PAULA INDUCTED INTO FAI HALL OF FAME

Former Dundalk Ladies player Paula Gorham has been inducted into the Football Association of Ireland’s Hall of Fame ahead of the 31st annual FAI International Football Awards.

Paula, along with Johnny Giles, are the Centenary Winners in the Hall of Fame category, due recognition for their unique contribution to the history of Irish football in this, the Centenary Year of the FAI.

Part of the Dundalk Ladies team who played against Corinthians Nomads in a famous ground-breaking game in 1970, Paula scored a hat-trick on her Ireland Women’s Senior debut, the Irish team’s first official game in 1973 away to Wales. She went on to earn several more caps.

For the second year running, the annual FAI Awards have been impacted by COVID-19 which has again forced the cancellation of the traditional presentation ceremony.

As a result of the current restrictions, the FAI plan to present Paula and John with their awards when Portugal come to the Aviva Stadium in November.