“Peamount was always the club that I wanted to play for when I came back”- Roche
By Stephen Leonard
STEPHANIE Roche insists Peamount United was the one Irish club she wanted to return home to.
The Ireland international, who hit the headlines when her stunning 2013 goal against Wexford Youths was shortlisted for the 2014 FIFA Puskás Award, has been playing her club football overseas since she parted ways with Peamount back in 2014.
Stephanie Roche insists her old club Peamount United was always going to be her first-choice destination when she returned home to play her club football in Ireland
She enjoyed no shortage of success with the Newcastle club, winning the National League and Cup and helping them become the first ever Irish women’s side to emerge from the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying phase and into the last 32 knockout stages.
Since leaving Peamount, Roche has played her club football overseas with the likes of ASPTT Albi in France, Houston Dash in the US, FA Women’s Super League outfit Sunderland Ladies and most recently Italian Serie A side Florentia, but the hugely experienced forward is delighted to be back home and playing at Greenogue.
“I’ve been away playing football for the past six or seven years and, while I enjoyed that, I felt I was missing out on a couple of opportunities at home by playing abroad” she told The Echo.
“Happiness in football in so important and I just felt it was time to come home.
“Peamount was always the club that I wanted to play for when I came back. I loved my time there. I was at my happiest there in terms of playing football in Ireland.
“We won the National League when it was in its first year and we played in the Champions League. We were the first team to qualify from the group into the knockout stages and it was great to be a part of all that. They were great memories for me and it’s just nice to be back.
“I spoke to [managers] James [O’Callaghan] and Vinny [Patterson] and they told me they had a big squad there already. I was the 25th player in.
“They have a very professional approach to the game and that’s one of the reasons I wanted to come back here. I knew there was going to be a lot of competition and I know I’ll have to keep my foot on the pedal here” she stressed.
It was with Peamount that she scored that Puskás Award-nominated goal that sent her on an unforgettable journey.
“When I scored that goal I knew it was a decent one, but nothing could ever have prepared me for all that came with it. It was a rollercoaster” recalled Roche.
But to go to a Ballon d’Or and mixed it there with some of the best players in the world, it was amazing and it’s something that I’ll look back on with great fondness.”
“I think there’s always room for improvement when it comes to women’s soccer in Ireland” insisted Roche.
“The teams are very competitive. Shelbourne are like the Raheny team that was very strong when I last played in the league and Wexford have been a very strong side for a number of years now.
“In terms of the teams, it is still very competitive and the structure of the league is getting better.
“I think the biggest thing for me is that the players are not full time and they have to be given a lot of credit for having to work and still managing to get out to training.
“They can’t dedicate all their time to football, but, in terms of the competitive-ness of the players and the tempo, it is very similar to Italy” she said.
