Niamh Fahey’s Chelsea leap of faith

Niamh Fahey doesn’t take unnecessary risks, so when she quit a full-time job to pursue a dream of being a professional footballer it was a calculated move.

The Galway girl had already dipped her toe into those waters during eight seasons with Arsenal — winning an incredible 12 trophies — but there was always the burden of working part-time to supplement that lifestyle.

So when Chelsea offered the 27-year-old defender a chance to focus solely on football, she knew that stepping away from her job with a biopharmaceutical company was the right call to make.