Claire Rafferty (footballer)

Club career

Rafferty became a first team regular with Millwall Lionesses as a 14-year-old. After recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and became a regular on the left of midfield.

In August 2011 Rafferty suffered another ACL injury. She returned to the Chelsea team as a substitute in their televised 2012 FA WSL opening game against Doncaster Rovers Belles. Earlier in April 2012 Rafferty had been appointed as one of eight digital media ambassadors, one from each team, who wear their Twitter account name on their sleeves to raise the profile of the WSL.

In 2014 Rafferty helped Chelsea to second place in the FAWSL. There was a dramatic final day of the season which saw Chelsea narrowly missing out on the title by one goal difference.

Rafferty left Chelsea Ladies at the end of the 2017–18 season. In June 2018, she joined West Ham United Ladies. She retired at the end of the 2018–19 season.

International career

England

Rafferty was involved with England at U15 development, U17, U19, U20 and U23 level.

In June 2011 Rafferty was named in the 21–player squad for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. At the quarter-final stage of the competition against France, she was substituted on for regular left back Rachel Unitt in the 81st minute, to make her World Cup debut. England coach Hope Powell considered Rafferty better equipped to cope with the pace of Élodie Thomis.

When the match finished 1–1 after extra-time, Rafferty missed England's fourth penalty in the shootout, sending her spot kick wide of the post. Although England were knocked out when Faye White also missed, Hope Powell praised Rafferty for stepping forward when other, more experienced team mates were exhibiting "cowardice."

Rafferty's international career has been plagued with injury having ruptured her ACL three times, most recently in 2013. After overcoming this for the third time Rafferty was recalled to the England squad in late 2014 for the friendly against Germany at Wembley Stadium. Rafferty made her first England appearance in two and a half years in March 2015 as England won the Cyprus Cup. Rafferty was selected for the 2015 World Cup and was first choice left-back as England reached the semi-finals and achieved third-place. Rafferty was unfortunate to concede a penalty in the semi-final against Japan for a push which was outside the box.

Rafferty was allotted 175 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural international.

Great Britain Olympic

In June 2012 Rafferty was named in the 18–player Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics.

Retirement

Rafferty now makes regular media appearances. In the summer immediately following her retirement, Rafferty made numerous television and radio appearances as a pundit during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.

In July 2019, Rafferty returned to Chelsea in a commercial role. Chelsea Commercial Director, Chris Townsend OBE commented on Rafferty's "extensive experience in elite-level sport combined with her business and analytical skills accumulated working at an investment bank" which made her an important asset to the club.

Personal life

Rafferty attended Colfe's School until 2008. She studied economics at Loughborough University, and graduated in 2011. As well as her football commitments she is a part-time Analyst at Deutsche Bank. During the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, Rafferty was named 43rd in the ZOO Magazine "Hot 101" issue.

Rafferty married her partner Erica Cleary on 13 September 2025 after getting engaged in May 2023.

Honours

Club

Chelsea

• FA WSL: 2015, 2017–18
• FA Women's Cup: 2014–15, 2017–18

International

• Cyprus Cup: 2015
• FIFA Women's World Cup third place: 2015

References

References

1. (6 July 2015). "FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015: List of players: England". FIFA.
2. "Claire Rafferty". The FA.
3. "Claire Rafferty". Soccer Way.
4. (29 November 2004). "Congratulations Claire". Millwall FC.
5. "Chelsea Ladies Start Season". Chelsea FC.
6. "Claire Rafferty". Chelsea FC.
7. (25 August 2011). "Injured Kelly Smith missing from England squad". BBC Sport.
8. (4 April 2012). "Women's Super League launches Twitter kit initiative to raise profile". BBC Sport.
9. (12 October 2014). "Liverpool Ladies pip Chelsea to WSL title on dramatic final day". BBC Sport.
10. (15 June 2018). "Claire Rafferty: West Ham United sign England left-back". BBC Sport.
11. (4 May 2019). "FA Cup: How I prepare for a big game". BBC News.
12. "Claire Rafferty to retire at the end of the season | West Ham United".
13. "Claire Rafferty". TheFA.com.
14. Chris Bevan. (9 July 2011). "Women's World Cup: England 1–1 France (France win 4–3 on pens)". BBC Sport.
15. Greg Leedham. (11 July 2011). "Powell blasts England 'cowards'". Morning Star.
16. (4 September 2014). "Sampson Names Final Qualifier Squad". The FA.
17. "England seal Cyprus Cup victory after Canada run dry".
18. "England squad named for FIFA Women's World Cup".
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20. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150623025626/http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/matches/round=268018/match=300269493/report.html FIFA.com]
21. "England squad named for World Cup".
22. Lacey-Hatton, Jack. (2022-11-18). "Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present".
23. (26 June 2012). "Team GB women's squad for London 2012 announced". BBC Sport.
24. "Tongue Tied Media — Claire Rafferty".
25. (7 June 2019). "Women's World Cup: Claire Rafferty on England's chances, players to watch, and more".
26. "Claire Rafferty returns to Chelsea in a commercial role | Official Site | Chelsea Football Club".
27. "Former student is Colfe's own Football Olympian".
28. (20 June 2011). "Who's who in the England women's squad?". BBC Sport.
29. (9 July 2015). "Claire Rafferty's linkedin profile".
30. (7 July 2015). "@clrafferty1 You're in ZOO's Hot 101 issue! RT and let your followers know!". [[Zoo Weekly]].
31. (3 May 2023). "She said yes 💍 ❤️".
32. "C. Rafferty". Soccerway.
33. (11 March 2015). "England 1–0 Canada: Cyprus Cup final match report". The Football Association.
34. (4 July 2015). "Match for third place – Match report". FIFA.