Northern Ireland ladies’ team in safe hands with Lauren

Northern Ireland ladies’ team in safe hands with Lauren

27 September 2017

WHAT an amazing six months it has been for Ballynahinch’s Lauren Perry.

The 16 year-old goalkeeper was deservedly called up to the Northern Ireland senior women’s squad to play in the recent World Cup qualifiers against Norway and the Republic of Ireland. 

The talented custodian exceeded all expectations when she won the player of the match award against former world champions Norway.

Lauren started her football career at Ballynahinch Youth in 2008 as a seven year-old left midfielder, but it wasn’t long before the coaches identified her natural ability and talent as a goalkeeper. 

She was one of the first players at the club to progress through the youth set-up, playing in the under age teams right through to the senior ladies’ team.

She played there for two seasons before moving to Linfield in March to join her dad, Alan, assistant to Linfield Ladies’ manager Alfie Wylie.

Lauren, a former pupil at Shimna Integrated College in Newcastle and now studying

for a football coaching qualification in Belfast, has represented Northern Ireland at U-15, U-16 and U-17 levels and was one of the standout players at the recent U-19 Euro finals.

She has also played in the Champions League this summer with Linfield against teams from Poland, Finland and Republic of Ireland .

She is currently in Portugal with the Northern Ireland U-17 squad, who will shortly begin their Euro qualifiers against Austria, Portugal and Georgia.