Gilly Flaherty, the record appearance holder in the history of the Women’s Super League, has announced her immediate retirement from professional football.
The 31-year-old left London for Liverpool in July but had a prolific career spanning back from 2009 to her final appearance against Manchester City in the Continental Cup before the Christmas break.
She said: “I’ve taken the decision to retire from professional football. It isn’t a decision I’ve taken lightly but one I’ve reached after speaking with those closest to me.
“Losing my dad just before Christmas has left me heartbroken – for 22 years we shared our love of football and playing wise I don’t want to carry on without him by my side.
“Playing wise I know the right decision is for me to call it a day. The time is right for me to be around my family and to be nearest to those closest to me."
Flaherty has seen the growth and change in women’s football from her tenure in the top tier playing for Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham where she also had a spell as captain, with the first-ever Women's Super League goal coming from Flaherty in April 2011.
Although her final WSL fixture came on December 4, against her former club West Ham, she leaves on her 177th WSL appearance which breaks Lioness Jill Scott’s league appearance record at 176 -her career accomplishments span much further.
She started out with a period in Millwall’s youth set-up before joining Arsenal’s youth system at the age of 13 working through the ranks until her senior debut came in October 2006 against Birmingham City, in a League Cup match at only 15 years of age.
The defender was part of the Arsenal squad that won a quadruple that 2006–07 season (UEFA Women's Cup, FA Women's National Premier League, FA Women's Cup and the FA Women's Premier League Cup) and in 2011 she scored the first goal in WSL history against Chelsea, a club she would later join in 2014.
Emma Hayes held Flaherty in high regard when bringing her to the Blues where she was part of the squad that won the 2015 Women’s FA Cup and the WSL double (league title and cup title in 2015).
Her move to West Ham came in 2018 the club's inaugural season at the top tier only to head to Liverpool four years later.
Flaherty was involved with the England youth set-up from the under-15’s level to the under-23’s, finally getting her first senior cap in 2015 starting England's 2–1 defeat by China and went on to represent her country at the senior level five more times.
She added: “I’d like to thank all the managers I’ve played under, from beginning at Millwall, through Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham and now Liverpool.
“And to all the former teammates I’ve ever had the pleasure to share a field with and the professionals I’ve played against on a weekly basis.
“I’m grateful to have been part of an era before we turned pro, where we had to work as well as play football. It’s been an honour to have been there from the very beginning, to have committed my whole career to English football and to the WSL for the past 11 or 12 years.
“To have witnessed the growth and be a part of that has been truly special. Hopefully, I’ve had a positive effect on many of those I’ve met in the dressing rooms, training pitches and stadiums along this wonderful journey.
“Thank you.”
