Julie-Ann Russell

Julie-Ann Russell (born 28 March 1991) is an Irish footballer who plays for Women's National League club Galway United W.F.C.

In 2007, together with Dora Gorman, Russell was a member of the Salthill Devon team that won the Under 16 Girls FAI Cup.

In the final at Tolka Park, Russell scored the winner in a 3–2 extra–time win over Stella Maris.

The following week, together with several Salthill Devon teammates including Niamh Fahey and Méabh De Búrca, Russell helped the Galway Ladies League win the 2007 FAI Women's Cup, defeating Raheny United 1–0 at Dalymount Park.

Russell subsequently played for Galway in the 2008–09 UEFA Women's Cup.

Between 2009 and 2013 Russell attended the Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick where she gained a Business Studies and Marketing, 1st Class Honours degree.

Russell made her senior international debut on 29 October 2009, when she came on as a half–time substitute for Marie Curtin during a 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan.

She created the Republic of Ireland's equalising goal in their 2–1 win.

In 2010 Russell played in her second FAI Women's Cup final, this time with Salthill Devon who lost 4–2 to Peamount United.

As well as playing for Salthill Devon, Russell and several of her teammates, including Dora Gorman, also played Gaelic football for Galway in the Ladies' National Football League.

Russell also played for Connacht at interprovincial level.

Together with Karen Duggan, Russell also played for the UL association football team that won the 2010 WSCAI Intervarsities Cup.

They defeated a UCD team that featured Louise Quinn 2–1 in the final at Turners Cross.

Duggan and Russell also helped the team win the WSCAI Premier Division in 2010–11.

They also played for the UL ladies futsal team that won the 2011 WSCAI National Futsal Intervarsities title.

In 2011 Russell played for Los Angeles Strikers in the USL W-League, forming a strike partnership with Cherelle Khassal.

Russell, along with fellow UL student Karen Duggan, began playing for Peamount United in August 2011 and subsequently played for the club in their 2011–12 UEFA Women's Champions League campaign and during the inaugural 2011–12 Women's National League season.

In December 2011, together with Dora Gorman, Megan Campbell, Ciara Grant, Louise Quinn, Grace Murray and Karen Duggan, Russell was included in an FAI scholarship programme for potential senior women's internationals.

In 2012 Russell completed a nine-month internship with Doncaster Rovers Belles in the FA WSL, fulfilling the work placement element of her UL degree.

In addition to playing for Belles, she also worked for Doncaster Rovers F.C. in their marketing department as a digital ambassador.

Russell was appointed as one of several FA WSL digital media ambassadors who wore their Twitter account name on their shirt sleeves to raise the profile of the league.

Russell also helped United win the WNL Cup in 2012–13.

While playing for United, Russell was twice selected for the WNL Team of the Season in 2012–13 and 2013–14.

In the latter season she was also named Senior Player of the Year.

Russell also represented the Republic of Ireland at the 2012 Algarve Cup and in Cyprus Cup tournaments.

Between 2013 and 2014 Russell attended the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School at University College Dublin where she achieved an Honours master's degree in marketing.

Russell also played association football for UCD at intervarsity level, playing in teams alongside Dora Gorman, Siobhán Killeen and Ciara Grant.

During the 2013–14 season Russell helped UCD win the WSCAI Futsal Cup and the WSCAI Premier Division.

She has subsequently represented the Republic of Ireland during their UEFA Women's Euro 2013, 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying campaigns.

In 2014, Russell was voted both FAI Senior Women's International Player of the Year and the Women's National League Senior Player of the Year.

Russell has played in three FAI Women's Cup finals for three different teams – the Galway Ladies League, Salthill Devon and UCD Waves.

Russell has also played ladies' Gaelic football at a senior level for both Galway and Connacht.

Russell grew up in Moycullen, County Galway where she attended Scoil Mhuire Maigh Cuilinn.

Her older brother, John is also an association footballer and plays in the League of Ireland.

In 2014–15 when UCD Waves entered a team in the Women's National League, they also appointed the former Peamount United manager Eileen Gleeson to take charge of the team.

Russell was one of several United players to follow Gleeson to Waves.

Others included Aine O'Gorman, Karen Duggan, Dora Gorman, Chloe Mustaki and Emily Cahill.

In 2015 Russell also started working as a Bing ads account manager for Microsoft.

In December 2020, Russell joined W-League club Western Sydney Wanderers.

Russell has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-15, under-17, under-19, university and senior level.