Derry City Women's captain Sheerin praises North West Charity Cup
Derry City Women's captain Chelsea Sheerin says tournaments like this weekend's North West Charity Cup illustrate the continuing growth of the ladies game locally.
Cockhill Celtic's Charlie O'Donnell's Sport Grounds is the venue on Sunday (November 1st) for the second annual running of a competition which will see more than 500 Under 13 girls from 16 clubs taking part.
The Cross Border Cross Community football tournament aims to promote girls' football in the north west while simultaneously raising funds for charity. This year charity partners are Jigsaw Donegal, a free, confidential mental health and early intervention service for young people aged 12 to 25, and Buncrana's Children’s Charity.
Candy Stripe captain, Sheerin was present to help launch the 2026 competition last weekend and said the success of the Charity Cup illustrates the talent base in the North West.
"A girls tournament of this size locally would have been unheard of when I was 13," explained Sheerin, who played for Sion Swifts before moving to Brandywell three years ago.
"You'd always have tournaments every weekend but it would be playing with the boys and that can be a lot for some young girls. That's why competitions like the North West Charity Cup are so important. It's fantastic to see the numbers involved and the charities behind it benefitting, with great support from the local communities for things like the raffle. It is such a great cause and great to see so many local clubs involved."
Youth worked Sheerin, 29, has been playing football since she was four and attributes her love of the ‘beautiful game’ to her Liverpool F.C. mad father, Mark 'Mothball' McCrossan. She spent six years playing in Tennessee on a football scholarship and has represented Northern Ireland at Under 15, 17 and 19 level and says the goalposts have now shifted for the better regarding the women's game.
"I didn't start playing in all girls teams until I was at least 11 or 12. There just wasn't many girls teams around so I was playing with boys' teams all my life," explains Chelsea.
"But there have been huge changes in women's football. It's fantastic and with the likes Sion or Derry City locally there’s a lot more to aim at for girls. The sport has really taken off with chances to go over to England, Scotland and America. There are so many more opportunities now than when I was growing up.
"If you come to the Brandywell now for any of our home matches, it's brilliant to see young girls there watching and supporting. It's fantastic that there are now these positive role models. It's class to see the fanbase. It just keep growing every year."
Derry City Women's season ended recently with victory over Crusaders at Seaview, a result that confirmed the Candy Stripes’ sixth placed finish in the Women's Premiership after a season in which Jarlath Canning's team record their best ever Premiership points and goal tally. Canning has also been nominated for NIFL Women’s Premiership Manager of the Year 2026.
"I've just finished my third season at the club but it's my first as captain," adds Chelsea "I love the atmosphere at the games but I just love the city anyway, it's where I grew up.
"It's a great squad to be part of. The club as a whole is a great community to be part of. With our manager Jarlath and all the coaches, they've created a family feel that's shown this season.
"And we have such a young team that there is still so much room for improvement and that's what we are aiming for."
Teams taking part this weekend include Tristar, Phoenix, Newbuildings, Bonagee, Buncrana Hearts, Cardonagh, Clonmany Shamrocks, Cockhill Celtic, Eglinton Eagles, Greencastle, Kildrum Tigers, Kilmacrenna Celtic, Lagan Harps, Letterkenny Rovers, Raphoe and Sea Rovers.
"It is crucial that young girls can see women's football," added Chelsea, "It gives them that belief they can go on and achieve things but it's not just girls, it's boys too. We see loads of young boys coming to watch Derry City games and that's just as important.
"The main thing for any young girl is to keep enjoying her football and never let anyone take that away from you because at the end of the day you’re there to have fun. That's the first step.
"As you grow up sometimes it becomes more competitive and you can let that feeling get away but you’re there to have fun at the end of the day. That's why competitions like the North West Charity Cup are brilliant."