Stephanie Roche

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Stephanie Roche
Personal information
Full nameStephanie Roche
Date of birth (1989-06-13) 13 June 1989
Place of birthDublin, Ireland
Playing positionForward
Club information
Current clubPeamount United
Youth career
Valeview FC
Cabinteely Girls
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
0000–2007Stella Marris
2007–2009Dundalk City
2009–2011Raheny United
2011–Peamount United
National team‡
2008–Republic of Ireland11(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20 March 2012

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 WNL club Peamount United.

Club career

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] In the inaugural 2011 season of the Irish Women's National League, Roche won the Golden Boot by scoring 26 goals for champions Peamount United.[6] She also scored the winner in the Cup final to secure a Double.[7]

Roche scored an acclaimed goal for Peamount against Wexford Youths in October 2013, which went viral on YouTube and brought her to international attention.[8][9] It was her first goal of the WNL season and was uploaded to the internet by team manager Eileen Gleeson as the matches are not televised.[10] Roche was glad it was captured for posterity: "It’s just good for us now to get that on camera, it gives the Women’s National League a bit of publicity as well as girl’s football in Ireland, and I’m happy to be a part of that as well."[11]

International career

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.[12] In three seasons at Under–19 level, Roche remained a regular pick and was the team's top–goalscorer.[13]

Roche's senior international debut came in a 3–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying play–off defeat to Iceland in October 2008.[14] She replaced Stef Curtis for the last five minutes of the match at Laugardalsvöllur.[15]

Roche was awarded an FAI scholarship to Sallynoggin College.[16] She was named in an Irish Colleges team which travelled to Scotland for two friendlies in April 2009.[17]

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.[18] 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.[19]

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.[20]

National coach Susan Ronan dropped Roche from the squad for a friendly with Austria in June 2013 and the subsequent World Cup qualifiers. This left her disappointed but keen to win back her place: "I was dropped against Austria and wasn’t told why or what the story was. I’ve played for the last few years so it hurt me to be let go while not knowing what was happening so I’d love to get back in again."[21] After Roche rediscovered her goalscoring form at club level, Ronan recalled her in October 2013.[22]

International goals

Scores and results list Ireland's goal tally first.
# 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

Personal life

At the time of her famous goal in October 2013, Roche had been in a relationship Bray Wanderers defender Dean Zambra for almost seven years.[23] She was an intern on the Football Association of Ireland's (FAI) Futsal project.[24]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jimmy C Duggan. "Stephanie Roche". Shankhill FC. Retrieved 2011-07-16. 
  2. ↑ Patrick Mullen (2006-08-09). "Soccer: City Slickers destroy Town girls cup dreams". Western People. Retrieved 2011-07-16. 
  3. ↑ "Impressive win for City girls". The Argus. 2007-06-20. Retrieved 2011-07-16. 
  4. ↑ "Precious At The Double". Doncaster Rovers Belles. 2011-02-21. Retrieved 2011-07-16. 
  5. ↑ "Stephanie Roche". UEFA. Retrieved 2011-08-11. 
  6. ↑ Farrell, Niall (2012-06-16). "Roche hopes for big step toward Euros". Extratime.ie. Retrieved 2012-09-08. 
  7. ↑ Dowling, Paul (2012-05-25). "Keeping family loyalty at Bray; BRAY W v SHELBOURNE, 7.45". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2012-09-08. 
  8. ↑ "Today on YouTube: Stephanie Roche scores goal of the season contender for Peamount United". The Daily Telegraph. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013. 
  9. ↑ Kelly, Rory (21 October 2013). "Stephanie Roche Goal - The World Reacts - Passes 1 million views". ExtraTime.ie. Retrieved 22 October 2013. 
  10. ↑ "Stephanie Roche talks us through her wonder strike". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013. 
  11. ↑ Fitzgerald, Brian (21 October 2013). "Roche overwhelmed by reaction to super strike". ExtraTime.ie. Retrieved 22 October 2013. 
  12. ↑ "Ireland V Finland Womens Friendlies". FemaleSoccer.net. Retrieved 2011-07-16. 
  13. ↑ "Stephanie Roche". SoccerScene.ie. Retrieved 2011-07-16. 
  14. ↑ "Senior Women Player Profiles". Football Association of Ireland. 2009-01-16. Retrieved 2010-09-22. 
  15. ↑ "Iceland 3-0 Ireland". SoccerScene.ie. Retrieved 2011-07-16. 
  16. ↑ John Hudson (2008-10-27). "CUFL: Facilitators, scholarships and website launched". Herald.ie. Retrieved 2010-10-08. 
  17. ↑ "Irish Combined Colleges Squad travels to Scotland". Women's Soccer Colleges Association of Ireland. 2009-04-26. Retrieved 2011-07-09. 
  18. ↑ "Super sub Roche strikes late". Irish Independent. 2009-09-25. Retrieved 2011-07-16. 
  19. ↑ "Kazakhstan 1-2 Republic of Ireland". RTE. 2009-10-29. Retrieved 2011-07-16. 
  20. ↑ "Republic Gift France Late Winner". She Kicks. 2010-02-26. Retrieved 2011-07-16. 
  21. ↑ Blake, Ben (21 October 2013). "Internet sensation Roche bowled over by worldwide response to her wonder goal". The Score. Retrieved 22 October 2013. 
  22. ↑ "Stephanie Roche call-up for Women's World Cup qualifier". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013. 
  23. ↑ Fallon, John (22 October 2013). "Roche’s rocket gets star praise to send internet into overdrive". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 October 2013. 
  24. ↑ O'Brien, John (27 October 2013). "YouTube sensation sees women's game basking in limelight". Irish Independent. Retrieved 27 October 2013. 
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