Waterworth is new women’s team manager

Waterworth is new women’s team manager

22 March 2023

CROSSGAR native and former Irish League legendary striker Andy Waterworth has been appointed as the interim head coach of the Northern Ireland Women’s senior team.

Waterworth is currently the head of elite player development at the Irish Football Association and steps in to fill the void left by Kenny Shiels' departure earlier this year.

Northern Ireland are set to face Wales in an international challenge match on Thursday, April 6 at the Cardiff City Stadium with a 7.15pm kick-off scheduled.

Former senior international players Aaron Hughes and Roy Carroll will also be involved next month. Hughes is set to be the interim senior coach, while Carroll is the interim goalkeeping coach.

Wales are familiar opponents for Northern Ireland as they faced off against one another in the Euro 2022 qualifiers with both games ending in draws; firstly a 2-2 stalemate in Wales, which included an Ashley Hutton last-gasp equaliser, before a 0-0 draw in Belfast.

Next month’s match in Cardiff will be part of preparations for the new UEFA Nations League campaign that will get underway in September which will be the first ever edition in the women’s game.

The Irish FA’s director of women’s football, Angela Platt, said: “I am delighted to have the support from Andy leading in this interim phase with the senior women’s programme until we complete our recruitment process for the new senior women’s team manager.

“It will provide a great opportunity for the players to learn from Andy, Aaron and Roy in preparation for what will no doubt be a tough game against Wales.”

It is understood that neither Waterworth or Hughes are in contention for the job full-time.

During Waterworth’s Irish League career, the striker netted 293 goals and picked up five league winner’s medals — four of them with Linfield and one with Glentoran.

He’s also picked up three Irish Cups, one with the Glens in 2013 when he scored a brace in a 3-1 win over Cliftonville, and twice with the Blues, scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Coleraine in the 2017 showpiece.