Northern Ireland defender Rachel Dugdale has hung up her boots, it was confirmed today.
The 28-year-old has decided to retire as a player with immediate effect.
In a statement she said: “To the mighty GAWA, today I announce my retirement from international and professional football. It is with a heavy heart but immense pride that I share this news.
“Representing Northern Ireland since I was 15 has been the greatest honour of my career. Being part of the journey to our first ever major tournament was a dream come true, and I will cherish that memory forever.
“Thank you for your amazing support over the years. While it’s scary to step away from the game I love, I am excited for the new chapter ahead. This team and these fans will always hold a special place in my heart."
The defender earned 43 senior caps for her country. Dugdale (nee Newborough) made her Northern Ireland debut in March 2016 against Slovakia in the Istria Cup.
Her final appearance for the Northern Ireland senior women’s team was against Bosnia and Herzegovina away in a UEFA Women’s Nations League match back in June.
Dugdale played for Reading at youth level before joining Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2016. She helped the Belles win the FA WSL 2 championship before moving to the United States where she attended Boston College and played for the university’s Eagles Women side.
She then joined Charlton Athletic’s women’s team in July 2019 and signed a professional contract with the London club. In 2022 she suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept her out of Northern Ireland's squad for UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 in England.
At the start of 2023 she switched to Coventry United Ladies and that summer she returned to Reading Women. Her final club was Women’s Championship side Blackburn Rovers Women, whom she joined in September 2024.
Unfortunately Blackburn withdrew from the Women’s Championship back in the summer, dropping from the second tier of women’s club football in England to the fourth tier in the FA Women’s National League Division 1 North.
Northern Ireland senior women’s team boss Tanya Oxtoby said Dugdale had been a great leader within her squad.
She pointed out: “Rachel has been such an important part of the transition period over the last 18 months. Her leadership and ability to set the right standards every single day has enhanced our culture immensely and that will be hard to replace.
“I can’t wait to see her embrace and succeed on her next journey, and we will all miss her around the group massively.”
