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#Post#: 5296--------------------------------------------------
Freya Holdaway (DoB 12Apr1989 - 12 caps, 2018-2019)
By: EalingGreen Date: June 9, 2021, 9:57 am
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Freya had to retire from football last yeart, due to
concussion-related injury. She is now campaigning for more
reserch into the subject, especially from a womens' point of
view.
But the back story of how she came to represent Northern Ireland
for the first time at the age of 28 is an interesting one.
International call-up an accident
Born in England and raised in Wales, Holdaway had given up her
dream of international football however a conversation, only by
chance, changed everything when Calum Best, son of legendary
Northern Ireland footballer George, was attending an event at
Crystal Palace.
"I was talking with my team-mate Ciara Watling (who also players
for NI), and I said in passing my grandfather was from Belfast.
"She couldn't believe I hadn't mentioned it before. She said I
should give Alfie (Wylie, then-manager of NI) a call and see
what he has to say. He took a huge punt on me but it was
completely by accident, that conversation may never have
happened."
HTML https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/93BF/production/_118832873_gettyimages-1165891551.jpg
Holdaway's final Northern Ireland cap came against Wales in 2019
Holdaway jokes that "everyone says I'm British so I'll play for
anyone" but she thinks her international call-up "was meant to
be". She won 12 Northern Ireland caps and her final appearance
was in the 2-2 draw away to Wales in Euro 2022 qualifying, a
result which set up a path for a first-ever major tournament for
Kenny Shiels' side.
"My grandfather has been my number one fan since I was five
years old, when I could first kick a ball," she added.
"For me to put on the NI shirt for him, it brought many more
emotions for me than it would have putting on an England shirt.
"That's what was important to me. He watched my last game in
Wales, even if we didn't know it at the time, but it was quite
fitting.
"I'm really proud to have been part of that whole qualifying
campaign, but the fact it ended in the country I grew up in,
with my grandfather being able to watch, he's now 92, not many
people get to leave on that sort of note."
(More here, incl a video interview inset:
HTML https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57387441
See also:
"I played for Northern Ireland in front of 30,000 people against
the Netherlands and that experience was incredible - that’s what
dreams are made of."
HTML https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/northern-ireland-defender-freya-holdaway-18437576
#Post#: 5297--------------------------------------------------
Re: Freya Holdaway (DoB 12Apr1989 - 12 caps, 2018-2019)
By: exhausted Date: June 9, 2021, 11:01 am
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This is definitely a subject that will come more and more to the
fore, not just in football but all sports
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