Gilly Flaherty
Encyclopedia
Gilly Louise Scarlett Flaherty (Born 24 August 1991) in Rotherhithe
/ Bermondsey
, London
, is an English
footballer
. She currently plays for the English
side Arsenal
, and is an England youth International. She usually plays as a defender
, and wears the number five shirt for Arsenal.
, located directly south of the River Thames
. She was educated at Addey and Stanhope School
, a secondary school located in New Cross
, London
, where she was a Head Girl
.
In September 2007, Flaherty joined the Arsenal Ladies Academy, which combines academic studies with football coaching. The Academy is based at Oaklands College
s Smallford Campus, St Albans
, Hertfordshire
. She will gain a BTEC
National Sport and Exercise Science qualification on successfully attaining a pass in the course.
, where she played for the youth teams until the age of thirteen.
Flaherty worked her way through the club, coming off the bench to make her senior debut in October 2006 against Birmingham City
, in a League Cup match, when only 15 years old.
Flaherty was part of the Arsenal squad that won the quadruple in 2006/2007 season, winning the UEFA Women's Cup
, FA Women's National Premier League, FA Women's Cup
and the FA Women's Premier League Cup. Flaherty was part of the Arsenal squad that made history by being the first team outside Germany
or Scandinavia
to win the UEFA Women's Cup. Flaherty was also in the team that won the 2006/07 season London County FA Women's Cup.
In April 2011, Flaherty scored the first goal of the FA WSL season – the winner away to Chelsea
in front of 2,510 supporters.
Under-19 and Under-20 international. She has previously represented her country at Under-15 and 17 levels and made her debut for the Under-23 team against Germany
in September 2010.
Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe is a residential district in inner southeast London, England and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is located on a peninsula on the south bank of the Thames, facing Wapping and the Isle of Dogs on the north bank, and is a part of the Docklands area...
/ Bermondsey
Bermondsey
Bermondsey is an area in London on the south bank of the river Thames, and is part of the London Borough of Southwark. To the west lies Southwark, to the east Rotherhithe, and to the south, Walworth and Peckham.-Toponomy:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. She currently plays for the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
side Arsenal
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
, and is an England youth International. She usually plays as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, and wears the number five shirt for Arsenal.
Personal life
Flaherty grew up in the London Borough of SouthwarkLondon Borough of Southwark
The London Borough of Southwark is a London borough in south east London, England. It is directly south of the River Thames and the City of London, and forms part of Inner London.-History:...
, located directly south of the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
. She was educated at Addey and Stanhope School
Addey and Stanhope School
Addey and Stanhope School is a voluntary-aided, co-educational secondary school, located in Lewisham, London, UK. A former grammar school, with origins dating to 1606, Addey and Stanhope became a specialist science and technology school in 2006. The school is also part of the Crossways Federation,...
, a secondary school located in New Cross
New Cross
New Cross is a district and ward of the London Borough of Lewisham, England. It is situated 4 miles south-east of Charing Cross. The ward covered by London post town and the SE 14 postcode district. New Cross is near St Johns, Telegraph Hill, Nunhead, Peckham, Brockley, Deptford and Greenwich...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where she was a Head Girl
Head boy
Head Boy and Head Girl are terms commonly used in the British education system, and in private schools throughout the Commonwealth.-United Kingdom:...
.
In September 2007, Flaherty joined the Arsenal Ladies Academy, which combines academic studies with football coaching. The Academy is based at Oaklands College
Oaklands College
Oaklands College is a Further education college in Hertfordshire, England in the United Kingdom.- Profile :Oaklands College is a large general Further Education College. It has campus sites in St Albans City, St Albans Smallford, Alban Park, Welwyn Garden City and a further training provision in...
s Smallford Campus, St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. She will gain a BTEC
Business And Technology Education Council (BTEC)
The Business and Technology Education Council is the British body which awards vocational qualifications. Such qualifications are commonly referred to as "BTECs"....
National Sport and Exercise Science qualification on successfully attaining a pass in the course.
Millwall Lionesses
Flaherty started playing football with her father as a nine year old. She joined her first club, Millwall LionessesMillwall Lionesses L.F.C.
Millwall Lionesses Ladies Football Club were founded in March 1972 by Patricia Maslin and Rita Bullions. In a time when women's football was almost unheard of the group of women who made up the Lionesses were at first snubbed by Millwall FC but went on to became the first women's football team to...
, where she played for the youth teams until the age of thirteen.
Arsenal Ladies
Flaherty joined Arsenal following a successful trial with the club in 2003, she was part of their youth programme, playing for the Under 14s team.Flaherty worked her way through the club, coming off the bench to make her senior debut in October 2006 against Birmingham City
Birmingham City L.F.C.
Birmingham City L.F.C. is a semi-professional English Women's football club who are affiliated to Birmingham City F.C.. They play their home games at Knights Lane, the home of Stratford Town F.C., and were named as founder members of the FA Women's Super League which started in 2011.-History:The...
, in a League Cup match, when only 15 years old.
Flaherty was part of the Arsenal squad that won the quadruple in 2006/2007 season, winning the UEFA Women's Cup
UEFA Women's Cup
The UEFA Women's Champions League is the first international women's association football club competition for teams that play in UEFA nations. Initially known as the UEFA Women's Cup, the competition has been re-branded since the 2009-2010 edition as the UEFA Women's Champions League...
, FA Women's National Premier League, FA Women's Cup
FA Women's Cup
The Football Association Women’s Challenge Cup Competition, commonly referred to as the FA Women's Cup, is the top cup competition for women's football clubs in England – designed as an exact equivalent to the FA Cup created 99 years earlier...
and the FA Women's Premier League Cup. Flaherty was part of the Arsenal squad that made history by being the first team outside Germany
Germany women's national football team
The German women's national football team represents Germany in international women's football and is directed by the German Football Association . The team – informally called West Germany in English – played its first international match in 1982...
or Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
to win the UEFA Women's Cup. Flaherty was also in the team that won the 2006/07 season London County FA Women's Cup.
In April 2011, Flaherty scored the first goal of the FA WSL season – the winner away to Chelsea
Chelsea L.F.C.
Chelsea Ladies Football Club are a semi-professional English women's football club affiliated with Chelsea F.C.. They have competed in the top tier of women's football in England, the Premier League National Division, since 2005...
in front of 2,510 supporters.
International career
Flaherty is a former EnglandEngland women's national football team
The England women's national football team represents England in international women's football. The side has been quite successful of late, qualifying for three World Cups, 1995, 2007 and 2011...
Under-19 and Under-20 international. She has previously represented her country at Under-15 and 17 levels and made her debut for the Under-23 team against Germany
Germany women's national football team
The German women's national football team represents Germany in international women's football and is directed by the German Football Association . The team – informally called West Germany in English – played its first international match in 1982...
in September 2010.
Honours
- UEFA Women's CupUEFA Women's CupThe UEFA Women's Champions League is the first international women's association football club competition for teams that play in UEFA nations. Initially known as the UEFA Women's Cup, the competition has been re-branded since the 2009-2010 edition as the UEFA Women's Champions League...
– (Arsenal) 2007 - FA Women's CupFA Women's CupThe Football Association Women’s Challenge Cup Competition, commonly referred to as the FA Women's Cup, is the top cup competition for women's football clubs in England – designed as an exact equivalent to the FA Cup created 99 years earlier...
– (Arsenal) 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 - FA Women's National Premier League – (Arsenal) 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- FA Women's Premier League Cup – (Arsenal) 2007
- "Quadruple" winners – (Arsenal) 2007 (UEFA cup, League, League Cup and FA cup)
- London County FA Women's Cup – (Arsenal) 2007, 2008
- FA Women's Community ShieldFA Women's Community ShieldThe FA Women's Community Shield is the female football equivalent of the FA Community Shield in the male football. It is the first competitive match of the football season, although it is seen by most fans as a showpiece event...
– (Arsenal) 2006, 2008