Lauren Perry Explained

Lauren Perry
Fullname:Lauren Perry
Birth Date:2001 4, df=yes
Birth Place:Northern Ireland
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Montrose
Clubnumber:1
Youthclubs1:Ballynahinch
Years1:2017–2019
Clubs1:Linfield
Years2:2019–2020
Clubs2:Blackburn Rovers
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2020–2021
Clubs3:Forfar Farmington
Years4:2021–2023
Clubs4:Dundee United
Years5:2023–
Clubs5:Montrose
Caps5:20
Goals5:0
Nationalyears1:2018
Nationalteam1:Northern Ireland U17
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2017–
Nationalteam2:Northern Ireland U19
Nationalcaps2:9
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2018–
Nationalteam3:Northern Ireland
Nationalcaps3:6
Nationalgoals3:0
Pcupdate:13:57, 12 February 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:20 October 2019

Lauren Perry (born 5 April 2001) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Montrose in the Scottish Women's Premier League and for the Northern Ireland national team. She previously played for Linfield in Northern Ireland, Blackburn Rovers in England and Forfar Farmington and Dundee United in Scotland. She made her international debut for Northern Ireland in 2018.

Club career

In March 2017, Perry signed for Linfield, the club where her father, Alan Perry, was assistant first team coach. She made her Linfield debut in a 5–2 win against Sion Swifts on 22 March 2017. On 22 August 2017, Perry made her Champions League debut in a 2017–18 qualifying round match against PK-35 Vantaa. In her first season with the club she was named Women's Premiership player of the year and NIFWA Women’s Personality of the Year.[1]

On 2 October 2019, Perry signed with Blackburn Rovers in the English FA Women's Championship, shortly after former Linfield teammate Louise McDaniel made the same move.[2] In August 2020 she moved to Scotland, joining SWPL 1 team Forfar Farmington.[3] On 18 April 2021, she scored with a free kick from 25 yards to earn Forfar a 1–1 draw against Heart of Midlothian[4] [5] and was subsequently nominated for the league's Player of the Month award.[6]

In July 2021, Perry was one of a number of players to leave Forfar for lower division teams shortly before they were forced to pull out of senior football.[7] She joined Dundee United in the second tier of the SWPL,[8] and was part of their squad that won the SWPL2 title in the 2021-22 season.[9] Perry then joined another SWPL club, Montrose, in 2023.[10]

International

On 15 September 2018, Perry made her senior international debut for Northern Ireland in a 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying defeat to Norway. She made nine saves and was voted player of the match.[11]

Personal life

Perry comes from Ballynahinch, County Down. While playing for Blackburn, she studied for a degree in Sport and PE at the University of Central Lancashire.[12]

Honours

Club

Linfield

Dundee United

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FC . Linfield . Linfield Ladies Profiles : Lauren Perry . The Official Website of Linfield FC . en.
  2. News: Perry makes Rovers move . 13 April 2022 . Blackburn Rovers F.C. . 2 October 2019.
  3. News: Perry signs for Forfar Farmington . 11 June 2021 . BBC Sport. 24 August 2020.
  4. News: #SBSSWPL 1: Heart of Midlothian 1-1 Forfar Farmington . 11 June 2021 . Scottish Women's Premier League . 19 April 2021.
  5. News: Watch Forfar goalkeeper score 90th-minute leveller against Hearts . 11 June 2021 . BBC Sport . 18 April 2021.
  6. News: Bunting . Joshua . NI goalkeeper Perry nominated for Player of the Month award . 11 June 2021 . BelfastLive . 5 May 2021.
  7. News: Campbell . Alan . Alan Campbell: Forfar Farmington a sorry casualty of the professional era . 13 April 2022 . HeraldScotland . 15 August 2021.
  8. News: Frith . Wilf . Dundee United Women sign Northern Ireland goalkeeper Lauren Perry . 31 July 2021 . SheKicks . 31 July 2021.
  9. News: Campbell . Alan . Dundee United WFC amazed by the speed of fulfilling top-flight dream - Alan Campbell . 13 April 2022 . HeraldScotland . 27 March 2022.
  10. News: Oxtoby delves into past for Northern Ireland women squad . 12 February 2024 . The Irish News . 12 February 2024.
  11. Web site: Women World Cup Qualifiers Europe 2017/2018 » Teams (Northern Ireland) . WorldFootball.net . 29 August 2019.
  12. News: Gray . Andy . 'I have to pinch myself' - NI keeper Perry on her rise to the top . 13 April 2022 . BBC Sport . 3 May 2020.