Emma Hansberry

Emma Hansberry (born 26 May 1994) is an Irish footballer and coach who plays for Women's National League (WNL) club Sligo Rovers. She previously represented Castlebar Celtic and Wexford Youths. An attacking midfielder, she has also represented the Republic of Ireland women's national team. In Gaelic football Hansberry played for the St Mary's club and her county, Sligo GAA.

Club Career

Hansberry is from Strandhill in County Sligo. At youth level she played soccer for Merville and Strandhill Celtic, as well as Gaelic football for Sligo GAA's youth teams and her school Ursuline College Sligo.

For the inaugural 2011–12 season of the Women's National League (WNL), Hansberry joined County Mayo club Castlebar Celtic. She scored seven goals and made "a string of highly impressive performances" to be named in the WNL Team of the Season and awarded the Young Player of the Year. In the 2013 FAI Women's Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium, Hansberry played well for the underdogs Castlebar Celtic, but they eventually lost 3–2 to Raheny United after extra time.

She moved to reigning WNL champions Wexford Youths during the 2015 close-season, and participated in her new club's subsequent 2015–16 UEFA Women's Champions League campaign in August 2015. In November 2015 Hansberry helped Wexford Youths win the FAI Women's Cup for the first time. In the final at the Aviva Stadium Ciara Rossiter's injury time equaliser helped them prevail over Shelbourne, 4–2 on penalties after a 2–2 draw.

Drained by travelling from Sligo to Wexford, Hansberry paused her soccer career to attend university in Newcastle upon Tyne. On 11 January 2022 Hansberry became the first player to sign for Sligo Rovers' new Women's National League team. She was appointed club captain but a hamstring injury curtailed her early season appearances for the new club.