Jessica Foy: Glentoran captain becomes first paid female player with a club in Northern Ireland

Jessica Foy signs her paid professional contract with Glentoran

Glentoran captain Jessica Foy says becoming the first female player to sign a paid professional contract with a club in Northern Ireland is a significant "starting point" in the next stage of the development of the women's game in the country.

It is expected that more of Foy's Glentoran team-mates will follow suit in signing pro contracts in the coming months.

"I don't think I can put into words how much of an honour it is," Foy reflected.

"It's history making. It's something that we've been striving towards over the past couple of years, it's not something that happened overnight.

"Glentoran have been making massive improvements to the women's structure to get us to the point we are now."

The 26-year-old left back led the east Belfast outfit to a hat-trick of trophy successes in 2021 including the retention of their league title.

Her contract represents the start of a process of professionalising the Northern Ireland women's squad, who will compete in the Women's Euros for the first time in England in July.

'The next logical step'

The results of the national team over the last year have propelled the women's game in Northern Ireland to new heights, with more highlights to come as Kenny Shiels side compete in the Euros and fight for World Cup qualification.

Foy, who made a return to the international fold last October, hopes that bringing in professional contracts will help consolidate the forward strides taken in recent years.

"It's a very exciting time to be involved in women's football," she said.

Jessica Foy lifts the Irish Cup after Glentoran Women's win over Crusaders Strikers in the final on 15 October

"When I was younger I definitely didn't think it was possible to be a professional footballer in Northern Ireland but now if you're in an academy there's a pathway there to progress throughout the age bands and on to professional football.

"For the past number of years we've been putting some professional practices into place on and off the field, so this was the logical next step to actually start to get paid to play.

"It's incredible when you think back, it wasn't so long that we were paying the club to come and play matches."

Glentoran Women's 'unprecedented success'

Glentoran Women General manager Billy Clarke revealed: "Glentoran Women are delighted to announce the signing of Jessica Foy on a Professional Player Contract. Jessica is the first female player in the Women's Premiership to make this move.

"From 2015 we began the development of our first team squad with a plan to give some young players their opportunity of first team football and start winning trophies again.

"The development of the first team has led to unprecedented success. We are now in a position where we can offer players professional contracts and our success and that of our women's national team will no doubt bring attention to our players from clubs based in the UK."

Glentoran chairman Stephen Henderson agreed that the move represented "a truly historic moment in the development and progression of the women's game in Northern Ireland generally and at Glentoran in particular".

"I am delighted that our club is in a position to recognise the hard work, dedication and talent of our women footballers, by not just playing lip service to their professionalism, but by turning it into a reality."

Analysis by BBC Sport NI's Andy Gray:

This historic moment for Foy caps a whirlwind few months after her trophy winning exploits with Glentoran and a surprise return to the Northern Ireland squad following a Covid outbreak in the initial panel against Austria in October.

A Glentoran player through and through, it is just reward for her role in the club's success.

It is understood many of the squad have also signed professional deals, including a number of Northern Ireland internationals who reside at the Oval.

Crucially, it means the Glens can command a fee for some of their players who will be in the shop window at Euro 2022 and beyond.

However, for now it shows that Glentoran is the place to be as the east Belfast club lead the way in this next stage for the rapidly growing women's game in Northern Ireland.