Aileen Whelan

Aileen Mary Whelan (born 11 August 1991) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for FA WSL club Leicester City. Whelan started her playing career in 1996 at Rugby Town Girls FC, after it was set up by Steve Heighton and Michelle Guppy and her father Declan became a coach.

Aileen Whelan
Whelan in 2018
Personal information
Full name Aileen Mary Whelan[1]
Date of birth (1991-08-11) 11 August 1991
Place of birth Stafford, England
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Midfielder, Forward
Team information
Current team
 Leicester City
Number 10
Youth career
Rugby Town Girls FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Barnet Ladies F.C.
2009–2011 Milton Keynes Dons
2011–2013 Nottingham Forest 22 (10)
2013–2017 Notts County 58 (9)
2017 Everton 2 (1)
2017–2022 Brighton & Hove Albion 70 (17)
2022– Leicester City 22 (1)
International career‡
England U23
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 March 2020[2]
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 October 2018

Club career

Whelan started her senior career turning out for Rushden & Diamonds F.C., Barnet Ladies F.C. and Milton Keynes Dons.[3][4] She then signed for Nottingham Forest, ahead of their 2011–12 Women's Premier League season and scored on her debut for the club.[5] She stayed with Forest for the 2012–13 season.[6][7]

Whelan transferred to Notts County during the summer of 2013 ahead of their maiden season in the FA WSL.[8]

She left the club following its folding and joined Everton in May 2017. Everton went on to win the FA WSL 2 Spring Series.[3]

Whelan signed for FA WSL 2 side Brighton & Hove Albion in September 2017.[9] During her first season at the club she was named February 2018 WSL 2 Player of the Month.[10][11] The club joined FA WSL 1, the top tier of women's football in England, ahead of the 2018–19 season.[12][13]

International career

Whelan represented England at their under-23 level.[12] She also competed for Team GB at the World Student Games in 2013, winning the gold medal.[14]

Personal life

Whelan holds a master's degree in child psychology and works part-time as a play therapist outside of football.[15] She has a young child with her partner, former Brighton defender Fern Whelan.[16]

References
  1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/08/2018 and 31/08/2018" (PDF). The FA. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  2. "A. Whelan". Int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  3. "Aileen Whelan". Evertonfc.com. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  4. "Combination Leagues round-up". Womenssoccerscene.co.uk. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  5. "Women's Premier League: Leaders Sunderland held to draw". BBC Sport. 14 November 2011.
  7. "Ladies Capture WSL 1 Pair - Everton Football Club". Evertonfc.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  8. "FA WSL Summer 2013 Transfers". Mywomensfootball.wordpress.com. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  9. "Aileen Whelan". www.brightonandhovealbion.com. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  10. "Albion striker Whelan wins player of the month award". Britghtonandhoveindependent.co.uk. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  11. "February's WSL 2 Player of the Month is Brighton's Aileen Whelan". 4theloveofsport.co.uk. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  12. "Aileen Whelan". Brightonandhovealbion.com. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  13. "Aileen Whelan". Skysports.com. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  14. "Great Britain Winners of World University Games". Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  15. "Brighton's Aileen Whelan: 'I'll concentrate on child psychology after retiring' | Louise Taylor". the Guardian. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  16. Taylor, Louise (14 April 2021). "Brighton's Aileen Whelan: 'I'll concentrate on child psychology after retiring'". The Guardian.
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