Page 10 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.33 2022-23

Manchester City Football Club is delighted to announce that Alanna Kennedy has signed a
two-year contract extension.
The defender – who joined City in the summer of 2021 - will now remain at the Academy
Stadium until June 2025 after putting pen to paper on a new deal.
The experienced centre-half has settled into life in Manchester following her switch from
fellow Barclays Women’s Super League side Tottenham Hotspur, making 29 appearances in all
competitions so far and scoring one goal in a 6-0 win over Birmingham City last May.
Helping Gareth Taylor’s side to lift the Continental Tyres League Cup and reach the Vitality
Women’s FA Cup Final in her inaugural season, Kennedy has made seven appearances in all
competitions throughout 2022-23 and with the conclusion of the current campaign on the
horizon, the Australian international has committed her future to Manchester City with a fresh
two-year contract.
Speaking after putting pen to paper on her new deal, Kennedy said: “I’m really happy to be
staying here at City – I’ve loved my time here so far.
“I feel like I still have a lot more to give on a personal level and for the team, so I’m looking
forward to continuing our success here.
“I feel as though I have unfinished business here at City. I’ve worked hard to get myself into
a position where I’ve learned the style, and I have a great relationship with all the girls and staff.
“I feel as though I’ve got so much more to learn as a player though, and this is an
environment where I can do that and get better every day, surrounded by the best players.”
Head Coach Gareth Taylor added: “We’re really pleased to have Alanna extend her contract
with us here at City.
“She’s had some challenging periods to overcome in her first couple of seasons here, but
she’s a player who has a lot to offer to our squad with her ability and experience.
“We’re really looking forward to working with her over the coming years as we go in search
of success as a team.”

The draw for the Avenir Sports Women's All-Island Cup was made in FAI Headquarters with 16
teams taking part in the inaugural staging of the competition.
Sports Direct Women's Premiership winners Cliftonville will come up against Bohemians,
Derry City and Sligo Rovers while SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division champions
Shelbourne were paired with Athlone Town, Galway United, Linfield in Group A.
In the other groups, Glentoran take on Peamount United, Shamrock Rovers and Wexford
Youths, then Cork City face off with Crusaders, DLR Waves and Treaty United.In order to aid the
Ireland Women's National Team's preparations for FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, the SSE
Airtricity Women’s Premier Division season was structured to allow for a period where no
League games would take place.
This new competition will now be played during that scheduled break to ensure that
women's domestic football continues to be played as excitement for the World Cup builds.
The competition, which is supported by both the Football Association of Ireland and the
Irish Football Association, will involve 16 teams in total – 11 from the League of Ireland, 5 from
the Northern Ireland Football League – split into four groups of four teams.
The group games will take place on the week ending June 18, June 25 and July 2. The top
teams in each group will progress to the semi-finals, which will be played on the week ending
July 9, before the last two compete for the silverware in the Final on July 16.
Avenir Sports All-Island Cup draw:
Group A: Athlone Town, Galway United, Linfield, Shelbourne
Group B: Glentoran, Peamount United, Shamrock Rovers, Wexford Youths
Group C: Bohemians, Cliftonville, Derry City, Sligo Rovers
Group D: Cork City, Crusaders, DLR Waves, Treaty United
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