Green And White Delight (Kenny Shiels interview)

Northern Ireland’s 5-1 win over the Faroe Islands in December took them to a major-tournament play-off for the first time, and their manager has no intention of sitting back. Kenny Shiels came to the women’s game from a long career in the men’s – Coleraine, Ballymena, Kilmarnock, Greenock Morton and a spell in Thailand – and brought with him a bold belief the players have praised. He is generous about the squad’s leaders, naming Marissa Callaghan, Sarah Robson, Rachel Furness, Julie Nelson and Ashley Hutton, and insistent that the Danske Bank Premiership does not get enough credit for developing them. He talks about the loss of Derry City’s captain Ryan McBride, about what he requires of players, and about family remaining first.