‘I was a bit amazed and a bit shocked’ – Flaherty reflects on WSL Hall of Fame induction | OneFootball

Former defender Gilly Flaherty admitted that she was surprised by her recent induction into the Barclays Women’s Super League’s Hall of Fame.

Flaherty has been recognised for her significant contribution to the game alongside fellow former professionals Alex Scott MBE, Rebecca Welch and Steph Houghton MBE.

On Monday evening, the newest inductees to the Barclays Women’s Super League’s Hall of Fame addressed the media and former centre-back Flaherty highlighted her shocked reaction to her selection.

“At first, I thought my agent maybe had sent the wrong information and was writing to the wrong person because I think personal recognition was something that I didn’t necessarily get a lot when I was playing,” Flaherty said.

“I was a bit amazed, a bit shocked and was a bit like, you’re 100% sure that you definitely got the right person? He was like, yeah, you’re definitely going in it. It’s nice and it’s something that you probably don’t realise until you come to an event like this and see the magnitude of it.”

Flaherty won four Barclays Women’s Super League titles – two with Arsenal and two with Chelsea. The defender was also a 2017 FA Women’s Super League 1 Spring Series winner with The Blues. For almost two decades, Flaherty spent time playing at the top level of women’s football with Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham United and Liverpool.

Speaking to WSL Full-Time about a cherished moment from her career that she’d want to re-live, Flaherty highlighted her appearance for West Ham United at the Adobe Women’s FA Cup final back in 2019.

She said “I’d love to re-live walking out at Wembley with West Ham when I was captain.

“I think, for me, obviously, the beauty of the FA Cup is the underdog and I think that was a typical story, West Ham getting there.”

Since hanging up her boots, Flaherty has moved into the world of football punditry, something that she thoroughly enjoys.

She said “I love being given the opportunity to talk about games. I’d like to think that I’m fair but honest as well.

“I think sometimes when you listen to games as a fan, you just hear what people think they want you to hear and that’s not the case. I think fans and people watching it want to hear the truth and I like to do that, but in a fair way.

“I’ve been on the receiving end of bad criticism as a player.”

Monday evening’s event was a celebration of some of the game’s pioneers and Flaherty said that it’s special to have been recognised in this way.

She said “I think it’s huge because a lot of fans are now coming to the game and there’s a lot of players that they don’t even know anything about.

“I think it’s nice for us to be appreciated because when you talk about the women’s game, you talk about the here and now and you talk about it at the very start and the players who got it from where it is.

“I think that’s what makes it all more important and special is that you’re not forgotten about, that you are spoken about and you get rewarded with a night like this.”

The Barclays Women’s Super League’s Hall of Fame was launched in 2021 to coincide with the 10th year of WSL football. Four new members are inducted into the Hall of Fame each year.