When she made history to become the first female professional footballer playing in Northern Ireland, Glentoran captain Jessica Foy made sure to get one special clause included.
Usually when these contracts are drawn up, a professional athlete will be prohibited from playing other sports but the Down star was not going to turn her back on the Mourne County and Ladies football.
“It was in the contract, naturally like any professional contract, about not playing another sport,” said Foy.
“But it was something that we discussed at the time of the contract and they appreciated how important it is for me to play. They said they will accommodate it and work with me as much as they can.
“Obviously if there’s a clash, soccer will take precedence this year, hopefully at the minute it looks like there is the room there that I am still able to play both, thankfully."
Foy added: “I feel very honoured, to be honest, that I was selected as the first professional.
“At the time I hadn’t really thought about it and processed it. Then whenever it got released to the media, I really saw the impact that it actually has had, the amount of people that were reaching out.
“It was all over social media and the news. People were texting and calling me. The messages of support that I received were incredible. It has only started to sink in what a massive achievement that it is and to be paving the way for women’s sport. It’s definitely something that I am going to be incredibly proud of for years to come.”
Down finished third in Division 3 North of the Lidl National Football League last year while they unlucky to be knocked out by eventual finalists Wexford in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship at the quarter-final stage.
Ronan McCartan’s first game in charge will see Down face Roscommon in Division 3A of the Lidl NFL on Sunday.
And Foy is excited to get another season underway as Down look to take inspiration from Meath’s fairytale exploits last season.
“We will have to take inspiration from Meath in terms of how successful they were from Intermediate to really push on and compete in the senior level.
“It was incredible and it shows that it can be done. The gap is getting smaller between senior and intermediate.”
