Carla Ward

We didn't talk about it last week.

What was the thing in town about celebration of women's football or something? I saw a bit of stuff on LinkedIn about it and Carla Ward was down and stuff like that and Derek was speaking.

I don't think we spoke about it on the pod last week.

Oh,

It

was

leadership and Carla Ward was giving a talk on leadership and There was, Rory was there and there was question and answer session and things like that.

Yeah.

Welcome to episode 79 of the Rebel Army podcast, the official podcast of Cork City Football Club.

And this week we talk to Ireland women's manager, Carla Ward.

Back with the podcast.

Lots has happened since the last time, but we did have an episode recorded.

And I think that's something that I'd be passionate about as well.

Would you be behind bringing back, you know, they used to have the home-based training sessions for players where they could get themselves involved in front of the likes of Carla Ward or whoever it is at the top of the time or you know we've seen some development squads go in alongside the senior squad but I think there is that feeling that there there does need to be something else there yeah

and I think that we need to make sure what we build is right I think and I think whatever we do in relation this has to be built in conjunction with clubs because I think clubs are doing a huge volume of work and I think you know that level of things is lifting year on year so like for me possibly not the similar process of what the previous home-based was how that was structured because I think clubs are doing a huge volume of that work now but I think we need to look at something in how we support our home-based players you know in particularly maybe in in the likes of maybe the off-season or different pieces like that and I think that development team is is hugely important and as in we'll be working really hard to see how we can how we can build and fill that space because I think you know I've worked with the 19s for six years and I know the caliber and quality of players that we have coming through and I know how passionate they are to play for their country as well so like you know I understand that and I understand the need and desire and how we support that.

And you talk about your work there with the 19s and we have that gap at the moment between the senior squad and it's something we talk about in the Coygate podcast quite a lot because we hear a lot from those players that are in that sort of middle ground who are just really frustrated and upset because as you say they want to be representing their country they're so proud to pull on the jersey what would you say to those players in terms of what's coming down the line or supports that may be coming down the line?

In her two and a half years at Bowes, she made 72 appearances in all comps and scoring eight goals.

Her form saw her nominated for the PFA Ireland Women's Young Player of the Year award last year and she earned her first call-up this year to the Ireland squad, the senior squad, by manager Carla Ward matthew she hadn't played for bohemians for quite a while but as the resident bohemians fan are you sad that you're losing such a great player she was a brilliant player last year she was very very good for bows or are you potentially maybe not as sad because she hasn't been playing for bows for quite a while and it seems as though now kind of alan murphy's side have kicked on a gear and it looks like bows are kind of hitting some all right form right now

um yeah like i mean you know obviously when you have a very good quality player like ever brandon it's going to be very difficult to keep hold of her i mean she came into fray of suppose what was it start 2024 she looked from early on she was like a very very bright talent um and you know yeah last year she was absolutely brilliant um again getting that call up um i believe she had to pull out in the end unfortunately due to an injury which um which you know was obviously really devastating for a young player like her obviously and that's going to take some getting over but i think you know she's a very strong player to get over that and i think look you kind of knew something was coming she hadn't really played since the end of july i believe so you kind of knew that something was in the air it was kind of um it was kind of a badly kept secret i suppose we didn't really know what was going to be in manchester city of all clubs and but i suppose it's kind of just vindictive of her um of her uh talents as a footballer and you know the fact that Manchester City who I believe won the WSL there have come in for is absolutely fantastic and now I don't know if there's like a fee attached or anything I haven't heard anything about fee or anything like that but what I do know is that for Manchester City they're getting an absolutely brilliant player yes she's had her injury problems this year she hasn't been on the best of form this year but I believe that you know with the right supports in place she can absolutely thrive uh in Manchester ever you do like you know I'm a Manchester United fan so I don't really like to say good luck to Man City players obviously but uh I think I can in this one exception but uh you know because you know at the end of the day she's an absolutely fantastic player she's very Brian the ball we all know like how good she is on the ball and you know and just her goal scoring abilities and her link of play and things like that is absolutely brilliant.

Again, obviously this year, she hasn't been as good.

Again, it's injury.

But the fact that she was initially called up by Carla Ward to the Ireland squad, I know she since had to step down.

But the fact that she was called up, it proves that she has a long way to go and there's definitely a bright future ahead for her there.

And look, she's only relatively quite young.