Grainne Kierans
Encyclopedia
Gráinne Kierans is a former Irish
international footballer. She played as a midfielder
or striker
for several English
clubs and represented the Republic of Ireland
national team.
. From here she was signed by Arsenal
, before moving on to Charlton Athletic
two years later. At Arsenal
she had been one of seven Irish
players then at the club, including her former St. Patrick's Athletic teammates Emma Byrne
and Ciara Grant
. Kierans quit Charlton
in 2003 then had single season spells with Leeds United, Doncaster Rovers Belles and Bristol Academy
.
Kierans returned to Ireland
in 2006 through work, then played for Drogheda United and St. Francis Ladies. She won the FAI Women's Cup with St. Francis in 2008 then retired in 2009 after playing in the UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying round.
in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (UEFA) tournament while attached to St. Patrick's Athletic. She went on to captain the side and was still a member of the squad after returning from her club career in England
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
international footballer. She played as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
or striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
for several English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
clubs and represented the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland women's national football team
The Republic of Ireland women's national football team, selects players from both the 350 Women's Football Association of Ireland teams, in 21 affiliate leagues throughout the nation, and the international women's football community. The WFAI was founded in 1973...
national team.
Club career
As a 20-year-old, Kierans spent a summer playing semi-professionally in DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. From here she was signed by Arsenal
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
, before moving on to Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic L.F.C.
Charlton Athletic Women's Football Club play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division in England. Between 2000, the year it was founded from Croydon Women's F.C. and 2007, Charlton had one of the most successful women's teams in England...
two years later. At Arsenal
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
she had been one of seven Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
players then at the club, including her former St. Patrick's Athletic teammates Emma Byrne
Emma Byrne
Emma Anne Byrne is an Irish association footballer from Leixlip in County Kildare. She currently plays as a goalkeeper for the English team Arsenal, and also for the Republic of Ireland women's team.-Club career:...
and Ciara Grant
Ciara Grant
Ciara Mary Grant is an Irish female international football midfielder from Waterford. She currently plays her club football for Arsenal Ladies. She has been a member of both the treble and quadruple winning Arsenal sides.-Club career:...
. Kierans quit Charlton
Charlton Athletic L.F.C.
Charlton Athletic Women's Football Club play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division in England. Between 2000, the year it was founded from Croydon Women's F.C. and 2007, Charlton had one of the most successful women's teams in England...
in 2003 then had single season spells with Leeds United, Doncaster Rovers Belles and Bristol Academy
Bristol Academy W.F.C.
Bristol Academy Women's Football Club are a semi-professional English women's football club affiliated with the Bristol Academy of Sport, based at Filton College. They were admitted to the FA WSL in 2010.-History:...
.
Kierans returned to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 2006 through work, then played for Drogheda United and St. Francis Ladies. She won the FAI Women's Cup with St. Francis in 2008 then retired in 2009 after playing in the UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying round.
International career
Kierans represented the Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland women's national football team
The Republic of Ireland women's national football team, selects players from both the 350 Women's Football Association of Ireland teams, in 21 affiliate leagues throughout the nation, and the international women's football community. The WFAI was founded in 1973...
in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (UEFA) tournament while attached to St. Patrick's Athletic. She went on to captain the side and was still a member of the squad after returning from her club career in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.