No fewer than six members of the all conquering Glentoran Women squad have been picked by Kenny Shiels for his squad for next month’s crunch FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 qualifiers against Austria and England.
Congratulations to Nadene Caldwell, Sam Kelly, Caragh Hamilton, Lauren Wade, Chloe McCarron and Joely Andrews on their selection. Sam and Caragh both return after recovering from serious injuries in the 2021 season.
Also included are our former players Demi Vance (Rangers) and Jackie Burns (BK Hacken, Sweden)
A win against the Austrians would put Northern Ireland on course to finish second in the group and potentially reach a play-off for a place at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year.
Northern Ireland currently lie third behind England and Austria in Group D. They have 13 points from six qualifiers to date, having won four, drawn one and lost one. England have won six from six, scoring 53 times without reply, while Austria are second in the table and narrowly ahead of Northern Ireland on goal difference. The Austrians also have 13 points but have scored 29 and conceded four compared to Northern Ireland’s 30 for and six against.
The full squad is:
Goalkeepers: Jackie Burns (BK Hacken, Sweden), Becky Flaherty (Brighouse Town).
Defenders: Julie Nelson (Crusaders Strikers), Rebecca McKenna (Lewes Women), Rebecca Holloway (Birmingham City Women), Sarah McFadden (Durham Women), Kelsie Burrows (Cliftonville Ladies), Demi Vance (Rangers Women), Abbie Magee (Cliftonville Ladies).
Midfielders: Nadene Caldwell, Chloe McCarron, Caragh Hamilton, Sam Kelly and Joely Andrews (all Glentoran Women), Marissa Callaghan and Toni-Leigh Finnegan (both Cliftonville Ladies), Rachel Furness (Liverpool Women), Megan Bell (Rangers Women).
Forwards: Lauren Wade (Glentoran Women), Simone Magill (Everton Women), Kirsty McGuinness (Cliftonville Ladies), Caitlin McGuinness (Cliftonville Ladies), Emily Wilson (Crusaders Strikers).
