Football is coming home for Laura Rafferty at the Women’s Euro 2022. Rafferty stars for her hometown club Southampton Women and all three of Northern Ireland’s group matches will be at St Mary’s.
The defender qualifies through her Belfast-born dad and is excited about enjoying some home comforts at Euro 2022. Rafferty, 26, helped Southampton win promotion from the third tier to the FA Women’s Championship last season – and she had a feeling Northern Ireland would be drawn in Group A at St Mary’s.
“I actually predicted it,” she said. “When it came though, I was absolutely buzzing.
Read more: Euro 2022: Northern Ireland captain Marissa Callaghan believes team can 'unite a nation'
“it’s an incredible stadium, the girls are going to love it. I know that Northern Ireland is very much loved by the Southampton fans as well, so I know for a fact we’re going to get a great reception.
“It’s home for me in terms of where I have grown up. Belfast is where my dad is from and to have Northern Ireland and Southampton rolled into one, I’m excited for that.”
Rafferty and her family are buzzing about tackling England in their final group game on July 15 after kicking off against Norway on Thursday before playing Austria on July 11. Playing Euro 2022 at St Mary’s will be a sweet moment for Rafferty because of the obstacles she has overcome in her career.
After starting out at the Saints academy, she joined WSl giants Chelsea and then Brighton before her career was derailed in August 2019 by a cruciate ligament injury.
A loan spell at Bristol City in 2020-21 ended in relegation from the WSl and then she returned home to successfully relaunch her career on the south coast.
Rafferty said: “Rumour has it that Southampton are doing quite well selling tickets, so St Mary’s is probably going to be packed, which will be amazing.”
READ NEXT:
- Women's Euro 2022: Everything you need to know about the finals
- Euro 2022 fixtures and venues including Northern Ireland's group schedule
- Women's Euro 2022 TV and live stream information for this summer's finals
- Northern Ireland release official song for first-ever finals
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