Laura Rafferty

Laura Marie Rafferty (born 29 April 1996) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a defender for Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA WSL 1 and the Northern Ireland national team. She previously played for Chelsea L.F.C. in the FA WSL 1.

Laura Rafferty
Rafferty competing for Chelsea LFC, August 2014
Personal information
Full name Laura Marie Rafferty[1]
Date of birth (1996-04-29) 29 April 1996
Place of birth Southampton, England
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Bristol City
(on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion)
Number 5
Youth career
Southampton F.C. Academy
Hampshire Centre of Excellence
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 Chelsea F.C. Women 16 (1)
2016 → Oxford United (loan)
2017– Brighton & Hove Albion 30 (2)
2020- → Bristol City (loan) 5 (0)
National team‡
2013–2015 Northern Ireland U19 9 (1)
2013– Northern Ireland 24 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 October 2018
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 October 2018

Early life

Rafferty began playing football for a local team at the age of eight.[2] After scoring 50 goals in 8 games, she reported being "chucked out of the league." [2] She played for eight years with the Southampton F.C. Academy as well as the Hampshire Centre of Excellence before moving to Chelsea L.F.C.[3]

Club career

Rafferty started her senior career in 2014 at Chelsea F.C. Women. She spent part of 2016 on loan at Oxford United. After three seasons with Chelsea F.C. Women with limited game time, Rafferty signed with Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA WSL 2 in January 2017 for the 2017 Spring Series.[4][5] The team has since moved up to england's top flight, the FA WSL.

International career

Rafferty made her debut for the Northern Ireland national team on 6 March 2013 in a match against the Republic of Ireland.[6]

References
  1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/08/2018 and 31/08/2018" (PDF). The FA. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  2. Fullerton, Gareth (26 May 2017). "Northern Ireland footballer Laura Rafferty hoping to inspire a future generation of stars". Belfast Live. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  3. https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/teams/womens-team/defender/laura-rafferty/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. Hollis, Steve (23 January 2017). "Albion Women snap up Chelsea duo Laura Rafferty and Jenna Legg". The Argus. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  5. "Northern Ireland women's international Laura Rafferty has signed for FA Women's Super League 2 side Brighton and Hove Albion". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  6. "Senior Women". Irish Football Association. Retrieved 21 January 2018.


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