Jamie Finn Explained

Jamie Finn
Birth Date:1998 4, df=yes[1]
Birth Place:Dublin, Ireland[2]
Height:5ft 5in[3]
Position:Defender, midfielder
Currentclub:Birmingham City
Clubnumber:8
Youthyears1:2006-2011
Youthclubs1:Swords Manor F.C
Youthclubs2:Shelbourne
Collegeyears1:2016
College1:Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
Collegecaps1:5
Collegegoals1:1
Years1:2015
Clubs1:Raheny United
Years2:2015–2021
Clubs2:Shelbourne
Years3:2021–
Clubs3:Birmingham City
Caps3:42
Goals3:1
Nationalyears1:2013–2015
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland U17
Nationalcaps1:11
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2015–2017
Nationalteam2:Republic of Ireland U19
Nationalcaps2:11
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2019–
Nationalteam3:Republic of Ireland
Nationalcaps3:15
Nationalgoals3:0
Pcupdate:30 April 2023
Ntupdate:00:05, 25 November 2022 (UTC)

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. 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".

Club career

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.[4] 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.[5] Before the 2015–16 campaign Raheny United merged into Shelbourne, so Finn returned to The Reds.[6]

In 2016 Finn played college soccer for the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles,[7] she started three of her five appearances, scoring one goal and serving one assist.[8]

After re-joining Shelbourne, Finn represented the club in the 2017–18 UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying round in Belfast.[9] She displayed good form in the 2019 Women's National League, being named WNL Player of the Month for May 2019[10] and named in the WNL Team of the Season.[11]

In August 2021 Finn left Shelbourne to sign a one-year professional contract with English FA Women's Super League (WSL) club Birmingham City.[12] In July 2022 she agreed to extend her contract with relegated Birmingham for another year, with the option of a further year.[13]

International career

Youth

Finn represented Ireland at schoolgirl level while she attended St. Finian’s Community College.[14] At the 2014 FAI International Football Awards she was named Under-16 Women's International Player of the Year.[15] 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.[16]

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. 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.[17]

Senior

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.[18] 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.[19] 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.[20]

Finn won a second cap in the final qualifier, a 3–1 defeat by Germany at Tallaght Stadium on 1 December 2020.[21] 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.[22] On the 22nd February 2024, Finn tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during training camp in Italy.[23]

International appearances

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearApps
Republic of Ireland20191
20201
20217
20226
Total15

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jamie Finn Republic of Ireland UEFA Women's EURO. UEFA.com. 26 November 2020.
  2. News: Hannigan . Mary . Girls in green: meet the Irish women's soccer team . 6 November 2020 . . 19 September 2020.
  3. Web site: 15 Jamie Finn . . 28 November 2020.
  4. News: Jamie's star continues to shine brightly . 28 November 2020 . Dublin People . 14 November 2014.
  5. News: Extra-time triumph for Raheny United in women's league cup final . The Irish Times. 26 April 2015. 28 November 2020 .
  6. News: Jamie Finn Interview . 28 November 2020 . . 10 September 2015.
  7. News: Fischer . Matt . @FGCU_WSoccer Adds Irish U19 International, Former U17 Captain Jamie Finn . 28 November 2020 . . 5 July 2016.
  8. Web site: Jamie Finn . . 28 November 2020.
  9. News: Duffy . Emma . Shelbourne's European dream ends but two late goals mean it finishes on a high . 28 November 2020 . The42.ie . . 28 August 2017.
  10. News: Finn named May Player of the Month . 28 November 2020 . . 2 July 2019.
  11. News: 2019 Women's National League Team of the Season . 28 November 2020 . . 13 November 2019.
  12. News: Frith . Wilf . Birmingham City Women sign Irish international Jamie Finn . 4 September 2021 . . 28 August 2021.
  13. News: Jamie Finn pens a new contract! . 1 August 2022 . . 11 July 2022.
  14. Web site: Jamie Finn . FAI Schools . 28 November 2020.
  15. News: Swords' Flying Finn . 28 November 2020 . Dublin Gazzette . 26 March 2015.
  16. News: O'Rourke . Steve . A week after completing her Leaving Cert, Jamie Finn will lead Ireland at the Euros . 28 November 2020 . The42.ie . . 21 June 2015.
  17. News: Finn determined to build momentum with WU19s . 28 November 2020 . . 19 October 2016.
  18. News: Jamie Finn looking to break into the Ireland team after first call-up . 28 November 2020 . . 8 November 2019.
  19. News: Donnelly . Dave . Swords native Finn savours "unreal" experience in Irish debut . 28 November 2020 . Dublin Gazette . 21 November 2019.
  20. News: Byrne . Paul . 'This year has been Finntastic' . 28 November 2020 . Fingal Independent . 4 January 2020.
  21. News: Horgan . Andrew . Ireland battle bravely but Germany are in a different class and win in style . 11 April 2021 . . 1 December 2020.
  22. News: Duffy . Emma . 'It's a special feeling to wear the green jersey, and to get Player of the Match topped that off' . 11 April 2021 . The42.ie . . 9 April 2021.
  23. Web site: Ryan . Larry . 2024-02-22 . Ireland star Jamie Finn suffers ACL injury in training . 2024-02-22 . Irish Examiner . en.