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Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
NI Women's boss has full faith teen shot-stoppers will come good: ‘If they are called upon, I know they are ready to go'
Instead, the manager has backed uncapped namesake teenagers Abbie and Kate Smith to rise to the challenge if she has to throw either in at the deep end. Jackie Burns' status as Northern Ireland's No.1 is in no doubt and backed up by the fact that she has played every minute of the 15 matches since she returned from injury against Malta in April 2024. Behind her, however, there is no experienced or obvious backup. Sixteen-year-old Abbie Smith played just once in the Women's Premiership for Crusaders Strikers before moving to Manchester City's Academy in 2025. Kate Smith, who was called into the squad to face Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina after Maddy Harvey-Clifford was ruled out, does have more club game-time behind her with both Larne Women and Lisburn Rangers and was part of the Northern Ireland Under-19 squad that played in the recent European qualifiers. 'From my point of view, both Abbie and Kate deserve to be here,' said Oxtoby. 'If they are called upon, I know they are ready to go. 'If it goes really well, I take all the credit, and if it goes really poorly, then I'll take the flak for that. 'It's no different to outfield players, they have to be given the opportunity. They came into the environment last time around as training players, they did really, really well and they deserve to be here.' Four goalkeepers were used in the 12 games that Burns missed during a year out with an Achilles tendon injury. Shannon Turner played six times but hasn't been in a squad since Burns returned, while Harvey-Clifford started four times and Lilie Woods and Rachael Norney shared a clean sheet when both made what is their only senior appearance so far in a friendly away to the Czech Republic in July 2023. Lauren Perry had returned to the squads at the start of 2024 but her chances of challenging for a starting place were wrecked by a third cruciate ligament injury, and Becky Flaherty, who kept two crucial clean sheets on the way to the Women's Euro 2022 Finals, hasn't been in a single squad since the tournament. The selection of the two Smiths may be with the future in mind, but the present also has to be taken into account with a Nations League Promotion Play-Off still to be played for in Bosnia. 'I know they are prepared really well if needed,' said Oxtoby ahead of Tuesday's encounter in Zenica. 'If the time comes and they go into the game, I've got no doubt that they'll do the job that is asked of them. 'If they make a mistake, that's on me, not on them.'
Belfast Telegraph
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Teen sensation is on right track to be Northern Ireland's new number one, insists youth coach
She's talked the talk for a few years. She carries a confidence and self-belief that belies her tender age and she's produced performances to match. All that mixed together has led to Abbie Smith arriving in exactly the place where she'd aimed to be even before she reached her teens. The young goalkeeper is living a teenage dream after being named in the Northern Ireland senior international squad for the first time three months before her 17th birthday and so soon after earning a move from Crusaders Strikers to the Manchester City Academy earlier this year. None of Smith's achievements have come as a surprise to the coach who has overseen so much of her development, and Heather Mearns, who first saw her as a 12-year-old, has every faith in the youngster to step up if Tanya Oxtoby needs to call upon her in the Nations League battles against Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina. 'From she was no age Abbie would have told you 'I'm going across to England to play and I'm going to be number one for Northern Ireland',' said Mearns, the head of coaching and Under-19s coach with Crusaders Strikers. Part one of that has been achieved and Smith is now a further step along the journey to making the second part come true too. It hasn't happened by chance. 'Abbie was always really confident. Always the loudest one on the pitch and, for a goalkeeper being so young, she really understood the game so she was able to organise girls,' said Mearns. 'We've actually talked a lot recently about there being a lot of girls who were really talented at that age who are still really talented, but the mindset is so different. 'Abbie has always been so, so driven. She has always done that bit more extra than a lot of the other girls. 'We're a really small country, a lot of the girls are talented and it's easy for them and they always get picked and they never really have to be that driven up to a certain point, but she's always had that that mindset. 'Everything she has done has backed that up.' Jackie Burns' status as Northern Ireland's long-established number one is reflected in the fact that she has started every game she's been available for since 2020. With no experienced back-up to speak of, and both Smith and her namesake Kate from Lisburn Rangers – who is also in the senior squad for the first time – being uncapped, Burns is sure to start in the crunch top of the group clash with Poland at Seaview on Friday. Who gets thrown in at the deep end in an emergency is maybe something we never find out, but sooner or later Burns will have competition for the gloves. 'I definitely think Abbie confident enough if she is needed,' said Mearns. 'I don't think she's the type of kid who's going to go on and panic with nerves. If that does happen she'll take everything in her stride and she'll do what she can. 'I think she's a future Northern Ireland number one and I think you'll find it hard to find anybody that disagrees.'
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Smith balancing first NI call-up with GCSE exams
Goalkeeper Abbie Smith said her first call-up to the Northern Ireland senior squad was a "big surprise" as she looks to juggle international football with her GCSE 16-year-old has been named in the senior squad for the first time after training with them last is now officially part of the panel for Nations League games against Poland and Bosnia-Herzegovina, but she conceded she was slightly apprehensive when she got the call-up, given the clash with upcoming exams."I got the email on Monday, I was in my room and I said to my mum 'I think I just got into the senior squad' and I showed her the email. I was buzzing when I saw it," she told BBC Sport NI."The GCSE problem came into it, and I was a bit unnerved about that but it's working out in the end." Smith to 'keep revising' for exams during camp With GCSE exams coming up whilst she is away in camp, the teenager says she will have to continue studying during downtime in NI's preparations for games against unbeaten group leaders Poland at Seaview and third-placed Bosnia-Herzegovina in Zenica."I've already had two exams and I have three over the camp, but I'll get it sorted and keep revising," she senior call-up marks another step in the Lisburn native's rapid rise after joining Manchester City on a two-year scholarship from Crusaders Strikers in having aspirations of playing for the senior side, particularly after training with the squad in Leicester as they prepared for their away trip to Romania last month, even Smith did not think the official call-up would come so soon."I thought I was going with the 19s to their camp over the weekend so it was a big surprise but I'm really excited," she said."Everyone was so welcoming when I trained last month, it was a nice experience and a nice intensity. "It has always been my aim and for it to be so early it's unbelievable. I just want to get used to that environment and see what a senior camp is like."Smith believes her experiences at City, where she has trained with senior goalkeepers like Khiara Keating and Katie Startup, can help her adapt quickly to life in the NI squad under Tanya is also excited to train with Northern Ireland goalkeeper Jackie Burns, who she has idolised."It's been really good at Man City to see what the standard is like and where you have to get to, it's so intense but it's really helping with my development," she explained."I always watched Jackie since going to the Northern Ireland matches and she's been someone I've looked up to so just being involved, training with her will be good." 'She's football mad' Abbie comes from a family of goalkeepers, with her father Neil Smith previously lining up between the sticks for Irish Premiership side a result, Neil believes he is his daughter's "worst critic" but that he is immensely proud of all she has achieved so far. "Everything has come so quickly, it has blown up in the last six months, she has done so well but she dedicates herself and is getting her rewards now. She's football mad," he his daughter, Neil was also sceptical of how Abbie would manage to juggle time away with the senior side and her the practicalities have been worked out, he is delighted to be able to go and support her against Poland, even if she does not make it on the pitch at Seaview."After the initial excitement it was like 'What about the GCSEs?' but everything has worked out and the school has been brilliant with her," he added."Nothing fazes her, it is always let's move to the next level and hopefully that continues."We'll be there we don't expect too much but she will be there and about, and we will be there to support her."
Belfast Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Tanya Oxtoby hands Manchester City teenager first Northern Ireland call-up
Just three months after joining Manchester City on a two-year scholarship the 16-year-old has been selected by manager Tanya Oxtoby for the crucial Women's Nations League double header against Poland and Bosnia & Herzegovina. While it is a big step up for under-17 international Smith, who made the move from Crusaders Strikers in February, Oxtoby sees it as an opportunity to speed up her development. It is less than a year since she made her debut for the Strikers aged just 15-years-old against Glentoran Women in August 2024, which turned out to be her only Women's Premiership appearance for the club. At the other end of the scale all-time leading goalscorer Rachel Furness, who was called in late ahead of last month's win over Romania is included from the start this time around and could add to her 96 caps. Smith replaces Rachel Norney in the squad while Rangers' Laura Rafferty returns to the defence after injury ruled her out of the most recent double header against Romania. Kelsie Burrows is currently out through an ankle injury sustained while playing for Cliftonville Ladies and Nat Johnson, who was called in last time around, is back on the stand-by list. Megan Bell too back after missing the second game against Romania as Oxtoby expands her panel by naming 24 players this time around. Northern Ireland currently trail Poland by three points in the group, making next Friday's clash at Seaview potentially pivotal in the fight for promotion to League A and the feeling that the 2-0 defeat in Gdansk back in February wasn't a reflection of the performance is still fresh in the minds of Oxtoby and her squad. A win for Northern Ireland, who are unbeaten in the last three games, would set up a huge clash with Bosnia the following Tuesday with at least a promotion Play-off the aim. Poland dropped points for the first time in the group when an injury time goal rescued them in Bosnia in their last game, on the same night that Northern Ireland beat Romania 1-0 to close the gap at the top of the group and keep hopes of a rise to League A alive. Goalkeepers - Jackie Burns (Calgary Wild), Maddy Harvey-Clifford (Crusaders Strikers), Abbie Smith (Manchester City Women). Defenders - Rebecca Holloway, Rebecca McKenna and Ellie Mason (all Birmingham City Women), Laura Rafferty (Rangers Women), Rachel Dugdale (Blackburn Rovers Women), Abi Sweetlove (Linfield Women). Midfielders - Louise McDaniel and Brenna McPartlan (both Burnley Women), Nadene Caldwell and Aimee Kerr (both Glentoran Women), Joely Andrews (Hearts Women), Megan Bell (Nottingham Forest Women), Connie Scofield (Sheffield United Women, on loan from London City Lionesses), Rachel Furness (Newcastle United Women). Forwards - Emily Wilson and Kascie Weir (both Glentoran Women), Lauren Wade (Hearts Women), Simone Magill (Birmingham City Women), Keri Halliday (Linfield Women), Danielle Maxwell (Burnley Women), Caragh Hamilton (Nottingham Forest Women).
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cliftonville start title defence with Linfield draw
Champions Cliftonville were held 1-1 at home by Linfield on the opening night of the new Women's Premiership season. The Reds went behind through Cora Chambers' effort in the 55th minute after the forward was picked out by Zoe McGlynn. But former Northern Ireland international Marissa Callaghan equalised with just under 15 minutes to play to ensure the points were shared at Solitude. The north Belfast side's nearest challengers last season, Glentoran, opened their campaign with an emphatic 6-1 win over Lisburn Ladies at Bluebell Stadium. Kascie Weir and Aimee Kerr both scored twice in the victory, with Jess Foy and substitute Rachel Rogan also on target for the Glens while Morgan Shannon netted a late consolation for the hosts. Lisburn Rangers started their season with a big win too as they beat Larne 5-0 at Crewe Park. Gracie Conway opened the scoring after just nine minutes before Helen Parker and Sophie Megaw put them in a commanding position before half-time. Conway added her second and her side's fourth before Anastasija Stanyte rounded out the scoring before the hour-mark. Rebecca Mann also began the season with a double as Crusaders Strikers defeated Derry City Women 4-2 at Seaview. Jessica Rea and Sophie Gargan were the others to find the net for the Crues who led 4-0 before Tara O'Connor-Farren and Cache Crumlish-Hawes scored for the Candystripes.
