Latest news with #HeatherPayne
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ireland international Payne joins Leicester as Campbell takes first coaching role at Bolton
Ireland international Heather Payne has joined Leicester City ahead of the new WSL season while her Ireland teammate Megan Campbell has confirmed her first steps into management. The versatile Payne is swapping the blue of Everton, where she spent the past two seasons, for Leicester where she has signed a two-year contract until the end of the the 2026/27 campaign. 'This is a place where I can develop, and I've heard really good things about the team itself and the staff,' said the 25-year-old who has 51 Ireland caps at right back and on the right wing. "I'm excited to get to work there." Her veteran international colleague meanwhile has made the move into coaching as she confirmed a new role as assistant of Bolton Wanderers Women. The club are in the fifth tier of the English pyramid and Campbell, who helped the London City Lionesses to promotion to the WSL last year, will combine cutting her coaching teeth there as she continues her playing career elsewhere. 'I hope that my knowledge and experience within the game can help develop our squad not only as players, but more importantly as people," said the Drogheda-born Campbell. 'I am ambitious within my own coaching journey to develop as much as I can. Working alongside Myles and the rest of the staff here, I know that I will continue to grow as a coach. 'I am privileged that my first coaching appointment is with Bolton Wanderers and I'm really looking forward to the season ahead and beyond.'
The 42
3 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Ireland international Heather Payne signs with Leicester City
LEICESTER CITY HAVE confirmed the signing of Republic of Ireland international Heather Payne following her departure from Everton. Payne, 25, spent the last two seasons on Merseyside but has signed with fellow Women's Super League side Leicester until the end of the 2026/27 campaign. Advertisement The versatile Payne, who can play at right-back or in a more advanced position on the right flank, 'further bolsters our defensive options' ahead of the new campaign, Leicester said in a statement. Payne will join Ireland U19 international and regular senior call-up Katie Keane on Amandine Miquel's books, with the young goalkeeper having made the move to the King Power Stadium from Shamrock Rovers in late June. 'This is a place where I can develop, and I've heard really good things about the team itself and the staff,' said Payne. 'Belvoir Drive is an outstanding facility and that's an added bonus having access to everything you need as a player. It looks really good and I'm excited to get to work there.' Payne, a 50-cap Ireland international, will hope to make her Leicester debut during the club's Women's Super League season opener away to Manchester United on Sunday, 7 September.
The 42
18-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Heather Payne seeking a new club as Everton allow her contract to run out
EVERTON WOMEN HAVE confirmed that Irish international Heather Payne will leave the club at the end of this month when her contract runs out. The former Peamount United player had been with the Toffees from late August 2023, and joins Justine Vanhaevermaet on the way out. Payne made the move to L4 in 2023, following four years in the American college system. She scored her first Everton goal in royal blue as her side progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur. Vanhaevermaet penned a two-year deal with the Club in August 2023 and played all but one Women's Super League matches last season. The Belgian operated both at the heart of defence and in midfield, while also opening the scoring in the Blues' 3-0 victory against Crystal Palace. Advertisement Everton Head coach Brian Sorensen said, 'Heather has worked tirelessly and her improvement as a player, and a person, is clear to see. Her attitude and desire to win games has helped us massively throughout my time as head coach. 'On behalf of everyone at the Club, I want to thank both players for their service and we wish them all the very best for the future.'
RTÉ News
18-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Everton confirm Heather Payne will leave club this month
Everton have confirmed that Republic of Ireland international Heather Payne will leave the Women's Super League club when her contract expires at the end of the month. The versatile 25-year-old, who is not in Carla Ward's Irish squad for this month's friendlies in the USA having been hampered by injury, has been at the Toffees since August 2023 after spending four years in the US collegiate system with Florida State Seminoles. The Ballinasloe native won Everton's Young Player of the Season award in her debut campaign before making another 17 appearances last season. "Heather has worked tirelessly and her improvement as a player, and a person, is clear to see. Her attitude and desire to win games has helped us massively throughout my time as head coach," said Everton head coach Brian Sorensen of the former Peamount United player as her impending exit was confirmed. Payne's Ireland team-mate, goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, remains part of the club's first team and is contracted until June 2026. The Everton women's will be , with the men's side moving to the newly-built stadium at Bramley Moore Dock.
Irish Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
‘It is absolutely ludicrous': Ireland manager Carla Ward shocked by skorts controversy
Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward has questioned whether the executive leadership of the Camogie Association should remain in their roles. Ward's comment follows the postponement of last Saturday's Munster camogie final between Cork and Waterford, after both panels refused to wear 'skorts' instead of shorts as per the rule book. 'It is absolutely ludicrous,' said Ward of the ongoing controversy. 'Some of the [FAI] staff shared it when it first happened, and I did say: 'Is this some sort of joke?' 'It is mental to be even having these sort of conversations in 2025. READ MORE 'It is an old mentality, isn't it? There are still some countries who have an old mentality towards women. It is crazy. We are getting there in a lot of places but, I'll be honest with you, it did blow my mind that anyone in this country could have the mindset that women couldn't wear shorts. 'What does that say about the people at the top? Should they really be there or should they move on, and pass the baton to a different generation? 'Ireland is a big sporting country so it is just unbelievable,' added the English-based coach. 'It is very outdated.' In 2023 the FAI gave the senior women's squad the option of changing from the traditional white shorts for international games, following the lead of the Ireland rugby team changing to navy shorts to address 'period anxiety'. Ward also revealed that Heather Payne (Achilles tendon) and Leanne Kiernan (quad) are out of the Nations League trip to Turkey on May 30th and the final match of the group stages against Slovenia in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on June 3rd. Louise Quinn, however, is set to link up with the squad to potentially add to her 121 caps before she retires from the sport later this summer. 'She has made herself available until the summer,' Ward explained. 'Do I think Lou can play a part in helping those young players breed leadership? Absolutely, I do.' Ireland captain Katie McCabe will be a late arrival into camp, Ward confirmed, and she could miss the Turkey match as her club Arsenal play Barcelona in the Champions League final in Lisbon on May 24th. Amber Whiteley, the Liverpool interim manager, will continue as an assistant coach for the upcoming fixtures. 'O course we want to keep Amber. She has a high level of knowledge, good quality, great around the group. But at the same time, if she gets [the Liverpool] head coach job, I will be the first to congratulate her.'
