The week following a dreadful spell for female football in Ireland has been marked with unforgettable moments. It is hoped that the trailblazers of the Republic of Ireland team were able to savour the scenes at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, following the resounding victory over France with a 3-1 scoreline. It’s now crucial for the national team to garner sustained support from the Government.
There are no fixed limits to what the women’s team can achieve. The team demonstrates durability and potential against football giants such as Spain and France, which the men’s team could learn from. The momentous achievement allows a standing point from where it’s possible to dissipate energy, or cultivate a lasting legacy.
It is incumbent upon the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to acknowledge and learn from the neglect players suffered in the 90s under their tutelage, while refraining from undeservedly claiming credit for Tuesday’s victory. This glorious win over France affords Ireland an advantageous position for the Euro 2025 playoffs.
Ireland’s triumphant game against France shows the tenacity of the squad to contend with top-tier global teams. Seizing this golden opportunity is critical for the FAI, whose actions are under the scanner following disciplinary proceedings initiated against Enzo Fernandez for his controversial chants.
To put it in perspective, picture this. Enjoying a new parenthood along with building your dream house near Moycullen, simultaneously managing to participate in the New York marathon in November and returning to semi-professional football with Galway United while being a full-time professional at Microsoft.
This is the amazing journey of Julie-Ann Russell returning to action post-maternity leave, which saw her securing two goals for Ireland in the pivotal Euro 2025 qualifying matches against England and France. She equally played a crucial role in setting up Denise O’Sullivan’s decisive goal.
She completed the 26.2 mile New York marathon course, winding through Staten Island, Williamsburg, Bronx and Central Park in three hours and forty-eight minutes, with her infant daughter, Rosie, greeting her across the finish line.
While the prospect of Julie-Ann turning pro might remain uncertain, she absolutely embodies the relentless spirit of an elite sportsperson while skilfully juggling the responsibilities of motherhood, a career and international football.
Her impressive comeback into the Ireland squad post a four-year gap could be attributed to the concerted efforts of herself, her supportive family and Galway United primarily, and to some extent, the impeccable vision of Eileen Gleeson. Higher praise is indeed due to the latter, who had foreseen that the seasoned 33-year-old could effortlessly outperform Harry Kane when pressure is applied.
Regrettably, Julie-Ann Russell’s extraordinary accomplishment, which includes 62 international appearances and six goals for Ireland, among them the country’s second goal against France, hasn’t received the recognition it deserves. Julie-Ann’s dedication is synonymous with her success on the pitch, culminating in a gap of 10 years between her fourth and fifth international goals. This should motivate the younger generation, or at the very least, inspire them to persist in their endeavours.
In contrast, the focus on professionalism meant that our generation, in their thirties, had to divert their attention towards establishing careers via higher education, rather than wait for the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to make progress.
The development of women’s football in Ireland is at a crucial junction now, with the rebranded FAI fully aware of the situation, though the pace of reform is frustratingly slow. The routine meetup at Abbotstown for native players, initiated by ex-Ireland manager Colin Bell and furthered by Vera Pauw, has been dropped, as acknowledged by Gleeson recently. Although Suzanne Gleeson plans to commence under-23 camps, where players like Julie-Ann could benefit from the mentorship of Colin Healy, currently serving as Ireland’s assistant manager, and the conditioning expert, Ivi Casagrande.
The FAI must act promptly and organise a 12-week training schedule prior to the October playoffs. On Monday, the Ireland under-19s held Spain to a draw in the Euros in Lithuania. Preparing these girls for their future career should be of paramount importance.
Following her vital role in Ireland’s victory over France, Denise O’Sullivan should be considered by the top Super League clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City. Denise’s performance at Carrow Road last Friday, which saw her challenge England’s finest midfielders, positions her as an ideal replacement for Kim Little who is ending her tenure at Arsenal.
In spite of the challenges, Denise’s club journey in America continues to inspire. The call for change from Abbotstown is loud and clear, but convincing action is awaited. Fulfilling progress will only materialise once football forms part of the nationwide curriculum.
Certainly, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) should consider engaging in discussions with Norma Foley, the Education Minister, to shed light on the advancements in women’s football in Sweden and the Netherlands over the past ten years.
The work of distinguished female footballers such as Katie McCabe, Denise and Julie-Ann brought about swift progression in the sport. This was starkly evident just a year ago at the World Cup in Australia. Now, the FAI must make swift strides towards the creation of a standalone hub of excellence for women. It needs to take prompt action.
There is potential here to collaborate with female-oriented private boarding schools that have shown enthusiasm for the sport. They could offer scholarships to promising players, and in doing so, replicate rugby’s transformation from an amateur to a professional sport at the turn of the century.
The FAI faces a choice – to repeat the mistakes of its predecessor in the aftermath of the 1990 Italia, or to stay true to the principles it espouses as its new self.
Critics have raised eyebrows at the FAI’s move to announce Heimir Hallgrímsson as the men’s team’s manager on the same day as the Nations League match between England and Ireland in an apparent attempt to overshadow the game. To say this was a public relations blunder would be an understatement.
The announcement drowned out the heart-rending revelations of alleged sexual abuse by male coaches in the 1990s by former Irish players. Their powerful and courageous narratives deserve to be heard. FAI must realise its responsibility to protect, not muzzle, its players. Their stories should have resounded in the Aviva Stadium. However, they got drowned out amidst the hullabaloo that followed the commencement of the search for a new men’s manager.
There are 69 women and 230 men currently enrolled in Uefa licencing courses offered by the FAI. While we applaud the initiative to launch women-only courses, only one of the 11 Premier Division Clubs, DLR Waves, has a female head coach, Laura Heffernan.
As for complaints raised by female players against male coaches, either to the FAI or the GAA, these should be handled by an independent entity to ensure impartial investigation right from the outset.
“Consider the journalism works of Marie Crowe and Mark Tighe. In the 1990s, a complaint was lodged and the LFAI inquired the female players if any incident took place. The ladies negated and the matter was closed for the moment. Naturally, the governing bodies have a stake in the coaches they train.
However, the instances of bullying and abuse are recurring if there’s no constant enabling of watchdogs to supervise the rapport between coach and player.
A competent male coach geared up to drive a female football team to victory can, at times, overstep the boundaries in random social gatherings or year-end festivities. Regrettably, such situations are rather frequent. They require an unwavering observation. Else, we rely simply on the victim and count on each sports governing body to communicate with the appropriate entities regarding Stand Down Orders.”