Katie McCabe can take inspiration from Irish trailblazers in the Arsenal class of 2007

Irish Examiner

24-05-2025

It was a different decade and different era in more ways than one.
Before the FAI's best-laid financial plans resulted in an albatross of debt they're still smothered by, a trip to Arsenal for a platoon of media was arranged and paid for by the association.
Odd as the gesture was, the concept in April 2007 was worthy of special treatment.
England's first European Cup final representatives were on the cusp of glory and underpinning it was an Irish influence.
Leixlip's Emma Byrne in goal behind a defence featuring Yvonne Tracy from Limerick. Waterford's Ciara Grant harnessed midfield.
Unlike the current crop of Gunners lining out against Barcelona in Lisbon, including Katie McCabe, players were part-time.
Vik Akers is best known as long-serving kitman for the men's team but formed Arsenal's ladies 20 years before their two-leg European decider against Swedes Umeå IK.
It took until 2002 for the status of semi-professionalism to be reached.
Akers and current head of women's football Clare Wheatley entered teams into the Westport annual five-a-side blitz, the Mayo tournament doubling up as a scouting exercise. It was there they first spotted Grant.
Her fellow FÁS course graduate Emma Byrne would follow, via a stint in Denmark, alongside Tracy. Boat trips were the initial mode of transport.
Arsenal's Katie McCabe and Victoria Pelova during a training session at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, London. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire.
Extra employment was essential given the meagre pay on offer. Several other Irish players came and went through the Gunners ranks over that period but it wasn't for everybody.
'I'm not going to Arsenal to work in the laundry,' demurred legend Olivia O'Toole.
Byrne and moreso Tracy did just that.
'It's never difficult having to hand Freddie Ljungberg a t-shirt when he comes in looking for one," the latter said with a smile about her club sideline.
Much of Akers' time was spent arranging jobs within the club to supplement the average £200 weekly wage.
Grant and Byrne were assigned posts in logistics and underage coaching respectively but the goalkeeper foresaw the bigger picture by undertaking a college degree - in journalism.
Finals were two-leg affairs back then and a late goal in Sweden by current BBC presenter Alex Scott gave the Gunners a platform to defend inside the quaint 3,000-capacity Boreham Wood stadium.
Byrne's acrobatic brilliant late save from Ramona Bachman is still cemented as pivotal in repelling an Umeå side spearheaded by Brazilian legend Marta.
Distinction embedded her career. Byrne remains Arsenal's record appearance holder, clocking up 459 appearances over 16 years, and Ireland's most capped player with 134 outings.
Ireland's current goalkeeping coach will be cheering McCabe on at the Estádio José Alvalade today, accompanied by a coterie of her players, before flying to Istanbul tomorrow for Friday's penultimate Uefa Nations League game against Turkey.
Grant became another centurion during her decorated spell at Arsenal, eventually retiring in 2015 after a season at Reading. She's settled in Barry, Wales with her partner and two children, watching rather than being involved in the game.
Tracy, whose brother Shane was part of Liam Brady's Arsenal academy for a few years, was the one to maintain official links with the club until 2023.
Injury denied her a start in the final but her contribution to that golden area, coupled with bubbly personality, ensured the hierarchy wanted her around.
She has just started their first girls-only football programme – Girls Croft Ballers – in Haverhill's football academy.
No English club has replicated Arsenal's feat in the 18 years since. That accomplishment is emblazoned around the Emirates Stadium with a mural celebrating their triumph.
McCabe spots that painting when the team regularly share the men's venue and won't be short of inspiration when she visualises three Irish trailblazers.