SPORTSWOMAN OF THE MONTH YVONNE TRACY (SOCCER):WHEN STEPHANIE Curtis fell to the ground in agony 20 minutes in to the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifying game in Kazakhstan last month, the player who replaced her knew instantly the nature of the injury her team-mate had just suffered.
Since joining Arsenal in 2000, where she became a fixture in their defence and helped establish them as the most successful team in English women’s football, Yvonne Tracy has been struck by enough serious injuries to be more than familiar with the long road back to fitness.
Even before missing out on Arsenal’s quadruple season (2006-’07) Tracy had missed seven months of football with a torn ligament. The 2006 injury, though, was the worst, “the knee just went from under me, it just cracked”, she said of the day she was playing against Everton in the league. And it was, as Tracy suspected, a cruciate ligament injury that Curtis sustained in Kazakhstan. “It was just horrible, I knew straight away, knew from the way she fell,” she said. “She has a long road ahead, but if I can help at all I will. She’s a great girl, she’ll come back.”
And Curtis can take inspiration from Tracy’s return to club and international football. “Yvonne is a shining example to everyone,” said Noel King, manager of the Republic of Ireland’s women’s team. “She’s endured some terrible frustrations with injuries the last few years but she’s fought back every time, through hard work and determination. She’s shown incredible spirit.”
The 2002 Irish International player of the year recovered from her cruciate injury to play for club and country in the 2007-’08 season, but suffered another injury to the same knee and missed most of the last campaign.
“It was a horrible time, you don’t feel part of the team anymore even though everyone tries to keep you involved. You’re just spending most of the time in the gym on your own, two, three hours a day. But, touch wood, I’m back and enjoying every minute of it,” said the 28-year-old from Limerick who combined her rehabilitation with her job in the laundry at Arsenal’s training ground, London Colney.
“She’s a very important player for us so it’s fantastic to have her back,” said King. He was, though, reluctant to take any chances with Tracy’s fitness when they travelled to Kazakhstan last month for a crucial World Cup qualifying game after her knee felt sore following the defeat away to Russia four days before.
Tracy, then, was on the bench for the game, but was called upon after Curtis left the field. By then Ireland trailed 1-0. “But she came on, sorted us out, got the defence organised and steadied everyone,” said King, whose team kept their qualifying hopes for the 2011 World Cup alive by recovering to win 2-1, Tracy getting the winning goal from a corner 20 minutes from time.
“From our hotel in Russia to our hotel in Kazakhstan the trip was 13 hours, including three and a half hours on a bus through the mountains – which was a test of the stomach,” said Tracy. “It was tough, so considering all that it was a decent result for us, we got the points and we’re still in contention in the group (which also includes Switzerland and Israel), which is the main thing.” Tracy is also back in action for Arsenal to feature for the club in the inaugural women’s Champions League.
Monthly winners
January: Jessica Kurten (equestrian)
February: Mary Cullen (athletics)
March: Nina Carberry (horse racing) and Derval O’Rourke (athletics)
April: Leona Maguire (golf)
May: Lisa Maguire (golf)
June: Katie Taylor (boxing)
July: Ciara Mageean (athletics) and Grainne Murphy (swimming)
August: Olive Loughnane (athletics) September: Madeline Perry (squash) and Mary O’Connor (camogie and Gaelic football).
Each sportswoman is eligible for one monthly award but achievements through the year will be taken into account when the decision on the overall winner is made.
