Jessica Gleeson

Jessica Gleeson (born 23 October 1993) is an Irish footballer who plays as a defender for Women's National League club DLR Waves. She previously played for Wexford Youths and Shelbourne. Since making her debut in 2015 she has been a member of the Republic of Ireland women's national team. Her younger brother Austin Gleeson has represented the Waterford county hurling team.[3]

Jess Gleeson
Personal information
Full name Jessica Gleeson
Date of birth (1993-10-23) 23 October 1993[1]
Place of birth Waterford, Ireland
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender[1]
Team information
Current team
 DLR Waves
Number 5
Youth career
Villa AFC
Tramore AFC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2017 Wexford Youths
2018–2020 Shelbourne
2021– DLR Waves
International career‡
2009–2010 Republic of Ireland U17 8 (1)
2011–2012 Republic of Ireland U19 4 (0)
2015– Republic of Ireland 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 April 2016

Club career

Gleeson was born in Waterford[4] and played youth soccer for local clubs Villa AFC and Tramore AFC.[5] She joined Wexford Youths for the inaugural Women's National League (WNL) season in 2011–12. In 2014–15 Wexford Youths won the WNL for the first time, and Gleeson represented the club in the 2015–16 UEFA Women's Champions League.[6]

Ahead of the 2018 WNL season, Gleeson accepted an offer to join Wexford Youths' WNL rivals Shelbourne FC. She had considered moving a year earlier, but decided to spend one more season at Wexford out of loyalty to the team's coach.[4] Gleeson considered quitting soccer in favour of Gaelic football after losing her place in the Shelbourne team during the 2020 season, but she was persuaded to join DLR Waves instead.[7]

International career

Youth

In 2010, Gleeson was a key player[8] in the Republic of Ireland U-17 squad who were runners-up in the 2010 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship[9] and quarter-finalists in the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.[10][11]

While enrolled at Waterford Institute of Technology, Gleeson represented Ireland at the 2013 and 2015 Summer Universiades.[12][13]

Senior

Gleeson received her first Republic of Ireland national team call-up for the 2013 Cyprus Cup.[14] In May 2015, Gleeson was called up to the senior national team again for a friendly in the United States. After the match had been arranged, it was discovered to be outside FIFA's designated dates for international matches, so several of Ireland's first-choice players were not released by their clubs.[15] Gleeson started Ireland's 3–0 defeat to win a debut cap, but was substituted at half time after being concussed by Abby Wambach.[16]

Eight months later Gleeson collected a second cap, making a substitute appearance in another friendly defeat by the United States in San Diego.[17] She retained her place in the squad for the 2016 Cyprus Cup and played in the opening 2–0 defeat by Austria,[18] before succumbing to a foot injury which ruled her out of the remaining fixtures.[19] On 12 April 2016 she made a competitive appearance as a 68th-minute substitute for Niamh Fahey in Ireland's 3–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying defeat by Spain at La Ciudad del Fútbol, Las Rozas de Madrid.[20]

References
  1. Jessica Gleeson – UEFA competition record (archive)
  2. Jessica Gleeson at Soccerway. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  3. Redmond, Jason (25 December 2016). "Austin Gleeson Is Not The Only Sporting Superstar In His Family". Pundit Arena. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  4. "Gleeson outlines reasons for move". Enniscorthy Guardian. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  5. "Player Profile: Jessica Gleeson". The Munster Express. 20 November 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  6. "Wexford Youth's women's side secure famous Champions League win in Poland". Irish Independent. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  7. Donnelly, Dave (4 February 2021). "Gleeson coaxed to stay in football with DLR Waves". Dublin Gazette. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  8. Harte, Adrian (26 June 2010). "Gleeson learns from Ireland loss". UEFA. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  9. "Women's U17 Player Profiles". Football Association of Ireland. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  10. "King announces 21 player squad for FIFA U17 World Cup". Football Association of Ireland. 24 August 2010. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  11. "Republic of Ireland – Squad List". FIFA. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  12. Power, Catherine (3 July 2015). "Waterford Students at World University Games". The Munster Express. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  13. "Ireland Athlete List". 2013 Summer Universiade. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  14. "Senior Women Player Profiles". Football Association of Ireland. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  15. "WNT Squad named for USA and Haiti games". Football Association of Ireland. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  16. "Ireland lose to USA in San Jose". Football Association of Ireland. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  17. "Gleeson keen to push on". Wexford People. 30 January 2006. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  18. "Ireland women beaten by Austria in Cyprus Cup". Irish Times. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  19. "Two international debuts". Wexford People. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  20. Fallon, John (13 April 2016). "Emma Byrne heroics in vain as gutsy Ireland suffer defeat to Spain". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
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