Jamie Finn (born 21 April 1998) is an Irish professional footballer who plays for English Women's Championship club Birmingham City FC and the Republic of Ireland women's national team. She previously represented Shelbourne in her native Dublin and is capable of playing in either defence or midfield.[5] In 2016 Finn spent a short time in college soccer with Florida Gulf Coast Eagles, where her coach Jim Blankenship declared: "Jamie is an excellent ball-winner and her ability to play along the backline and in midfield will be a great asset to us".[6]

Jamie Finn
Finn with Birmingham City in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-04-21) 21 April 1998 (age 26)[1][2]
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland[3]
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)[4]
Position(s) Defender, midfielder
Team information
Current team
Birmingham City
Number 8
Youth career
2006-2011 Swords Manor F.C
Shelbourne
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles 5 (1)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015 Raheny United
2015–2021 Shelbourne
2021– Birmingham City 42 (1)
International career
2013–2015 Republic of Ireland U17 11 (1)
2015–2017 Republic of Ireland U19 11 (1)
2019– Republic of Ireland 15 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 April 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 00:05, 25 November 2022 (UTC)

Club career edit

Finn was born in Dublin and grew up in Swords. She played soccer with Swords Manor from five years old until she had to leave at 13 due to rules against mixed-sex football.[7] She then moved to Shelbourne's girls' youth system.

Finn joined Raheny United during the 2014–15 Women's National League season. In April 2015 she scored a late equaliser in the WNL Cup final at Tolka Park, to force extra time. Katie McCabe then scored to secure Raheny's 3–2 win over rivals Peamount United.[8] Before the 2015–16 campaign Raheny United merged into Shelbourne, so Finn returned to The Reds.[5]

In 2016 Finn played college soccer for the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles,[6] she started three of her five appearances, scoring one goal and serving one assist.[9]

After re-joining Shelbourne, Finn represented the club in the 2017–18 UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying round in Belfast.[10] She displayed good form in the 2019 Women's National League, being named WNL Player of the Month for May 2019[11] and named in the WNL Team of the Season.[12]

In August 2021 Finn left Shelbourne to sign a one-year professional contract with English FA Women's Super League (WSL) club Birmingham City.[13] In July 2022 she agreed to extend her contract with relegated Birmingham for another year, with the option of a further year.[14]

International career edit

Youth edit

Finn represented Ireland at schoolgirl level while she attended St. Finian’s Community College.[15] At the 2014 FAI International Football Awards she was named Under-16 Women's International Player of the Year.[16] She captained the Republic of Ireland women's national under-17 football team in the 2015 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification mini tournament in Serbia, and at the final tournament in Finland.[17]

The previous year Finn had been selected for the Republic of Ireland women's national under-19 football team which qualified for the UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship finals for the first time in 2014. She was injured in a training camp the week before the tournament and was forced to withdraw.[7] At the 2017 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship qualification mini-tournament in Skopje, Finn captained Ireland's Under-19s to a 10–0 win over their hosts.[18]

Senior edit

Senior Republic of Ireland national team coach Vera Pauw called up Finn for the first time for the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifier against Greece on 12 November 2019.[19] She started and played the whole game to win her first senior cap as Ireland succumbed to an injury-time equaliser and drew 1–1 in Athens.[20] Finn was surprised to start the match, but hoped international recognition and her strong form with Shelbourne would secure her a move to a professional club.[21]

Finn won a second cap in the final qualifier, a 3–1 defeat by Germany at Tallaght Stadium on 1 December 2020.[22] On 8 April 2021 she was drafted in as a late replacement for Ruesha Littlejohn, who was injured in training, ahead of Ireland's friendly with Denmark. She was named Player of the Match as a defensive midfielder in Ireland's 1–0 defeat.[23] On the 22nd February 2024, Finn tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during training camp in Italy.[24]

International appearances edit

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps
Republic of Ireland 2019 1
2020 1
2021 7
2022 6
Total 15

References edit

  1. ^ "Jamie Finn | Republic of Ireland | UEFA Women's EURO". UEFA.com. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  2. ^ Jamie Finn at Soccerway. Retrieved 26 November 2020.  
  3. ^ Hannigan, Mary (19 September 2020). "Girls in green: meet the Irish women's soccer team". The Irish Times. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  4. ^ "15 Jamie Finn". Florida Gulf Coast University. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Jamie Finn Interview". Football Association of Ireland. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  6. ^ a b Fischer, Matt (5 July 2016). "@FGCU_WSoccer Adds Irish U19 International, Former U17 Captain Jamie Finn". Florida Gulf Coast University. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Jamie's star continues to shine brightly". Dublin People. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Extra-time triumph for Raheny United in women's league cup final". The Irish Times. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Jamie Finn". ASUN Conference. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  10. ^ Duffy, Emma (28 August 2017). "Shelbourne's European dream ends but two late goals mean it finishes on a high". The42.ie. TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  11. ^ "Finn named May Player of the Month". Women's National League (Ireland). 2 July 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  12. ^ "2019 Women's National League Team of the Season". Women's National League (Ireland). 13 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  13. ^ Frith, Wilf (28 August 2021). "Birmingham City Women sign Irish international Jamie Finn". She Kicks. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Jamie Finn pens a new contract!". Birmingham City F.C. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Jamie Finn". FAI Schools. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Swords' Flying Finn". Dublin Gazzette. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  17. ^ O'Rourke, Steve (21 June 2015). "A week after completing her Leaving Cert, Jamie Finn will lead Ireland at the Euros". The42.ie. TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  18. ^ "Finn determined to build momentum with WU19s". Football Association of Ireland. 19 October 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  19. ^ "Jamie Finn looking to break into the Ireland team after first call-up". RTÉ Sport. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  20. ^ Donnelly, Dave (21 November 2019). "Swords native Finn savours "unreal" experience in Irish debut". Dublin Gazette. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  21. ^ Byrne, Paul (4 January 2020). "'This year has been Finntastic'". Fingal Independent. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  22. ^ Horgan, Andrew (1 December 2020). "Ireland battle bravely but Germany are in a different class and win in style". The Echo (Cork newspaper). Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  23. ^ Duffy, Emma (9 April 2021). "'It's a special feeling to wear the green jersey, and to get Player of the Match topped that off'". The42.ie. TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  24. ^ Ryan, Larry (22 February 2024). "Ireland star Jamie Finn suffers ACL injury in training". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 February 2024.

External links edit