The club is delighted to announce that forward Caragh Hamilton has been voted Ulster Women’s Footballer of the Year for the 2020 season. The award was organised by the Castlereagh Glentoran Supporters Club alongside the long-standing men’s award.
Caragh joined the club at age 15 and made an immediate impact from the right wing in her first season. She was called up to the u17 international squad and this was followed by a call up to the senior international squad. Caragh excelled for club and country and played a big role in successful Glentoran League and Cup winning teams.
Just as Caragh was making great strides in the senior international setup she suffered a serious foot injury that was to keep her out of the game for four years. On her return to playing Caragh went to play in Iceland for 2 years and in 2019 returned to play for Glentoran Women.
In 2020 season her early-season form was outstanding and scoring three goals in her first five games she made a big contribution to Glentoran being at the top of the Danske Bank Women’s Premiership. Caragh’s displays and form took the attention of NI Senior Women’s Manager, Kenny Shiels who recalled her to the Northern Ireland international squad.
Unfortunately, just as she was hitting her full stride at club and International level her season was brought to a premature end by a serious knee injury sustained in a game against Cliftonville.
Glentoran Women General Manager Billy Clarke: “Caragh’s pace and directness was causing problems for defences and those players trying to mark her at club level. She had begun to add scoring a few goals to her game as well as here long-standing effectiveness from the wing. With the coaching she was getting at NI Seniors she had begun to take these attributes into her play at international level. We had witnessed her contribution to our successes prior to the unfortunate injury and I have I’ve no doubt Caragh will return strong, fit and determined to get back to where she was before the injury.
It was an honour for Caragh to be nominated for the Women’s Footballer of the Year award. For her to be voted as the winner is fantastic for her and our club, especially given the quality of the other nominees. She is a worthy winner of this award”.
Everyone at Glentoran Women and Glentoran Football Club are especially pleased that one of our players has been the recipient of this award.
Congratulations Caragh and best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery.
