Game Changers Ambassador - Marissa Callaghan
As the captain of Northern Ireland’s Women’s Football team and inspiration for many young female footballers, Marissa Callaghan was an easy choice for the role of ambassador of Electric Ireland’s Club Game Changers campaign*. Below Marissa shares the importance of raising the game for women’s football.
*Club Game Changers is an initiative developed by Electric Ireland and the Irish Football Association to help raise funds for local clubs, and in turn support the next generation of local Game Changers.
The Next Generation
“Gone are the days that football is just for boys, and we hope we can get that message out there to parents and girls. We hope to inspire the younger generation to get involved in football, to work hard and dream big,” says Marissa about her vision for women’s football in Northern Ireland.
Working hard and dreaming big have certainly been two key elements of Marissa’s success to date. Having played at an international level, travelled to the US on a football scholarship and being named as the Northern Ireland Women’s Football Personality of the Year, Marissa has been blazing a trail for many young female footballers over the years, and will no doubt continue to do so.
“I want to be a role model for young female players,” says Marissa. “Playing football has given me so many opportunities and I hope I can inspire the young players through my experience.”
Where It All Began
Marissa has put in years of graft and groundwork to get to where she is today. As captain of the Northern Ireland women’s football team, her dedication and passion for the sport is remarkable; holding many coaching roles, as well as managing her own international career.
“I used to play [football] from morning to night in the street. There weren’t any teams in my area for girls, but my youth club used to enter us into a few five-a-side competitions during the year. It wasn’t until I was 13 I joined my first girls team in North Belfast, and the rest is history. It was always a dream to play for my country and I knew if I worked hard enough I could earn a starting place.”
Since then Marissa has achieved a lot for her 31 years. It’s no mean feat being selected as captain of the Northern Ireland women’s football team and having graduated with an Advanced Certificate in Performance Analysis and Coaching practice from Ulster University, this Academy Director at Cliftonville Ladies is opening new paths for young females to follow in her footsteps.
New Opportunities for Females in Football
Marissa is excited about the Irish FA’s plan to double the number of girls participating in football over the next few years:
“The IFA are creating a Player Development Pathway for girls as young as nine years old, with Northern Ireland club teams developing players and creating pathways for young girls. There are now amazing opportunities to play for your country, travel and maybe even become professional.” says Marissa.
Keeping the Momentum
Marissa is proud of the developments that women’s football has made in recent years and believes this is an exciting time to become involved with the sport: “Women’s football has grown greatly within the past few years. Clubs are starting to grow and develop players and the leagues are becoming more competitive. The coverage through social media is growing and has a big part to play in the awareness of women’s football in Northern Ireland. The IFA are investing more in the women’s game.”
Looking Ahead
In addition to her professional footballing career, Marissa is keen to continue coaching and to be an encouragement to those coming up through the ranks.
“I hope to keep developing as a coach through my current job role,” she says, “I want to gain an ‘A’ licence in football coaching and continue to work in women’s football in Northern Ireland.”
Marissa names Cliftonville Ladies’ coach, Ann Gourley, as a pivotal Game Changer in her life: “Ann was my first coach at Cliftonville Ladies and she really looked after me. She always believed in my ability. She worked so hard to make sure we got opportunities to play for Northern Ireland at youth level and helped me get to America.”
Alongside looking ahead, Marissa has a few career highlights to look back at, including the first time she played for Northern Ireland: “Pulling on the Northern Ireland jersey for the first time was an experience that is very hard to put into words. It’s an intense emotion which totally takes over your body; nervousness, excitement and pride all manifesting in this rollercoaster of emotions.”
Do you know any Game Changers in your life? Your coach, fellow players, or the person washing your football kit? Share them on our Facebook or Twitter page by using the hashtag #GameChangers.
