Latest news with #RachelFurness
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Newcastle United ace Furness to retire
Newcastle United midfielder Rachel Furness is retiring from playing professional football. WSL Full-Time were informed of the news via an official club press release from The Magpies this morning. Last week, Newcastle United confirmed that the 36-year-old Northern Ireland international would be leaving the club this summer and it has now been revealed that Furness will be hanging up her boots. Advertisement Furness has enjoyed a senior playing career that has spanned out over more than two decades. The player started out with Chester-le-Street back in 2002 before being picked up by Sunderland. After two years on Wearside, Furness went on to represent Newcastle United before turning out for Icelandic club Grindavik. The player returned to Sunderland in 2010 before representing Lincoln Ladies, Reading, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Bristol City. Furness re-joined latest club Newcastle United for a second spell on Tyneside last summer. Speaking after her professional retirement was announced, Furness said 'Returning to my childhood club was a dream come true. The little girl who once had a dream never imagined that she would get to live it. 'This city, these fans – they will always have my heart.' Furness is one of 12 first team players to be departing Newcastle United this summer.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
'One of NI's most impactful players calls time'
With injuries limiting her minutes and Tanya Oxtoby's youthful approach, Rachel Furness' retirement announcement is not entirely unexpected, but it does signal the latest changing of the guard for Northern just like when Marissa Callaghan announced her retirement, it is sad to see another of Northern Ireland's history-making Euro 2022 squad call a player, Furness will be remembered as a fearless competitor who made history by becoming the record goalscorer for her of the most important strikes was in the historic Euro 2022 play-off first leg in Ukraine, when she netted the opening goal before she tried to play on after sustaining a broken leg. That sums up her from her goals, one of the standout memories of Furness is her dancing around with her crutches in the air after the play-off win over also had a huge impact off the pitch, and her openness about her mental health struggles were inspiring as she encouraged other players to be open about their feelings and to stand up for their story is one of resilience and perseverance, and her all-round presence, not just her footballing ability, means she will be regarded as one of the most impactful players in Northern Ireland's storied history.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Northern Ireland's record goalscorer Furness retires
Rachel Furness, Northern Ireland's record goalscorer, has announced her retirement from club level, the 36-year-old played for a number of sides in England including Sunderland, Reading, Tottenham, Liverpool, Bristol City and Newcastle United. After making her international debut in 2005, the midfielder won 95 caps and scored 38 goals for Northern played a key role in NI's qualification for the Euro 2022 finals - the county's first major women's final Northern Ireland appearance came away to Hungary in the Nations League in October 2023, although she was recently recalled in April's international window and was part of the squad for Nations League matches with Poland and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Born in Newcastle and qualifying for Northern Ireland through her mother and grandfather, Furness made her senior international debut as a teenager in 2005 - shortly after the team had been was integral to Northern Ireland's historic qualification for Euro 2022, scoring five goals, and her dedication to her country was showcased in the play-off first leg in scoring the opening goal, she attempted to play on despite sustaining what turned out to be a broken leg. In the second leg, she was there heading every ball and cheering every tackle whilst on crutches on the recovered and became Northern Ireland's record goalscorer in November 2021 when she netted twice in a World Cup qualifying win over North Macedonia at played in all three matches at the finals in Southampton, delayed a year by Covid, providing the assist for Julie Nelson's famous header against stepped away from international duty following the tournament, which she later revealed in an emotional interview to BBC Sport NI was to look after her mental health. She made a long-awaited return to the squad away to Wales the following April, and her last cap came in Hungary in October 2023 as injuries limited her her standing was still clear when she was drafted in as a last-minute call up for April's game at home to Romania, providing crucial experience in a young squad, and she retained her place for the concluding fixtures in the Women's Nations League campaign. After starting her club career at Sunderland, Furness had a stint a Newcastle United, where she recovered from a serious knee injury before she spent a summer in Iceland with Grindavik in returned to England with Sunderland, where she won the Premier League Nations Division title in her six years at the Sunderland reverted to part-time status, Furness moved on to Reading in 2017 and had a loan spell at Tottenham Hotspur. The most successful stint of her club career, which also aligned with Northern Ireland's historic spell, came when she signed for Liverpool in 2019. Furness helped Liverpool back to the top flight in 2023 and made it back-to-back Championship titles when she played an integral role in Bristol City's promotion the following her dream had always been to play for her childhood club, Newcastle, and she signed a one-year deal in July. It was fitting that she got to live out her dream at Newcastle, and although injuries limited her involvement throughout the season, she helped the Magpies to fifth place in the Championship table. Analysis - one of NI's most impactful players With injuries limiting her minutes and Tanya Oxtoby's youthful approach, Furness' news is not entirely unexpected but does signal the latest changing of the guard for Northern just like when Marissa Callaghan announced her retirement, is it sad to see another of Northern Ireland's history-making Euro 2022 squad call time on their time in a player, Furness will be remembered as a fearless competitor who made history by becoming the record goalscorer for her of the most important strikes was in the historic Euro 2022 play-off first leg in Ukraine, when she netted the opening goal before she tried to play on after sustaining a broken leg. That sums up her dedication to her country. Away from her goals, one of the standout memories of Furness is her dancing around with her crutches in the air after the play-off win over also had a huge impact off the pitch, and her openness about her mental health struggles were inspiring as she encouraged other players to be open about their feelings and to stand up for their story is one of resilience and perseverance, and her all-round presence, not just her footballing ability, means she will be regarded as one of the most impactful players in Northern Ireland's storied history.
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).
