Latest news with #LauraRafferty
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Northern Ireland 'need to be more confident' against Poland
Northern Ireland defender Laura Rafferty says her side should take belief into Friday's crucial Nations League game against Poland at Seaview. Tanya Oxtoby's side lost 2-0 away to the Euro 2025-bound Poles in February and go into the final two matches of their Group B1 campaign trailing the leaders by three points thanks to subsequent home wins over Bosnia-Herzogovina and Romania, plus an away draw with the Romanians. A win over Poland would put Northern Ireland in control of their own destiny in terms of potentially winning the group going into Tuesday's trip to Zenica to play Bosnia-Herzegovina. "We spoke about our aims from the start and coming into the last two games we're completely on target and we know what we have to do," said Rafferty. "Going into this game I think we need to be more confident [than in the defeat by Poland]. It's a massive game for us and the only thing we want from it is a win. "We're looking forward to it and we're just dissecting their [Poland's] games. Teams have strengths, but they have weaknesses too and it's what you do to exploit them." Eighteen-year-old goalkeeper Kate Smith became the latest young player to be drafted into the NI squad on Monday, joining the likes of fellow stopper Abbie Smith, Aimee Kerr, Abi Sweetlove, Keri Halliday and Kascie Weir. As one of the more experienced players in the squad, Rafferty says the mood in the camp in advance of the double-header is "upbeat" and the youthful players are blending in well. "We've got so many young players who come in without fear, a lot of younger additions who are coming in and thoroughly enjoying it. "The experiences and the learning that they'll get from this camp alone will be amazing for their journeys." The former Chelsea, Brighton and Southampton player, who also had a loan spell with Bristol City, has just completed her first season as part of the Rangers squad. Her club agonisingly lost out to Hibernian on the final day of the Scottish Women's Premier League season but seven days later defeated Glasgow City 3-0 to win the Women's Scottish Cup final on Sunday, adding that trophy to the Women's Premier League Cup they collected in March. "I've absolutely loved every minute at Rangers, there have been a lot of fantastic moments during the year and some harder moments recently with the league. "When you play for a club like Rangers you want to take all three [trophies], that's the mentality that you have to show. "It hurt that Sunday, what happened [losing out on the league], massive congratulations to Hibs, but we then had the chance to end the season on a high going into the Glasgow City game and we wanted to leave no regrets. "At the end of the day the trophy was ours and we wanted to keep our name on it. We're glad to get the job done." The 29-year-old centre-back hopes to make further progress in her second season in Scotland. "I've experienced a lot - new league, new players and a new environment, that will be massive to help me progress even more next year."
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Northern Ireland 'need to be more confident' against Poland
Northern Ireland defender Laura Rafferty says her side should take belief into Friday's crucial Nations League game against Poland at Oxtoby's side lost 2-0 away to the Euro 2025-bound Poles in February and go into the final two matches of their Group B1 campaign trailing the leaders by three points thanks to subsequent home wins over Bosnia-Herzogovina and Romania, plus an away draw with the Romanians.A win over Poland would put Northern Ireland in control of their own destiny in terms of potentially winning the group going into Tuesday's trip to Zenica to play Bosnia-Herzegovina."We spoke about our aims from the start and coming into the last two games we're completely on target and we know what we have to do," said Rafferty."Going into this game I think we need to be more confident [than in the defeat by Poland]. It's a massive game for us and the only thing we want from it is a win."We're looking forward to it and we're just dissecting their [Poland's] games. Teams have strengths, but they have weaknesses too and it's what you do to exploit them."Eighteen-year-old goalkeeper Kate Smith became the latest young player to be drafted into the NI squad on Monday, joining the likes of fellow stopper Abbie Smith, Aimee Kerr, Abi Sweetlove, Keri Halliday and Kascie one of the more experienced players in the squad, Rafferty says the mood in the camp in advance of the double-header is "upbeat" and the youthful players are blending in well."We've got so many young players who come in without fear, a lot of younger additions who are coming in and thoroughly enjoying it."The experiences and the learning that they'll get from this camp alone will be amazing for their journeys." 'Loving every minute at Rangers' The former Chelsea, Brighton and Southampton player, who also had a loan spell with Bristol City, has just completed he first season as part of the Rangers club agonisingly lost out to Hibernian on the final day of the Scottish Women's Premier League season but seven days later defeated Glasgow City 3-0 to win the Women's Scottish Cup final on Sunday, adding that trophy to the Women's Premier League Cup they collected in March."I've absolutely loved every minute at Rangers, there have been a lot of fantastic moments during the year and some harder moments recently with the league."When you play for a club like Rangers you want to take all three [trophies], that's the mentality that you have to show."It hurt that Sunday, what happened [losing out on the league], massive congratulations to Hibs, but we then had the chance to end the season on a high so going into the Glasgow City game and we wanted to leave no regrets. "At the end of the day the trophy was ours and we wanted to keep our name on it. We're glad to get the job done."The 29-year-old centre-back hopes to make further progress in her second season in Scotland."I've experienced a lot - new league, new players and a new environment, that will be massive to help me progress even more next year."
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rafferty back in NI squad as Smith, 16, gets first call-up
Central defender Laura Rafferty is back in the Northern Ireland squad for the forthcoming Nations League double-header against Poland and experienced Rangers defender missed last month's 1-1 draw away to Romania, and the 1-0 win over the same opposition, through is named in a 24-strong squad which also includes veteran Newcastle United attacking midfielder Rachel Furness, who received a late call-up for the League B Group 1 encounter against the Romanians at Windsor Park in Ireland's record goalscorer, capped 96 times, was returning to the squad for the first time in 18 goalkeeper Abbie Smith has been named in the senior squad for the first time after joining Manchester City on a two-year scholarship from Crusaders Strikers in teenager was brought in to train with the squad last month but is now officially part of the defender Abi Sweetlove and Glentoran midfielder Aimee Kerr also retain their places in the squad, with Rachel Dugdale and Megan Bell returning after missing the second of the two matches against Romania through injury. Uncapped Kerr, who turns 18 at the end of May, received her first senior call-up in Burrows is out with an ankle injury sustained while playing for Cliftonville while Glentoran midfielder Chloe McCarron and Nottingham Forest Women striker Casey Howe both remain unavailable as they continue to recover from Ireland will play unbeaten group leaders Poland at Seaview in Belfast on Friday 30 May and then travel to Zenica to face third-placed Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday 3 side trail the Poles by three points in the standings. Northern Ireland squad 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).
BBC News
02-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
All you need to know ahead of NI v Romania in Nations League
Northern Ireland are back in Nations League action with a double-header against Oxtoby's side travel to Bucharest on Friday, 4 April, before the sides face off at Windsor Park on coverage on BBC iPlayer to the form guide, here's all you need to know ahead of the games. Who's in and out of the matchday squads? Northern Ireland will be without key defender Laura Rafferty for the games after the 28-year-old picked up an injury while playing for Rangers. Glentoran midfielder Chloe McCarron is also missing through injury, while Casey Howe is a long-term is a stable squad for Tanya Oxtoby, with teenager striker Kascie Weir and experienced midfielder Nadene Caldwell retaining their places after being drafted into the panel in majority of Romania's squad play their football in the domestic of the few who ply their trade abroad is captain Florentina Olar, who plays for Fortuna Hjorring in 39-year-old forward has won 180 caps and scored the first of her 24 goals in 2001 - when eight of Northern Ireland's squad weren't even born! What's the form for both sides been like? Northern Ireland have won one and lost one of their opening two fixtures in the Nations League. Their campaign started with a 2-0 defeat by top seeds Poland in Gdansk as the hosts scored two quickfire goals. It looked to be another disappointing night against Bosnia-Herzegovina, a side Northern Ireland twice defeated in Euro 2025 qualifying last year, as the visitors led 2-1 in the closing stages at Inver Park. However, captain Simone Magill stepped up with two late goals to rescue Northern Ireland. Romania, on the other hand, have lost both of their two fixtures to the same opponents.A heavy 4-0 defeat in Bosnia was followed by a narrow 1-0 loss at home to Poland. How can I watch and follow the game? You can watch both games against Romania on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport first game on in Romania Friday kicks-off at the earlier time of 17:00 BST, while the return fixture at Windsor Park on Tuesday will begin at 19:00 Northern Ireland captain Marissa Callaghan will be on co-commentary duty alongside Thomas Kane for both also have a live text commentary of both matches, with in-play clips and highlights on the BBC Sport website after the final whistle.
BBC News
31-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Johnson replaces injured Rafferty in Northern Ireland squad
Nat Johnson has been called up to the Northern Ireland women's squad for the Nations League double-header against Nottingham Forest full-back replaces injured Rangers defender Laura Rafferty in Tanya Oxtoby's 23-player has won three caps for NI after making her debut in a 1-0 win against Croatia in the Euro play-off second leg in Ireland face Romania in Bucharest on Friday before a home game at Windsor Park against the same opposition on Tuesday, 8 has also included 16-year-old goalkeeper Abbie Smith as a training player as they prepare for the double-header at Leicester City's training ground before flying to Romania on international Smith recently signed for Manchester City from Women's Premiership side England international Izzy Christiansen, as she did last month, has joined the coaching staff as NI target two wins which would keep them in contention for promotion from Group B1.
