Women’s Nations League: Abbie Smith balancing first NI call-up with GCSE exams

With GCSE exams coming up whilst she is away in camp, the teenager says she will have to continue studying during downtime in NI’s preparations for games against unbeaten group leaders Poland at Seaview and third-placed Bosnia-Herzegovina in Zenica.

“I’ve already had two exams and I have three over the camp, but I’ll get it sorted and keep revising,” she added.

The senior call-up marks another step in the Lisburn native’s rapid rise after joining Manchester City on a two-year scholarship from Crusaders Strikers in March.

Despite having aspirations of playing for the senior side, particularly after training with the squad in Leicester as they prepared for their away trip to Romania last month, even Smith did not think the official call-up would come so soon.

“I thought I was going with the 19s to their camp over the weekend so it was a big surprise but I’m really excited,” she said.

“Everyone was so welcoming when I trained last month, it was a nice experience and a nice intensity.

“It has always been my aim and for it to be so early it’s unbelievable. I just want to get used to that environment and see what a senior camp is like.”

Smith believes her experiences at City, where she has trained with senior goalkeepers like Khiara Keating and Katie Startup, can help her adapt quickly to life in the NI squad under Tanya Oxtoby.

She is also excited to train with Northern Ireland goalkeeper Jackie Burns, who she has idolised.

“It’s been really good at Man City to see what the standard is like and where you have to get to, it’s so intense but it’s really helping with my development,” she explained.

“I always watched Jackie since going to the Northern Ireland matches and she’s been someone I’ve looked up to so just being involved, training with her will be good.”