Jessica Foy: history-making Glens skipper signs paid pro contract
Last updated 6th Jan 2022
Glentoran skipper Jessica Foy has made history by becoming the first female player from a club in Northern Ireland to sign a paid professional contract.
The 26-year-old who has made 20 international appearances has led the Glens to successive Women's Premiership titles.
She said she was " honoured to be the first female professional footballer in the domestic NIFL Women's Premiership."
"Our club has been striving for years to provide more opportunities for girls and women to succeed and to push women’s football further in Northern Ireland," she added.
"The next step for us was to professionalise women’s football and it is an incredible honour to be a part of that. It is fantastic to see women’s football moving forward, providing a clear pathway for young players to now progress through the academy to professional status.
"This is history in the making and I am very excited to see what the future holds.”
Glentoran Women General Manager Billy Clarke said: “Glentoran Women are delighted to announce the signing of Jessica Foy on a Professional Player Contract.
"We are now in a position where we can offer players Professional Contracts and our success and that of our Women’s National team will no doubt bring attention to our players from clubs based in UK.”
Glentoran Chairman Stephen Henderson added: “This is a truly historic moment in the development and progression of the Women’s game in Northern Ireland generally and at Glentoran in particular.
"I am delighted that our club is in a position to recognise the hard work, dedication and talent of our women footballers, by not just paying lip service to their professionalism, but by turning into a reality."