Glentoran's Jessica Foy: Turnout at Big Two showdown a sign of growth in women's game
Three things, if not already known, became clear as Glentoran Women moved clear at the top of the Sports Direct Women's Premiership for the first time this season.
In beating rivals Linfield Women 6-2 the Glens showed that they still possess most, if not all, the qualities that made them League and Irish Cup double winners in 2023. Despite what on paper looks a heavy defeat the Blues' attacking threat backs up the often spoke of potential in their ranks.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'They told me I wouldn't survive in football but 14 years later I'm still here'
Husband and wife John and Carolyn Radford have nurtured one of English football's steadiest success stories - no Hollywood showbiz, no firing managers every five minutes, just putting unfashionable Mansfield Town on the map She is the first lady of Mansfield who has presided over two promotions, a Wembley play-off final and English football's fourth longest-serving manager. Now she is having a new stand, padel courts, bars and restaurants built at the One Call stadium. Soon it will be a ground fit for a Stag party every week. And as the Lionesses prepare for their defence of England's Euros crown in Switzerland, she remains a shining light for girl power in boardrooms where women are still hopelessly outnumbered by men in suits. When Carolyn Radford was appointed chief executive at Mansfield back in 2011 aged 29, social media's sneering court of public opinion dismissed her recruitment as a 'publicity stunt.' She laughs at the cheap shot now. 'Some publicity stunt,' giggled Radford on a Zoom call from Mansfield's windswept training ground. 'I wonder if they think running around after my three sons at home is a publicity stunt as well.' Apologies to double Olympic gold medallist and queen of the pool Rebecca Adlington, another proud daughter of the Nottinghamshire hinterlands, but Radford and her husband John, the owner and insurance tycoon who lifted his home-town club out of the non-League long grass, are making the biggest splash in Mansfield now. Like Oldham's Frank and Judith Rothwell, they are the husband-and-wife double act at the sharp end of an EFL operation. Sadly, Radford does not hear many more female voices in boardrooms than she first observed when Mansfield were on their uppers 15 years ago. These days, the barbs are not as direct as comedians Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse's reference point for sexists, the sketch with dinosaur pundits telling a female interviewer: 'Where's the bloke, love? Two sugars, please.' But apart from the likes of West Ham baroness Karen Brady, Bolton chairman Sharon Britton and Leicester CEO Susan Whelan, women at English football's top tables are still thin on the ground. 'Sometimes it's still a bit awkward, but we have come a long way in women's football, in terms of our visibility in the game,' she said. "It's been a male-dominated industry for 150 years and you have to learn to navigate your way through it. 'For a husband-and-wife team maybe it's a different dynamic. For us there's no separation. Business and family are always combined, I've got a voice here and if things go wrong it's always my fault! The Lionesses winning the Euros three years ago was massive and, without wanting to be the kiss of death, I wish them the very best of luck in Switzerland because of what they can do for women and girls in football as a whole. 'We need to celebrate the women who are out there driving the game forward, especially if they are juggling other parts of their lives, and we have each other's backs. I don't have a perfect recipe - there are days when one of the children is sick, for instance, and there aren't enough hours in the day to cope with it all. 'But I'm proud of the fact we have had the same manager for nearly five years. Nigel and his staff are so easy to work with, and continuity has its virtues. I'm glad we are not one of these clubs who sack the manager every few months because starting all over again means a new voice, a new culture, new methods… it must be like getting remarried.' Radford, now 43, has seen gates double at Field Mill on her watch and the fan zone, with its marquee, DJ, music and family atmosphere, has improved the matchday experience markedly. 'Mansfield is a close-knit community and I wanted to reflect that in our demographics on match days,' she said. 'You've got to be so careful when you are cultivating a football club because it matters to so many people. It's brilliant to put them on the map but a it's not a plaything. 'It takes over your whole life and consumes you, but you also have to enjoy it. But it's still a fantastic industry to work in. You keep smiling, you keep being resilient - there is no set formula, it's not like teaching GCSE maths.'
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Great Britain forward ‘proud' to re-join Belfast Giants after signing on for sixth season
The 35-year-old dual-national, who was born in Calgary but represents Great Britain on residency, has been one of the key components of the Giants' dominance under head coach Adam Keefe, winning seven trophies at the SSE Arena. Since joining from the Coventry Blaze in 2019, Lake has been a consistent contributor to the Giants' cause, scoring 90 goals and 232 points in 326 games in teal and assuming the role of alternate captain in his last four seasons. And it was a no-brainer for the Giants to bring him back coming off a season where he scored 13 goals and 32 points in 70 games as they secured an Elite League and Challenge Cup double. As well as that, the former All-Star First Team nominee has made 74 appearances for Great Britain, scoring eight goals and 35 points as well as winning two gold medals in Division 1A of the World Championships and playing in the top tier twice. 'I'm excited to be back with the Giants for another season,' commented Lake. 'It's a great organisation to play for – professionally run, competitive every year, and supported by a passion fanbase. I take a lot of pride in pulling on this jersey and doing whatever I can to help the team be successful and win.' A graduate of Sacred Heart University, where he wore an 'A' in his final season, Lake played two seasons in the ECHL with the Alaska Aces before joining the Blaze in 2017 where he excelled, being named a First Team All-Star in his second season after scoring 38 goals and 82 points in 68 games. That earned him a move to Belfast and since then he has become a mainstay on the roster at the SSE Arena, forming an impressive partnership with winger Mark Cooper that led to the Giants securing the League and Cup double in the 2021/22 season, including scoring the overtime winner in the Cup Final against the Cardiff Devils. He would better that a year later by helping the Giants to the Grand Slam, adding the Play-Off title to their League and Cup defences, and last year he was once again front and centre in picking up another League and Cup double.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Premier League icon Olivier Giroud, 38, set for shock European transfer after Club World Cup exit
PREMIER LEAGUE icon Olivier Giroud is set for a shock transfer after LAFC were knocked out of the Club World Cup. The veteran striker could be set to join the eighth club of his career. 2 Giroud only moved to MLS side LAFC last year and he has made 37 appearances, scoring five goals. But he is now reportedly on the radar of a team back in his native France - Lille. French outlet Foot Mercato report Lille are hopeful they can entice Giroud back to Ligue 1 - 13 years after he left. However Giroud, 38, is under contract with LAFC until the end of the calendar year, and they have an option to extend his stay. But Lille are in need of a striker with Jonathan David set to leave when his contract expires next week. Former Arsenal star Chuba Akpom will also return to his parent club Ajax when his loan expires. It is claimed sources close to Giroud believe he would be interested in the switch to Lille. They are expected to offer the striker a one-year deal, with the option of an additional year. 2 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW Lille finished fifth in Ligue 1 last season so would be able to offer Giroud Europa League football. But they may not be able to compete with the £2.7million annual salary he earns in LA. LAFC were knocked out of the Club World Cup after losing to Chelsea and ES Tunis before drawing 1-1 with Flamengo.
