Simone Magill on motherhood and football: 'They can co-exist'
Northern Ireland striker Simone Magill discusses balancing motherhood with her return to football, with daughter Skye and husband Mark integrated into the squad during the World Cup play-off camp.
Simone Magill, the Birmingham City and Northern Ireland striker, has spoken about balancing motherhood with her football career, saying the two roles can co-exist. Magill gave birth to her first child, Skye, in May and is now back training with the Northern Ireland squad ahead of Friday's World Cup play-off with Portugal, though the first round of play-offs has come too soon for her to feature.
Magill, 31, has had a 16-year career that included a senior debut at 15, helping Northern Ireland reach a major tournament and becoming captain. She said her identity has shifted: she is a mum first and foremost, and family is her priority. She described motherhood as hard and overwhelming but the greatest joy she has experienced.
After nearly a year away from the squad, Magill is training with the team while her husband, Mark, and Skye are with her in camp. Mark looks after Skye during training and meetings, and Skye joins the squad for meals and downtime. Magill said the support from the Irish FA and her team-mates means she does not need to worry about anything, and that Skye now has 23 aunties in the squad.
Magill is not the first Northern Ireland player to return after having a child; experienced defender Sarah McFadden gave birth to her second child in 2024. However, Magill is the first to have her family integrated into the camp. She said she feels an obligation to pave the way, acknowledging that there may be things that need more support as she navigates each phase.
Magill said that without the support to bring Skye, she would question whether she could still play. She hopes to return to matches later in the autumn. She also wants to inspire other players, noting that many younger squad members can see that having a child and playing football is possible and should be normalised.
Image: Simone Magill/Irish FA / BBC Sport
