Sylvia Gee

Sylvia Gee (born 30 November 1977) is a former Republic of Ireland women's international footballer who has spent the majority of her career playing in various women's association football leagues in the Republic of Ireland and the United States. Between 2003 and 2007, Gee was a prominent member and captain of the successful UCD team which qualified for the UEFA Women's Cup on three successive occasions.

Sylvia Gee
Personal information
Full name Sylvia Gee
Date of birth (1977-11-30) 30 November 1977
Position(s) Defender
Midfielder
Forward
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2000 University of Limerick
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998 Listowel Celtic
1999–2000 Benfica
2000 Springfield Sirens
2000–2001 Portlaoise
2001–2002 Leeds United
2003–2007 UCD
2007–2011 Tullamore Town
2008 → MYSC Lady Blues
2009 → Chicago United Breeze
2010 → Arizona Rush
2011 → London Gryphons
2011–2012 Cork W.F.C.
2012 Central SC Cobras
2012–2014 DLR Waves
2014–2015 Peamount United
2015–2018 Kilkenny United
2018–2019 Limerick
National team‡
1999– Republic of Ireland
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:37, 7 January 2016 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12:00, 23 September 2011 (UTC)

Playing career

Early years

Gee grew up on a farm in County Laois before attending Wesley College, Dublin between 1990 and 1996, where she studied for her Leaving Cert. At Wesley, Gee played several sports including field hockey and indoor soccer. Eric Miller was one of her fellow students. Between 1996 and 2000 Gee attended the University of Limerick where she studied production management. [1] While a student at UL, Gee also played association football for Listowel Celtic and Benfica. [2] In 2000, she spent the summer playing for Springfield Sirens in the USL W-League [3] and in 2001–02 she played for Leeds United in the FA Women's Premier League. [4][5] While playing for Leeds, Gee also worked in the club ticket office. [1]

UCD

Between 2003 and 2007 Gee played for UCD. Together with Caroline Thorpe and Mary Waldron,[6] Gee was a prominent member and captain of the UCD team which, under coach Larry Mahoney, emerged as one of the strongest women's teams in the Republic of Ireland. UCD completed a four in a row of Dublin Women's Soccer League titles between 2003 and 2006. [7][8] Gee also played for UCD in the 2003 and 2004 FAI Women's Cup finals, helping the club win the cup three times in row. [9][10] After winning the FAI Women's Cup, UCD also qualified on three successive occasions to represent the Republic of Ireland in Europe. Gee subsequently captained UCD during their 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06 UEFA Women's Cup campaigns. [1] While playing for UCD, Gee, a UEFA B licensed coach also established a small business called Primary Coaching, which saw her coach association football to children in both primary schools and summer camps. [11]

United States

In September 1999 Gee played for the Republic of Ireland in an away friendly against the United States. [12][2] The following summer Gee and some of her Republic of Ireland teammates, including Claire Scanlan, Geraldine O'Shea and Margaret Saurin, returned to the United States to played for Springfield Sirens in the USL W-League. The 2000 Springfield Sirens won thirteen out of fourteen games and finished the season as the W-League second division champions. [3] Since 2008 Gee has regularly spent summers playing and coaching in North America, mostly in the United States. In 2008 she played for MYSC Lady Blues, helping them win the Women's Premier Soccer League Midwest Conference. In the subsequent 2009 and 2010 WPSL seasons she played for Chicago United Breeze and Arizona Rush respectively. In 2011 Gee played for London Gryphons in the USL W-League. [8][13][1] In the 2012 W-League season she played for Central SC Cobras. [11] During the winters Gee returned to Ireland and played for Tullamore Town in the Combined Counties Football League. [14][15][16][17][18]

Women's National League

When the Women's National League was inaugurated in 2011–12, Gee played for Cork W.F.C.. She was subsequently approached by Larry Mahoney, her former coach at UCD, to join him at DLR Waves. While playing for Waves, Gee was named WNL Player of the Month for November/December 2012. [8] Gee was also selected for the 2012–13 WNL Team of the Season. [19] In 2013–14 she was also inducted into the WNL Hall of Fame. [20][21] During the 2014–15 season, Gee played for Peamount United, helping them reach the final of the WNL Cup. [22] The 2015–16 season saw her switch to Kilkenny United. [23] While playing in the WNL, Gee has also coached at Portlaoise A.F.C. [24][11]

International career

Gee has represented the Republic of Ireland at university and senior level. [1] In September 1999 Gee played for the Republic of Ireland in a 5–0 away defeat to the United States. At the time Gee was still a student at University of Limerick and playing for Benfica. [25][2] In September 2000 Gee was also included the squad for the Celt Cup, a tournament which saw the Republic of Ireland emerge as winners after defeating Northern Ireland and Scotland. [26] On 12 August 2001 Gee scored for the Republic of Ireland, after coming on as a substitute, in a 4–1 win against Scotland at the AUL Complex. Olivia O'Toole also scored a hat–trick for the Republic. [27] Gee was subsequently a member of the Republic of Ireland squad during their 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, UEFA Women's Euro 2001, 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup and UEFA Women's Euro 2005 qualifying campaigns. [28][29]

Honours
Individual
UCD
Springfield Sirens
MYSC Lady Blues
Peamount United

References
  1. "Wesley Women 1911–2011" (PDF). www.wesleycollege.ie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  2. "Strong US side". www.irishtimes.com. 2 September 1999. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  3. "Photos:Springfield Sirens". nesoccertoday.com. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  4. "Leeds move to second". news.bbc.co.uk. 24 February 2002. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  5. "England (Women) 2001/02". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  6. "UCD chase treble". www.independent.ie. 23 October 2004. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  7. "Getting to know...Sylvia Gee". wnl.fai.ie. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  8. "Sylvia Gee picks up Player of the Month". wnl.fai.ie. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  9. "UCD v Dundalk Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 24 October 2004. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  10. "UCD pass Cup test once again". www.irishtimes.com. 11 August 2003. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  11. "International UEFA B Licensed Coach Available for Summer Soccer Sessions". forums.scsoccer.com. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  12. "No Luck for the Irish as USA Cruises to 5-0 Win at Foxboro Stadium". www.ussoccer.com. 4 September 1999. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  13. "Soccer: Irish duo an inspiration for Madison Lady Blues". www.womensfootball.eu. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  14. "Unlucky Tullamore ladies lose to Bealnamulla in shoot out". www.offalyindependent.ie. 12 April 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  15. "Sylvia Gee (Scored Equaliser)". www.tullamoretownfc.com. 12 April 2009. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  16. "Team Photo with Winner's Cup". www.tullamoretownfc.com. 12 April 2009. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  17. "Scintillating Sylvia has Tullamore fans in awe!". www.herald.ie. 22 February 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  18. "2010/11 CCFL Results". www.tullamoretownfc.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  19. "Bus Éireann National Women's League Awards 12-13" (PDF). wnl.fai.ie. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  20. "Bus Éireann National Women's award nominations". www.rte.ie. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  21. "Bus Eireann Women's National League Awards Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  22. "Extra-time triumph for Raheny United in women's league cup final". www.irishtimes.com. 26 April 2015.
  23. Clarke, Aaron (10 October 2015). "WNL Season Preview: Kilkenny United". extratime.ie. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  24. "Season Review 2014/15 – Academy". www.portlaoiseafc.ie. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  25. "No Luck for the Irish as USA Cruises to 5-0 Win at Foxboro Stadium". www.ussoccer.com. 4 September 1999. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  26. "King gets first chance to see women in action". www.kickinmagazine.ie. 22 September 2000. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  27. "O'Toole hits back". www.independent.ie. 13 August 2001. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  28. "Sylvia Gee". www.fai.ie. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  29. "Sylvia Gee". www.soccerscene.ie. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
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