Rachel Furness
FullnameRachel Furness
Birth date19 June 1988 (age 38)
Birth placeWashington, England
Height1.69 m
PositionMidfielder
CurrentclubNewcastle United
Years 12002–2004
Clubs 1Chester-le-Street
Years 22004–2006
Clubs 2Sunderland
Caps 212
Goals 22
Years 32006–2010
Clubs 3Newcastle United
Caps 329
Goals 311
Years 42010
Clubs 4Grindavik
Caps 412
Goals 43
Years 52010–2016
Clubs 5Sunderland
Caps 526
Goals 51
Years 62011
Clubs 6→ Lincoln (loan)
Caps 61
Goals 60
Years 72017–19
Clubs 7Reading
Caps 743
Goals 75
Years 82019
Clubs 8→ Tottenham Hotspur (loan)
Caps 89
Goals 81
Years 92019–2023
Clubs 9Liverpool
Caps 937
Goals 914
Years 102023–2024
Clubs 10Bristol City
Caps 1021
Goals 101
Years 112024–2025
Clubs 11Newcastle United
Caps 115
Goals 110
Nationalyears 12005–2023
Nationalteam 1Northern Ireland
Nationalcaps 195
Nationalgoals 138
Pcupdate08:38, 19 October 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate22:55, 13 July 2023 (UTC)

Rachel Furness (born 19 June 1988) is a former professional footballer. Born in England, she is the record goalscorer for the Northern Ireland national team.

Club career

Early career

Furness attended Usworth Comprehensive School and represented Durham at County level.[1] By season 2002–03 she was already playing for Chester-le-Street Ladies, alongside several other youngsters[2] and former England striker Aran Embleton.[3]

Senior career

In 2004 Furness moved to Gateshead College to study sports development and fitness.[4] She began playing for the women's football academy at the college and Sunderland. Jill Scott was a teammate in both sides.[5]

In 2006 Furness moved to Northumbria University to study sports development with coaching,[6] and swapped Sunderland for Newcastle United.[7] However, she had by then suffered a serious knee injury, which required two operations and the removal of most of the cartilage.[8] Doctors advised Furness to stop playing football[8] but she nevertheless resumed playing for Newcastle United.[9]

In December 2009, Furness scored one and made the other for Mel Reay, as Newcastle drew 2–2 at OOH Lincoln Ladies in the FA Women's Cup, only to miss her penalty in the shootout defeat.[10]

Furness spent the 2010 summer season in Iceland with Grindavik,[11] then rejoined Sunderland – making her second debut for the club in a 4–0 Premier League Cup win over Newcastle in October 2010.[12] After helping Sunderland win the Premier League title, Furness joined FA WSL club Lincoln Ladies on loan.[13] She made a quick debut in Lincoln's 1–0 home defeat to Chelsea in May, the last game before the WSL mid–season break.[14] She returned to parent club Sunderland before the WSL restarted in July.[15]

In January 2017, Furness left Sunderland for Reading shortly after the Lady Black Cats reverted to part-time status.[16]

Furness joined Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long loan from Reading on 6 September 2019.[17] On 28 December 2019, Furness joined Liverpool, after being recalled by Reading.[18]

On 19 July 2024, she joined Newcastle United as their sixth summer signing.[19]

International career

Chester-le-Street director of coaching Bill Godward alerted the Football Association to Furness' potential at an early stage. However, she was overlooked by England because she was not attached to a club with a centre of excellence or academy.[20] Furness then accepted a call-up from Northern Ireland, and represented them in an U17 tournament in Spring 2004.[20] Although born and raised in Tyne and Wear, Furness was eligible for Northern Ireland as her mother was born in Belfast.[8]

After representing her adopted homeland at U17 and U19 level,[6] Furness progressed to the senior international team. In November 2005 she scored against Slovakia, in Northern Ireland's first competitive home match for 20 years.[21] Following a two-year absence from the national team caused by injury, Furness returned in time for the 2011 World Cup Qualifying campaign.[8]

She contributed four goals, including a hat-trick against Croatia, as Northern Ireland ultimately finished third in their group behind France and Finland.[22] In November 2011 Furness scored in Northern Ireland's shock 3–1 Euro 2013 qualifying win over former World and Olympic champions Norway.[23]

Furness also represented Irish Universities at the World University Games, playing in the 2009 tournament in Belgrade.[6] Two years later she was named in the Great Britain Universities squad for the event in Shenzhen.[15]

The 2021 UEFA Women's European Championships Qualification saw record-breaking success for the Northern Ireland Women's National Team, and Furness played a key part in the squad. Several goals by Furness throughout normal qualification helped NI reach their first ever play-offs for a major tournament, a record in itself. This included the winning goal in a game away to Belarus [1], all the more vital given that NI had their keeper sent off within the first 30 minutes of the game.

There was little expectation that the squad would overcome this final obstacle to reach the tournament, given the higher-ranking opposition. In the first leg, away to Ukraine, Furness scored a vital goal to help NI to a truly surprise 2–1 victory. In the second leg, at home, Furness again made the starting team, but was forced off after an injury. The team won, securing their place in the 2022 tournament.

In November 2021, in back-to-back FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers against North Macedonia, Furness scored historic goals to equal, then break, the Northern Ireland goalscoring record. In the first game, away, Furness notched a hatrick to equal the record. Then in the home fixture, she scored twice to take the record outright, overtaking the record of 36 goals for Northern Ireland, formerly held by David Healy.

In December 2021, Furness was awarded the NI BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2021 for her contribution to the national team's historic year [2][3].

In June 2022, Furness was named in the Northern Ireland squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2022,[24] although the tournament ended unsuccessfully for her team as they finished bottom of Group A.[25]

On 18 August 2022, Furness announced via social media that she was making herself unavailable for international selection for the foreseeable future for personal reasons, though she insisted she was not retiring altogether.[26]

Retirement

Furness announced her retirement from professional football on 5 June 2025.[27][28][29]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sunderland2015Women Super League1311050191
2016Women Super League1203010160
Total2514060351
Reading2017Women Super League71100081
2017–18Women Super League1731063246
2018–19Women Super League1913231254
Total43552945711
Tottenham Hotspur (loan)2019–20Women Super League910020111
Liverpool (loan)2019–20Women Super League44200064
Liverpool2020–21Women's Championship1652040225
2021–22Women's Championship1952040255
2022–23Women Super League910041132
Total4815601216616
Bristol City2022–23Women's Championship1101000120
2023–24Women Super League1010021122
Total2111021242
Newcastle United2024–25Women's Championship50001060
Career total1502216232619930

International goals

Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Furness goal.
List of international goals scored by Rachel Furness
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.29 October 2005Football Centre Mogoşoaia, Mogoşoaia, RomaniaRomania1–22–32007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
2.10 November 2005Ballymena Showgrounds, Ballymena, Northern IrelandSlovakia2–12–1
3.12 May 2009Forthbank Stadium, Stirling, ScotlandScotland1–?1–3Friendly
4.24 October 2009Stadion ŠRC Zaprešić, ZaprešićCroatia1–01–02011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
5.25 August 2010The Oval, Belfast, Northern IrelandCroatia1–03–1
6.2–1
7.3–1
8.7 March 2011Koinotiko Sotiras, Famagusta, CyprusMexico1–21–32011 Cyprus Women's Cup
9.9 March 2011Alpha Sports Centre, Larnaca, CyprusSWI1–11–2
10.19 November 2011Mourneview Park, Lurgan, Northern IrelandNorway1–03–1UEFA Women's Euro 2013 qualification
11.5 February 2012Solitude, Belfast, Northern IrelandScotland1–11–6Friendly
1317 September 2014Mourneview Park, Lurgan, Northern IrelandFRO1–03–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
14.2–0
15.27 November 2015Switzerland1–21–8UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying
16.3 June 2016Solitude, Belfast, Northern IrelandGeorgia4–04–0
17.3 August 2016Mourneview Park, Lurgan, Northern IrelandCzech Republic1–11–1
18.28 November 2017Štadión pod Dubňom, Žilina, SlovakiaSlovakia2–13–12019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
19.27 February 2019Evrenseki Stadium, Side, TurkeyJordan2–06–02019 Turkish Women's Cup
20.5–0
21.6–0
22.3 March 2019Hane, Side, TurkeyKazakhstan1–04–0
23.5 March 2019Gold City, Alanya, TurkeyUzbekistan2–02–1
24.10 March 2020Pinatar Arena, San Pedro del Pinatar, SpainScotland1–01–22020 Pinatar Cup
25.18 September 2020Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe IslandsFRO1–06–0UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifying
26.27 October 2020Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, BelarusBelarus1–01–0
27.27 November 2020Seaview, Belfast, Northern IrelandBelarus2–13–2
28.1 December 2020FRO1–15–1
29.9 April 2021Kolos Stadium, Kovalivka, UkraineUkraine1–02–1UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifying play-offs
30.17 September 2021Inver Park, Larne, Northern IrelandLuxembourg2–04–02023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
31.21 September 2021Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern IrelandLatvia4–04–0
32.25 November 2021Petar Miloševski Training Centre, Skopje, North MacedoniaNorth Macedonia1–011–0
33.4–0
34.8–0
35.29 November 2021Seaview, Belfast, Northern IrelandNorth Macedonia3–09–0
36.8–0

Honours

Bristol City

Liverpool

References

  1. ^ "Under 16 Girls 2003–04". Durham County Schools FA. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  2. ^ "Women's Football". The Northern Echo. 7 March 2003. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  3. ^ "Embleton joins Cestrians". The Northern Echo. 31 January 2003. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  4. ^ "Best thing I ever did: Rachel Furness, 16, Washington, Tyne and Wear". Children and Young People Now. 6 April 2005. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  5. ^ Hannah Davies (12 April 2005). "Now it's a game for the other half". Sunday Sun. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  6. ^ "World University Games". FAI Third Level Football. Archived from the original on 29 December 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  7. ^ "Reay of hope". The Football Association. 13 June 2006. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  8. ^ "World University Games". Northern Ireland ladies: Why football is a girl thing. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  9. ^ Tony Leighton (24 February 2008). "World University Games". Arsenal and Everton ease to semis. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  10. ^ "Penalties? OOH dear! FIVE PAGES OF GRASSROOTS SPORT START HERE WITH GIRLS FOOTBALL: United's hopes of Cup glory ended by spot of bother". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 19 December 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  11. ^ "Rachel Furness". KSI.is. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  12. ^ "Sunderland Sign Rachel Furness". Sunderland WFC. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  13. ^ "Furness joins Lincoln on loan". Sunderland WFC. 13 May 2011. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  14. ^ "Lincoln 0 Chelsea 1". Chelsea Ladies. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  15. ^ "Lincoln Ladies add pace to attack". Lincolnshire Echo. 21 July 2011. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  16. ^ "Rachel Furness: Reading sign Northern Ireland midfielder from Sunderland". BBC Sport. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  17. ^ "Rachel Furness joins Tottenham Hotspur Women on loan from WSL rivals Reading". BBC Sport. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  18. ^ "Rachel Furness: Liverpool Women sign Northern Ireland midfielder". BBC Sport. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  19. ^ "Rachel Furness signs for Newcastle United Women". Newcastle United. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Rejected Rachel ready for Northern Ireland bow". The Northern Echo. 6 February 2004. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  21. ^ "Green light for Northern Ireland". The Technician. January 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  22. ^ "Rachel Furness". UEFA. Archived from the original on 1 July 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  23. ^ "N Ireland 3–1 Norway". BBC Sport. 20 November 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  24. ^ "Northern Ireland UEFA Women's Euro squad announced". Irish FA. 27 June 2022.
  25. ^ "Northern Ireland 0 England 5". BBC Sport. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  26. ^ "Rachel Furness: Northern Ireland's record goalscorer to step away from international game for 'foreseeable future'". BBC Sport. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  27. ^ "Northern Ireland's record goalscorer Furness retires". BBC Sport. 5 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  28. ^ "'I just wanted to make a difference... and I've done that', Northern Ireland women's record goalscorer retires". Belfast Telegraph. 5 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  29. ^ "Northern Ireland legend hailed as 'ultimate professional' after Newcastle United ace announces retirement". Belfast Newsletter. 5 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.