internationale de football association U-17 Women"s World Cup.