NORTHERN Ireland women’s football leader and legend Marissa Callaghan has been inducted into the Juice Jar Dr. Malcolm Brodie Hall of Fame at Sunday’s NI Football Writers Association Awards at the Crowne Plaza in Belfast.
Callaghan was honoured alongside the great Gareth McAuley – they have almost 200 international caps between them – joining the likes of George Best, Harry Gregg, and David Healy in the Hall of Fame.
Callaghan makes history as the first women’s player to receive the honour.. She earned 91 international caps and captained Northern Ireland senior women’s at UEFA Euro 2022. She spent 20 years at Cliftonville winning the Women’s Premiership in both 2022 and 2024.
Callaghan said: “It’s an honour to join the NIFWA Hall of Fame alongside so many famous names from the world of football.
“The award is not just a reflection of my efforts, but the support and help of all my teammates and coaches over the years.”
The former Cliftonville midfielder is joined in the Hall of Fame by Gareth McAuley, who won 80 caps for Northern Ireland senior men’s between 2005 and 2018. He scored one of the most famous goals in Northern Irish football history, as Michael O’Neill’s team beat Ukraine 2-0 in Lyon at Euro 2016.
At club level, McAuley made his name in the Irish League with Crusaders and Coleraine before turning out for Lincoln City, Leicester City, Ipswich Town, West Bromwich Albion, and Rangers.
McAuley said: “It’s very pleasing and an honour to be inducted into the Football Writers’ Hall of Fame.
“The Euros was 10 years ago, and I’ve been retired nearly seven years, so to be remembered and recognised in this way is really humbling.
“It was a hell of a journey from the Irish League to the Premier League. I travelled the world with Northern Ireland, so it’s nice to be honoured by the writers who covered me on that journey. Good and bad, there have been some incredible experiences along the way.”
Glentoran’s Jess Foy was awarded Women’s Premiership Player of the Year.
