Heather Payne, an Irish international footballer, is nearing a significant achievement in her career: 50 caps for the Ireland national team. The article delves into her journey, highlighting her evolution as a player, her adaptability to different roles under various managers, and her determination to succeed.
Seven and a half years after her Ireland senior debut, Heather Payne is poised to reach a significant milestone in her international career. It was July 2017 when Payne first donned the green jersey, coming on as a substitute in the closing minutes of a World Cup qualifier against Scotland. At just 17 years old, playing for Peamount United at the time, she entered the match in the 90th minute of a 1-0 defeat at Stark's Park in Kirkcaldy, under the management of Colin Bell.
'It wasn't very long,' Payne recalls, 'But that was a great moment for me. Unfortunately, we conceded in the last couple of minutes. Colin just called upon me, I was a young player and he was going to throw me on for the last few minutes. I had played underage and was only U17 at the time, so to be even called into the seniors was an unbelievable moment. I was really proud.' That brief taste of senior football ignited a hunger within the Roscommon native for more. Tomorrow night, she could achieve her 50th cap as Ireland kick off their Nations League campaign and usher in the Carla Ward Era against Türkiye at Tallaght Stadium. Although only 25 years old, Payne's journey in the green jersey has been marked by growth and evolution. 'I came in young and have been in the team for years now. Everyone sees me as that young player,' the 2023 and 2024 Young Women's International Player of the Year smiles. Her role within the team has transformed under different managers, from Colin Bell to Vera Pauw, Eileen Gleeson, and now Ward.Payne initially found her footing under Bell, steadily gaining minutes on the international stage. After replacing Denise O'Sullivan in her debut, she was typically deployed on the wing. Signing for Bristol City in August 2018, she spent a season with the English outfit before moving to the United States on a college scholarship with Florida State Seminoles. For four years, she excelled in various positions, from winger to right-back and even centre-half, while also completing a dietetics degree. She now shines for Everton in the WSL, a first-choice player anywhere on the right flank. Shortly after her move to the US in 2019, Vera Pauw took over as Ireland manager. Early in her tenure, the Dutchwoman entrusted Payne with a new role as the lone striker in a 5-4-1 formation. For a significant period, she found herself isolated, chasing shadows as Ireland grappled with their familiar struggles to create chances in the final third.'When Vera came in, she started playing me up front,' Payne explained to Hot Press. 'I think she saw us as a counter-attacking team, defensively sound, with five at the back. I think she saw me as countering, with my pace, but I'd never been a striker. It was a new role, and I had to develop into it.' Payne's athleticism was and remains a standout trait. She possesses an incredible stamina, her in-game statistics consistently impressive. They even earned her the nickname 'half human, half horse' from her Irish teammates a few years ago. However, she lacked a clinical edge initially. It wasn't until her 17th cap that she scored her first international goal, admitting it was 'a long time coming' in a 2021 friendly defeat to Iceland away from home. Her second (and last) international goal came in December 2023 against Northern Ireland at Windsor Park. In the interim, her positioning shifted drastically. In the lead-up to the World Cup, she and Pauw discussed her optimal position, and she quickly established herself as a formidable right-wing back. Kyra Carusa became the primary striker, and Payne thrived in a more defensive role. Her running game seemed better suited there, and she developed into a reliable defensive contributor. 'I'm happiest out there,' Payne admits. She played against Australia and Nigeria at the World Cup but was ruled out of the Canada game after pulling up in the warm-up. The Matildas targeted her early on, but Payne soon made a significant impact on the global stage. She started Gleeson's first game in charge, on Ireland's Aviva Stadium debut against Northern Ireland, but didn't always secure the starting spot under the previous manager. In the Nations League, she was given a more advanced role out wide, but as in other competitions, she was often deployed defensively during the Euro 2025 qualifiers. Payne missed out on the starting lineup for the play-offs against Georgia but returned to contribute 174 minutes across the two-legged decider against Wales. She, like her teammates, endured a mix of highs and lows as Ireland ultimately fell to a 3-2 aggregate defeat, shattering their Euros dream. A new chapter begins now.It starts back in Nations League B, with qualification for the 2027 World Cup as the long-term objective. 'Not making the Euros will make us want to qualify for the World Cup even more,' Payne assures. Ward plans to implement 'a very different way of playing,' promising excitement and energy
Heather Payne Ireland Women's National Football Team International Football Footballer Womens Football Nations League World Cup Qualification Carla Ward Vera Pauw
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