Northern Ireland international defender, Freya Holdaway, has left Crystal Palace Women after captaining the side for five of the last six seasons.
Holdaway helped the Eagles to two promotions and one Surrey Cup, while also winning the Players’ Player and Club Player of the Year awards.
She told cpfc.co.uk: “I owe Palace so much. Without the support from teammates and the management team, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to represent Northern Ireland at the age of 28 – I had assumed any chance of international recognition had passed me.”
Palace manager Dean Davenport commented: “Seeing Freya leave, and having that conversation with her, was arguably my toughest during my time here as manager.
“When she joined the club, Freya hadn’t played for three years. Within in a year she was my captain and four years later she rightfully earned international recognition with Northern Ireland.
“That rise, after the three-year break, epitomises the traits I saw in Freya when she first arrived: a fighter, a leader and an intelligent footballer.”
