Ardglss FC U14 goalkeeper Sophie McGreevy trains with the girls NI soccer squad
With the growing popularity of female soccer, there is a young star in the making in Ardglass who plays for the U14 team and has been training in the NI female goalkeeper squad for some time.
Sophie McGreevy, almost 14, is a pupils at the Lecale Trinity Grammar School in Downpatrick and and she says she first took an interest in soccer when she was younger in the under-11s and although she played different positions in the mixed team, she settled into the goal-keeper role.
She is a proud member of the goal-keeper NI training squad and trains at the Crewe United grounds in Belfast with other keeper hopefuls.
A lover of watersports, Sophia is very competitive and keeps the back lines of the U14 Ardglass team in order. She has a strong kick out, and a commanding voice that keeps the defenders on their toes.
Sopie said that she will be able to play in the Ardglass teams until she becomes 18 then she wil have to find a Ladies team.
“I love sports at school and i when i get out onto the pitch I just want to make sure my team wins and keep the ball out of our net.
“I also play gaelic football and I and the keeper for the U14s there too with Ardglass GAC. Gaelic football ball handling skills have helped me to be a better keeper.
“But it’s my dream to get on to the Northern Ireland team and be their keeper. Being part of the training squad is quite something and it really gives me a buzz. I love to train at the Crewe United pitch.
“I’ve always wanted to play higher level football and now I have the opportunity.
“I’ll do my best to get there into the NI nets. My mum and dad and two brothers and my sister are all shouting for me. I’m the youngest in the family, and it would be great to walk out on to Windsor Park and make them proud.
I’m in Year 9 just now but when I leave school I’d like to train maybe as a photographer and specialise in sports’ photography. It looks like an exciting job and you get around a lot and meet some interesting people.”
So Sophia has a journey in front of her and she really wants to live her dream of being a top female goal-keeper. I’ve got a feeling she’s going to give it everything she’s got.
I can just see her now at the business end of a long lens in the nets making a cracking save against England for the ladies’ Northern Ireland team.
