Gilly Flaherty
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Gilly Louise Scarlett Flaherty | ||
Date of birth | 24 August 1991 | ||
Place of birth | London, England | ||
Height | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
Position(s) |
Centre Back | ||
Youth career | |||
2000–2003 | Millwall Lionesses | ||
2003–2006 | Arsenal | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2006–2013 | Arsenal | 76 | (4) |
2014–2018 | Chelsea | 57 | (8) |
2018–2022 |
West Ham United | 63 | (1) |
2022–2023 | Liverpool | 8 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2015–2017 | England | 9 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:00, 21 January 2021 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:33, 9 June 2017 (UTC+1) |
Gilly Louise Scarlett Flaherty (born 24 August 1991) is an
Flaherty previously held the record for the most appearances in the Women's Super League, playing in her record-breaking 176th game in November 2022 to overtake previous holder Jill Scott.[2] She announced her retirement from football halfway through the 2022-23 WSL season.[3]
Early life
Born in Rotherhithe / Bermondsey, Flaherty grew up in the London Borough of Southwark, located directly south of the River Thames. She was educated at Addey and Stanhope School, a secondary school located in New Cross, London, where she was a
In September 2007, Flaherty joined the Arsenal Ladies Academy, which combines academic studies with football coaching. The Academy is based at
Flaherty took part in a white-collar boxing match in August 2013, to raise money for Millwall FC's Girls' Centre of Excellence. She was stopped halfway through the second round.[5]
Club career
Millwall Lionesses
Flaherty started playing football with her father as a nine-year-old. She joined her first club, Millwall Lionesses, where she played for the youth teams until the age of thirteen.
Arsenal Ladies
Flaherty joined Arsenal following a successful trial with the club in 2003,
Flaherty was part of the Arsenal squad that won a
In April 2011, Flaherty scored the first goal of the
Chelsea Ladies
In January 2014, Chelsea announced the double
West Ham United Ladies
In June 2018, Flaherty joined
Liverpool Women
In July 2022, Flaherty signed for Liverpool Women.[19][20] On 12 January 2023, Flaherty announced her retirement from football citing family reasons following the passing of her father in late 2022.[21]
International career
Flaherty is a former England Under-19 and Under-20 international.[22] She has previously represented her country at Under-15 and 17 levels and made her debut for the Under-23 team against Germany in September 2010.[22]
Not favoured by England coach
Flaherty was allotted 191 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural international.[26][27]
Media appearances
In 2008 and 2009, Flaherty appeared on the Channel 4 television programme Yeardot.[28] In 2023, Flaherty made numerous appearances as a football commentator including for the BBC and contributor to the football podcast Counter Pressed.[29]
Personal life
Flaherty was a P.E. teacher at John Donne Primary school sporadically throughout her career.
In December 2018, Flaherty revealed that she is a lesbian and living with her partner Lily.[30] In an interview in February 2020, Flaherty disclosed that she attempted suicide when she was 17 years old, due to mental health issues.[31] She is a supporter of the Time to Talk day campaign, run by Time to Change.[32]
Honours
Arsenal
- UEFA Women's Cup: 2007
- FA Women's Cup: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013
- FA WSL: 2011, 2012
- FA Women's National Premier League: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- FA Women's Premier League Cup: 2007
- London County FA Women's Cup: 2007, 2008
- Chelsea
- FA Women's Cup: 2015, 2018
- FA WSL: 2015, 2018
- FA WSL Spring Series: 2017
West Ham United
- FA Women's Cup Runners-up 2019
References
- ^ "Gilly Flaherty". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
- ^ "Gilly Flaherty becomes record WSL appearance holder". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ "Gilly Flaherty: Liverpool defender and WSL record appearance holder retires from professional football due to family reasons". Sky Sports. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Former Pupil wins League with Arsenal Ladies". Addey and Stanhope Technology School. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
- ^ Flaherty, Gilly (13 August 2013). "Gilly's Knockout Nine she then went to work at john donne primary school in peckham along with her mother.she left the school to get a professional life as a football player for Chelsea ladies. Days". The #WFBlog. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ "5. Gilly Flaherty". Arsenal official website. Arsenal F.C. Archived from the original on 23 April 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ^ Mawhinney, Stuart (7 May 2007). "Arsenal clinch quadruple". FA women's cup. The Football Association. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ "Arsenal complete unique feat". Latest news. UEFA. 7 May 2007. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ "Arsenal Ladies Honours". Arsenal Official website. Arsenal F.C. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
- ^ Chris Harris (29 April 2007). "Match Report". Arsenal Official website. Arsenal F.C. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
- ^ "Match Report". Arsenal Official website. Arsenal F.C. 18 April 2007. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
- ^ "Statement of Accounts and Annual Report 2006/2007" (PDF). Arsenal F.C. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ "Arsenal win Super League opener". 13 April 2011.
- ^ "Chapman and Flaherty join Chelsea". Arsenal F.C. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ Magowan, Alistair (9 January 2014). "Katie Chapman has England hopes after sealing Chelsea switch". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ Garry, Tom (4 October 2015). "WSL 1: Chelsea Ladies 4–0 Sunderland Ladies". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
- ^ "Gilly Flaherty: West ham ladies sign Chelsea and England Defender". BBC Sport. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
- ^ "Gilly Flaherty". West Ham United. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
- ^ "Gilly Flaherty". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- ^ "Liverpool FC Women Sign Defender Gilly Flaherty". The Liverpool Offside. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "Gilly Flaherty announces retirement from football". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Gilly Flaherty". The Football Association. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
- ^ "Lianne Sanderson recalled to England training squad". BBC Sport. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- ^ "England women beaten by China despite Eniola Aluko goal". BBC Sport. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
- ^ "England women's senior team Legacy". England Football. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ Gerty, David (31 May 2023). "England squad named for 2023 Women's World Cup". England Football. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ Lacey-Hatton, Jack (18 November 2022). "Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present". mirror. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ "Year Dot Series 1". Channel 4. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
- ^ "Counter Pressed - The Ringer". www.theringer.com. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ Kelleher, Patrick (6 December 2018). "Lesbian footballer Gilly Flaherty opens up about sexuality". PinkNews. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ Daly, Charlotte (7 February 2020). "West Ham Women's Captain Opens Up About Her Mental Health Struggles". Women's Health. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ Wrack, Suzanne (6 February 2020). "West Ham's Gilly Flaherty: 'People will be shocked because I'm always happy'". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2020.