Brighton defender retires with immediate effect on medical advice

Brighton and Hove defender has made the tough decision to retire from football after a long battles with injury
Brighton and Hove Albion FCBrighton and Hove Albion FC
Brighton and Hove Albion FC

Albion defender Fern Whelan is to retire from football with immediate effect on medical advice.

Whelan, 31, joined the club in 2017 and has played a big part in helping to establish Albion in the FA Women’s Super League.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Fern, who won three England caps earlier in her career, had two spells with Everton and also played for Liverpool and Notts County. She won an FA Cup winners’ medal and played in the quarter-final of the Champions League.

Fern Whelan (Paul Hazelwood)Fern Whelan (Paul Hazelwood)
Fern Whelan (Paul Hazelwood)

She said, “I have made the tough decision to retire. After a long hard battle with injury, I am now ready to close the amazing chapter of playing football and move on to my next challenge.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone at Brighton & Hove Albion for the making last three seasons so special, especially my amazing team-mates and the coaching staff. And as always my thanks to the fans, your support has been fantastic.

“I look forward to staying involved with the club through Albion in The Community and will continue to support the women’s game in the future.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Albion head coach Hope Powell added, “Fern has been an outstanding professional during her time with the club and we’re going to miss her ability on the field and her experience in the dressing room. She has played a big part in our development over the last three years.

“I know from speaking to her that the decision to retire was not easy for Fern, but she is embarking on a new phase of her life and everyone at Brighton wishes her all the best for the future.

“I’m sure she will still come and watch our games in the future when it is safe to do so and she will always be welcome at the club.”

Albion made a winning start to the Barclays FA Women’s Super League season on Sunday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Second-half goals from Megan Connolly and Inessa Kaagman secured a 2-0 victory over Birmingham City at the People's Pension Stadium with midfielder Connolly scoring from outside the box before crossing to Kaagman to quickly head in the second goal.

Head coach Powell said, “It’s always nice to get off to a good start and I was really pleased with our performance.

“I thought Birmingham did well in the first half and probably kept the ball better than we did. It took us time to get going but we kept our shape and were quite disciplined and in the second half we played a lot better and thankfully got our just rewards."

Powell's team are next in league action on Sunday, September 13 at Manchester City.