Laura Rafferty

Laura Marie Rafferty (born 29 April 1996) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Southampton in the FA Women's Championship and the Northern Ireland national team. She previously played for Chelsea L.F.C.

Laura Rafferty
Laura Rafferty competing for Chelsea, August 2014
Rafferty competing for Chelsea LFC, August 2014
Personal information
Full name Laura Marie Rafferty[1]
Date of birth (1996-04-29) 29 April 1996
Place of birth Southampton, England
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Southampton
Number 6
Youth career
Southampton
Hampshire Centre of Excellence
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 Chelsea 16 (1)
2016 → Oxford United (loan) 9 (0)
2017–2021 Brighton & Hove Albion 30 (2)
2020–2021 → Bristol City (loan) 17 (0)
2021– Southampton 24 (3)
International career‡
2013–2015 Northern Ireland U19 9 (1)
2013– Northern Ireland 32 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:50, 14 October 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:00, 13 July 2022 (UTC)

Early life

Rafferty began playing football for a local team at the age of eight.[2] After scoring 50 goals in 8 games, she reported being "chucked out of the league."[2] She played for eight years with the Southampton F.C. Academy as well as the Hampshire Centre of Excellence before moving to Chelsea L.F.C.[3]

Club career

Rafferty started her senior career in 2014 at Chelsea F.C. Women. She spent part of 2016 on loan at Oxford United. After three seasons with Chelsea F.C. Women with limited game time, Rafferty signed with Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA WSL 2 in January 2017 for the 2017 Spring Series.[4][5] The team has since moved up to England's top flight, the FA WSL.

In September 2020 Rafferty joined Bristol City on loan for the 2020–21 season. Bristol finished bottom of the WSL table and were relegated to the FA Women's Championship.[6][7]

On 5 July 2021 Rafferty joined third-tier, Southampton after being released by Brighton.[8] Saints were promoted in the 2021–22 season to the FA Women's Championship, Tier 2 of the English football pyramid.

International career

Rafferty made her debut for the Northern Ireland national team on 6 March 2013 in a match against the Republic of Ireland.[9]

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. Fullerton, Gareth (26 May 2017). "Northern Ireland footballer Laura Rafferty hoping to inspire a future generation of stars". Belfast Live. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  3. https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/teams/womens-team/defender/laura-rafferty/. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. Hollis, Steve (23 January 2017). "Albion Women snap up Chelsea duo Laura Rafferty and Jenna Legg". The Argus. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  5. "Northern Ireland women's international Laura Rafferty has signed for FA Women's Super League 2 side Brighton and Hove Albion". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  6. Goulding, Georgia (5 September 2020). "Laura Rafferty Joins Bristol City on Loan". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  7. The Athletic Staff. "Bristol City Women relegated from the WSL". The Athletic. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  8. Bunting, Josh (5 July 2021). "Laura Rafferty returns to girlhood club Southampton". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  9. "Senior Women". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
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