Yvonne Tracy

Yvonne Tracy (born 27 February 1981) is an Irish female international football defender. She is a well known player at the club and international level, competing in youth cups beginning at age 16.

Yvonne Tracy
Personal information
Date of birth (1981-02-27) 27 February 1981
Place of birth Limerick, Ireland
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Playing position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Lifford
St Patrick's Athletic Ladies
2000–2014 Arsenal
National team
Republic of Ireland
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Tracy began her career with Lifford in County Clare.[1] She joined Arsenal Ladies in August 2000[2] with compatriots Susan Heapes and Caroline Thorpe, and at the same time as Jayne Ludlow.[3] One of seven Irish players then in the Arsenal squad,[4] Tracy was employed in the club's laundry.[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.[6]

During a league match in 2006 Tracy suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury[7] which kept her out of action for over a year.[8] Republic of Ireland manager Noel King praised Tracy's "incredible spirit" in coming back.[8] However, an injury to the same knee curtailed her appearances in season 2008–09.[9]

Tracy left Arsenal in February 2014.[10]

International career

Tracy began playing for the national U16 and U18 teams in 1997, alongside Lifford Ladies teammates Aoife Healy and Áine Greene.[11] While still playing for Lifford, Tracy impressed as captain of the Irish U18 team who topped their qualifying group in 1999.[12] Her performances earned her a starting place in the senior team for a match against Croatia, though she had already featured against the Czech Republic in a 1–1 away draw.[12] After becoming a regular at full international level Tracy was nominated for the International Player of the Year in 2000.[13]

Tracy has since won over 40 senior caps for Ireland[14] and was Irish International Player of the Year in 2002.[15] In October 2009 she came on as a substitute for the injured Stef Curtis and scored the winner in Kazakhstan in a 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification - UEFA Group 6 game.[16][17] Tracy said: "It has been a long, long road to recovery, but it is exciting to return to the pitch and a match-winning goal is a fantastic boost."[18]

Personal life

Tracy's younger brother, Shane, also spent time at Arsenal, before returning home to Galway United in January 2007.[19]

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References
  1. "Senior Women Player Profiles". Football Association of Ireland. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  2. "3. Yvonne Tracy". Arsenal F.C. Archived from the original on 23 August 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  3. Jennifer O'Neill (5 August 2000). "Charlton bid to kick off new era in style". The Times. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  4. Pat Nugent (8 April 2001). "The women behind the greening of the Gunners". The Tribune. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  5. Sue Mott (24 November 2007). "FA can learn from winning Arsenal Ladies". The Telegraph. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  6. Eric Beauchamp (8 May 2001). "Banks has measure of Fulham". The Independent. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  7. Anna Kessel (28 October 2008). "Are Women More Prone to Injury?". The Observer. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  8. "Nominees for The Irish Times Sportswoman of the Year Award 2009". The Irish Times. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  9. Mark Dunphy (17 March 2010). "Tracy Embarks For Crucial Euro Encounter In Israel". Clare Herald. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  10. "Ciara Grant and Yvonne Tracy have left Arsenal Ladies". The Football Association. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  11. "International Players". Lifford Ladies FC. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  12. "Latest Lifford News". Lifford Ladies FC. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  13. Declan Hughes (27 October 2000). "Opel's Ireland Player of the Year nominees". Women's Soccer World. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  14. "Ladies". Arsenal Insider. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  15. "Yvonne Tracy". Arsenal Dublin. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  16. Yvonne Tracy seals win for Irish Women FAI, 29 October 2009
  17. "Limerick woman Yvonne Tracy wins monthly award". Limerick Post Sports Blog. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  18. "Monthly award for Yvonne Tracy". RTÉ Sport. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  19. Neil Robinson (15 February 2007). "Here's proof that Arsenal is strictly for the girls!; End of an era as the final Irish lad leaves". Daily Mail.
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