Caroline Thorpe

Caroline Thorpe (born 2 August 1981) is an Irish former international football midfielder who played for Raheny United, Peamount United and DLR Waves of the Women's National League. She also represented English Premier League clubs Arsenal Ladies and Leeds United Ladies, as well as Memphis Mercury in America.

Caroline Thorpe
Personal information
Date of birth (1981-08-02) 2 August 1981
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Redlake
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2000 St. Catherine's
2000–2001 Arsenal Ladies
2001 St. Catherine's
2001–2003 Leeds United Ladies
2002 Memphis Mercury
2004 UCD
St. Catherine's
2011–2012 Peamount United
2012–2013 Raheny United
2014 Peamount United
2014–2016 UCD Waves
International career
Republic of Ireland 24 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Thorpe began her career with Redlake before moving to St. Catherine's in 1999.[1] After helping the club to promotion,[2] she joined Arsenal Ladies in August 2000 along with compatriots Susan Heapes and Yvonne Tracy.[3] Thorpe was one of seven Irish players then in the Arsenal squad,[4] and with Emma Byrne and Ciara Grant, one of three who were regulars in the first team.[4] On her debut Thorpe scored two goals in a 5–0 win over Tranmere Rovers.[5] She won the domestic treble in her first season, and was an unused substitute as Arsenal beat Fulham in the 2001 FA Women's Cup final at Selhurst Park.[6]

Despite this success Thorpe returned to St. Catherine's in May 2001.[7] She was back in the FA Women's Premier League in 2001–02, but with newly promoted Leeds United.[8] In summer 2002 Thorpe played in the American W-League with Memphis Mercury,[9] before returning to Leeds for 2002–03.[10]

Thorpe and her ex-Arsenal teammate Susan Heapes both played in St. Catherine's 1–0 FAI Women's Cup final defeat to St Francis in July 2009.[11] A third Arsenal player from that era, Grainne Kierans, was on the opposing side.[11]

Thorpe signed for Shamrock Rovers for the inaugural 2011–12 Women's National League (WNL) season but only played in one match before transferring to Champions elect Peamount United during the campaign.[12] At the end of the season she joined Raheny United and collected another league winner's medal in 2012–13. She was also named in the 2012–13 WNL Team of the Season.[12] In the 2013 FAI Women's Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium, Thorpe was Player of the Match as Raheny United beat Castlebar Celtic 3–2 after extra time.[13] She finished the 2013–14 season back at Peamount, then retired after spending two seasons with UCD Waves.[14]

International career

Thorpe's first representative games for Ireland came as a 16-year-old.[9] In September 2000 Thorpe scored against Scotland and Northern Ireland as the Republic won the Celt Cup, a quadrangular tournament also featuring the Isle of Man.[2] That year she was named Under-18 International Player of the Year at the FAI International Football Awards.[2][9]

She later featured in the qualifying tournaments for the 2003 World Cup[15] and 2005 European Championship.[16] In October 2004 Thorpe scored Ireland's winner in a 2–1 friendly win in the Faroe Islands and then played in a 5–1 loss to the United States at Soldier Field.[17] She completed her international career with six goals from 24 caps.[12]

Personal life

Thorpe battled an eating disorder and depression during her football career. She left Arsenal after one season due to alleged bullying from an unnamed teammate. She later spent approximately six years away from football after taking offence at a comment made by one of her Ireland teammates.[14]

References
  1. "Senior Women Player Profiles". Football Association of Ireland. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  2. Declan Hughes (27 October 2000). "Opel's Ireland Player of the Year nominees". Womens Soccer World. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  3. Jennifer O'Neill (5 August 2000). "Charlton bid to kick off new era in style". The Times.
  4. Pat Nugent (8 April 2001). "The women behind the greening of the Gunners". The Tribune. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  5. Wilf Frith (21 August 2000). "Belles leave it late for victory". The Times.
  6. Eric Beauchamp (8 May 2001). "Banks has measure of Fulham". The Independent. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  7. "Ladies Soccer: Dull Opening For Benfica". Waterford News and Star. 23 May 2001. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  8. David Shannon (9 September 2002). "England (Women) 2001/02". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  9. "Memphis To Add PDL Team". Southern Soccer Scene. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  10. David Shannon (20 August 2003). "England (Women) 2002/03". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  11. "St. Francis retain FAI Umbro Women's FAI Senior Cup title". Football Association of Ireland. 25 July 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  12. "Thorpe named Player of the Month". Women's National League (Ireland). 9 May 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  13. Carey, Daniel (5 November 2013). "Castlebar Celtic women left heartbroken". The Mayo News. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  14. Fennessy, Paul (22 February 2020). "'I don't know how you're even still alive' - The ex-Ireland international who lived a nightmare". The42.ie. TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  15. "Caroline Thorpe". FIFA. Archived from the original on 1 November 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  16. Sébastien Duret and Neil Morrison (19 June 2005). "European Women Championship 2005 – Match Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  17. Sébastien Duret (5 April 2005). "International matches (Women) 2004". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
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