Northern Ireland women's national football team

Summary

The Northern Ireland women's national football team represents Northern Ireland in international women's football. Although most national football teams represent a sovereign state, FIFA statutes permit Northern Ireland as a member of the United Kingdom's Home Nations to maintain its own national side that competes in all major tournaments, with the exception of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament.

Northern Ireland
AssociationIrish Football Association (IFA)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachTanya Oxtoby[1]
CaptainMarissa Callaghan
Most capsJulie Nelson (125)
Top scorerRachel Furness (38)
FIFA codeNIR
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 46 Steady (15 March 2024)[2]
Highest45 (March – June 2023)
Lowest85 (June 2005)
First international
 Republic of Ireland 4–1 Northern Ireland 
(Dublin, Republic of Ireland; 30 June 1973)
Biggest win
 North Macedonia 0–11 Northern Ireland 
(Skopje, North Macedonia; 25 November 2021)
Biggest defeat
 Scotland 11–1 Northern Ireland 
(Clydebank, Scotland, 23 November 1974)
 England 10–0 Northern Ireland 
(Blackburn, England, 16 March 1986)
European Championship
Appearances1 (first in 2022)
Best resultGroup stage (2022)

The team were the lowest UEFA-ranked team (27th)[3] to qualify for the European Championships Finals in England in 2022.

In September 2021 it was announced that the senior women's team would be adopting a full-time professional set up ahead of Euro 2022.[4]

Results and fixtures edit

The following is a list of matches in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture

2023 edit

14 July Friendly Scotland   3–0   Northern Ireland Dundee, Scotland
19:35 UTC+1 Source Stadium: Kilmac Stadium
18 July Friendly Czech Republic   0–2   Northern Ireland Opava, Czech Republic
19:30 UTC+2 Source
Stadium: Stadion v Městských sadech
Attendance: 778
Referee: Michalina Diakow (Poland)
23 September UEFA Women's Nations League Republic of Ireland   3–0   Northern Ireland Dublin, Republic of Ireland
13:00 UTC+1
Source Stadium: Aviva Stadium
Referee: Hristiyana Guteva (Bulgaria)
26 September UEFA Women's Nations League Northern Ireland   1–0   Albania Belfast
--:--  Wade   57' Source Stadium: Seaview Stadium
Referee: Zulema González (Spain)
27 October UEFA Women's Nations League Hungary   3–2   Northern Ireland Győr, Hungary
--:-- 18:15
Source
Stadium: Ménfői úti Stadion
Attendance: 332
Referee: Jurgita Mačikunytė (Lithuania)
31 October UEFA Women's Nations League Northern Ireland   1–1   Hungary Belfast
20:00 (19:00 GMT)
Source
Stadium: Seaview Stadium
Attendance: 948
Referee: Jelena Pejković (Croatia)

2024 edit

27 February 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League promotion/relegation matches Northern Ireland   1–1
(3–1 agg.)
  Montenegro Belfast
20:00 (19:00 GMT) Report Stadium: Windsor Park
Note: Northern Ireland won 3–1 on aggregate, and therefore both teams remained in their respective leagues.
5 April Euro 2025 qualifying Northern Ireland   0–0   Malta Belfast
Report Stadium: Windsor Park
Referee: Maria Marotta (Italy)

Coaching staff edit

Manager history edit

Players edit

Current squad edit

Caps and goals updated as of 5 December 2023 after the match against   Republic of Ireland.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Lauren Perry (2001-04-05) 5 April 2001 (age 23) 5 0   Montrose
1GK Maddy Harvey-Clifford (2002-05-06) 6 May 2002 (age 21) 2 0   Crusaders
1GK Jackie Burns Reading Women

2DF Rebecca Holloway (1995-08-25) 25 August 1995 (age 28) 22 3   Birmingham City
2DF Rebecca McKenna (2001-04-13) 13 April 2001 (age 23) 33 1   Charlton Athletic
2DF Laura Rafferty (1996-04-29) 29 April 1996 (age 27) 38 0   Southampton
2DF Demi Vance (1991-05-02) 2 May 1991 (age 32) 90 4   Glentoran
22 2DF Abbie Magee (2000-11-15) 15 November 2000 (age 23) 12 0   Cliftonville
2DF Rachel Dugdale (1996-11-19) 19 November 1996 (age 27) 24 0   Reading
13 2DF Rachel McLaren (2002-11-19) 19 November 2002 (age 21) 1 0   Crusaders

3MF Joely Andrews (2002-04-20) 20 April 2002 (age 22) 17 1   Glentoran
3MF Nadene Caldwell (1991-01-24) 24 January 1991 (age 33) 78 2   Glentoran
3MF Chloe McCarron (1997-12-22) 22 December 1997 (age 26) 35 1   Glentoran
3MF Megan Bell (2001-04-17) 17 April 2001 (age 23) 25 2   Hearts
3MF Marissa Callaghan (captain) (1985-09-02) 2 September 1985 (age 38) 86 9   Cliftonville
3MF Brenna McPartlan Burnley Women

4FW Kerry Beattie (2002-09-27) 27 September 2002 (age 21) 10 3   Glentoran
4FW Simone Magill (1994-11-01) 1 November 1994 (age 29) 78 24   Aston Villa
4FW Lauren Wade (1993-11-22) 22 November 1993 (age 30) 54 9   Reading
4FW Keri Halliday (2005-02-11) 11 February 2005 (age 19) 1 0   Linfield
4FW Caragh Hamilton (1996-10-18) 18 October 1996 (age 27) 38 6   Lewes
4FW Casey Howe Athlone Town Ladies

Recent call-ups edit

  • The following players have been named to a squad in the past 12 months.
  • This list may be incomplete.
Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Shannon Turner (1997-09-08) 8 September 1997 (age 26) 6 0   Wolverhampton Wanderers v.   Montenegro, 27 February 2024
GK Rachael Norney (2004-06-18) 18 June 2004 (age 19) 1 0   Liverpool Feds v.   Republic of Ireland, 5 December 2023
GK Lilie Woods (2003-08-29) 29 August 2003 (age 20) 1 0   Mid-Ulster v.   Hungary, 31 October 2023

DF Kelsie Burrows (2001-02-22) 22 February 2001 (age 23) 13 0   Cliftonville v.   Montenegro, 27 February 2024
DF Ellie Mason (1996-02-16) 16 February 1996 (age 28) 4 0   Birmingham City v.   Montenegro, 27 February 2024
DF Sarah McFadden (1987-05-23) 23 May 1987 (age 36) 104 9   Durham v.   Montenegro, 27 February 2024

MF Rachel Furness (1988-06-19) 19 June 1988 (age 35) 95 38   Bristol City v.   Hungary, 31 October 2023 INJ

FW Danielle Maxwell (2002-04-09) 9 April 2002 (age 22) 9 2   Blackburn Rovers v.   Montenegro, 27 February 2024
FW Emily Wilson (2001-08-26) 26 August 2001 (age 22) 21 1   Glentoran v.   Montenegro, 27 February 2024
FW Caitlin McGuinness (2002-08-30) 30 August 2002 (age 21) 18 1   Cliftonville v.   Hungary, 31 October 2023
FW Kirsty McGuinness (1994-11-04) 4 November 1994 (age 29) 57 14   Cliftonville v.   Albania, 26 September 2023

Notes:

  • INJ Withdrew due to injury.
  • WD Withdrew from the squad due to non-injury or medical issue

Records edit

  • Statistics correct as of 5 December 2023.
  • Active players in bold.

Simone Magill holds the world record for the fastest international goal in women's football. Previously, US forward Alex Morgan had held the record at twelve seconds. Magill achieved an eleven-second goal against Georgia at the start of a European Qualifying match on 3 June 2016. The goal marks the fastest ever international goal by any national Northern Irish team – male or female.[9]

Competitive record edit

FIFA Women's World Cup edit

FIFA Women's World Cup record Qualification record
Year Result GP W D* L GF GA GD GP W D* L GF GA GD
  1991 Did not qualify UEFA EURO 1991
  1995 Did not enter UEFA EURO 1995
  1999 Did not enter
  2003
  2007 Did not qualify 6 2 1 3 7 11 −4
  2011 10 3 2 5 8 16 −8
  2015 10 1 2 7 3 19 −16
  2019 8 1 0 7 4 27 −23
   2023 10 6 1 3 36 16 +20
2027 To be determined To be determined
Total 0/10 - - - - - - - 44 13 11 23 58 89 −31
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA Women's Championship edit

UEFA Women's Championship record Qualifying record
Year Result GP W D* L GF GA GP W D* L GF GA
     1984 Did not qualify 6 0 0 6 5 21
  1987 6 0 0 6 2 35
  1989 Did not enter Did not enter
  1991 Did not qualify 4 0 0 4 1 21
  1993 Did not enter Did not enter
     1995
   1997
  2001
  2005
  2009 Did not qualify 11 2 1 8 11 28
  2013 10 3 2 5 12 15
  2017 8 2 1 5 10 22
  2022 Group stage 3 0 0 3 1 11 10 6 2 2 21 18
  2025 To be determined To be determined
Total 1/13 3 0 0 3 1 11 55 13 6 36 62 160
*Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty kicks.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Archer, Kenny (1 September 2023). "New Northern Ireland women's manager Tanya Oxtoby targeting top tournaments". The Irish News. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  2. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Women's National Teams Coefficient Overview" (PDF). editorial.uefa.com. 24 February 2021.
  4. ^ VAVEL.com (29 September 2021). "Northern Ireland Women move to a full-time international set-up". VAVEL. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Alfie Wylie leaves role as Northern Ireland women's manager after 15 years to take new IFA job". Belfast Telegraph. 12 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Kenny Shiels: Former Kilmarnock boss appointed Northern Ireland senior women's manager". BBC Sport. 16 May 2019.
  7. ^ "Kenny Shiels: Northern Ireland women's manager leaves role". BBC Sport. 31 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Senior women's squad for upcoming Euro qualifiers revealed". Irish Football Association. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  9. ^ Fullerton, Gareth (7 October 2017). "Northern Ireland striker recognised for scoring fastest goal ever!". belfastlive. Retrieved 25 May 2019.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • FIFA profile