| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stephanie Roche | ||
| Date of birth | 13 June 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Peamount United | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Valeview FC | |||
| Cabinteely Girls | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| –2007 | Stella Marris | ||
| 2007–2009 | Dundalk City | ||
| 2009– | Raheny United | ||
| 2011– | Peamount United | ||
| National team | |||
| 2008– | Republic of Ireland | 11 | (3) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Stephanie Roche (born 13 June 1989) is an Irish footballer who plays as a striker for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team and Peamount United.
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Roche began playing football with the boys on the streets of her native Shankhill. After a brief spell with Valeview FC was curtailed by rules against mixed–gender football, Roche turned out for Cabinteely Girls.[1] She progressed to playing for Stella Maris, where she struck up a forward partnership with Áine O'Gorman in the club's Under–18 team.[2]
In June 2007 Roche moved to Dundalk City and reportedly enjoyed a "dream debut," scoring twice in a 5–2 win at Waterford Benfica.[3] After moving on to Raheny United, Roche went on trial with English FA WSL club Doncaster Rovers Belles in February 2011, playing in a 4–0 friendly win over Blackburn Rovers.[4]
In August 2011, Roche played for Peamount United in the 2011–12 UEFA Women's Champions League.[5]
Roche represented the Republic of Ireland at youth level, saying: "I just missed out in the final trials for Ireland under 15s and I was really heartbroken. But then I made the team at under 17s."[1]
In August 2005 Roche scored the winning goal on her Ireland Under–19 debut, a 3–2 win over Finland at Richmond Park.[6] In three seasons at Under–19 level, Roche remained a regular pick and was the team's top–goalscorer.[7]
Roche's senior international debut came in a 3–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying play–off defeat to Iceland in October 2008.[8] She replaced Stef Curtis for the last five minutes of the match at Laugardalsvöllur.[9]
In September 2009 Roche scored her first senior goal—a late winner in the 2–1 World Cup qualifying win over Kazakhstan at Turners Cross.[10] In the following month's return fixture, Roche made her first start for the Irish senior team. She scored again, the equaliser in another 2–1 win for Ireland.[11]
Roche scored her third goal for Ireland in a home friendly defeat to France in March 2010. Despite her equaliser, a controversial penalty from Sonia Bompastor and a late winner from Marie-Laure Delie gave the French victory.[12]
Roche was awarded an FAI scholarship to Sallynoggin College.[13] She was named in an Irish Colleges team which travelled to Scotland for two friendlies in April 2009.[14]
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Competition | Scored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 September 2009 | Turners Cross, Cork | Kazakhstan | 2–1 | 2011 FIFA World Cup Qual. | 1 |
| 2 | 29 October 2009 | Zhetysu Stadium, Taldykorgan | Kazakhstan | 2–1 | 2011 FIFA World Cup Qual. | 1 |
| 3 | 26 February 2010 | Richmond Park, Dublin | France | 1–2 | Friendly | 1 |