Yvonne Tracy

Club career

Tracy began her career with Lifford in County Clare. She joined Arsenal Ladies in August 2000 with compatriots Susan Heapes and Caroline Thorpe, and at the same time as Jayne Ludlow. One of seven Irish players then in the Arsenal squad, Tracy was employed in the club's laundry. She won the domestic treble in her first season, and was an unused substitute as Arsenal beat Fulham in the 2001 FA Women's Cup final.

During a league match in 2006 Tracy suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury which kept her out of action for over a year. Republic of Ireland manager Noel King praised Tracy's "incredible spirit" in coming back.

Tracy left Arsenal in February 2014.

International career

Tracy began playing for the national U16 and U18 teams in 1997, alongside Lifford Ladies teammates Aoife Healy and Áine Greene. While still playing for Lifford, Tracy impressed as captain of the Irish U18 team who topped their qualifying group in 1999. Her performances earned her a starting place in the senior team for a match against Croatia, though she had already featured against the Czech Republic in a 1–1 away draw.

Tracy has since won over 40 senior caps for Ireland and was Irish International Player of the Year in 2002. In October 2009 she came on as a substitute for the injured Stef Curtis and scored the winner in Kazakhstan in a 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification - UEFA Group 6 game. Tracy said: "It has been a long, long road to recovery, but it is exciting to return to the pitch and a match-winning goal is a fantastic boost."

References

References

1. "Senior Women Player Profiles". Football Association of Ireland.
2. "3. Yvonne Tracy". Arsenal F.C..
3. Jennifer O'Neill. (5 August 2000). "Charlton bid to kick off new era in style". The Times.
4. Pat Nugent. (8 April 2001). "The women behind the greening of the Gunners". The Tribune.
5. Sue Mott. (24 November 2007). "FA can learn from winning Arsenal Ladies". The Telegraph.
6. Eric Beauchamp. (8 May 2001). "Banks has measure of Fulham". The Independent.
7. Anna Kessel. (28 October 2008). "Are Women More Prone to Injury?". The Observer.
8. "Nominees for The Irish Times Sportswoman of the Year Award 2009". The Irish Times.
9. Mark Dunphy. (17 March 2010). "Tracy Embarks For Crucial Euro Encounter in Israel". Clare Herald.
10. (3 February 2014). "Ciara Grant and Yvonne Tracy have left Arsenal Ladies". The Football Association.
11. "International Players". Lifford Ladies FC.
12. "Latest Lifford News". Lifford Ladies FC.
13. Declan Hughes. (27 October 2000). "Opel's Ireland Player of the Year nominees". Women's Soccer World.
14. "Ladies". Arsenal Insider.
15. "Yvonne Tracy". Arsenal Dublin.
16. [http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100477&catid=9&Itemid=13 Yvonne Tracy seals win for Irish Women] FAI, 29 October 2009
17. "Limerick woman Yvonne Tracy wins monthly award". Limerick Post Sports Blog.
18. (12 November 2009). "Monthly award for Yvonne Tracy". RTÉ Sport.