The Big Interview: Caitlin Hayes
The Republic of Ireland defender swapped home and Celtic for Brighton back in January, and is now embarking on her first full Barclays WSL 1 season with the Seagulls after an eclectic career path...
Caitlin Hayes is honest enough to admit she wouldn’t “necessarily encourage” anyone to make a January transfer window move mid-season, but also knows the chance to join Barclays Women’s Super League 1 side Brighton & Hove Albion at the start of this year was an opportunity the 29-year-old couldn’t refuse.
In just over a week the centre-back will be in her thirties, and this is the first time she’s cracked the top division of English football.
While she reflects on a unique journey to the top during our chat, we start with the here and now, as Hayes sits in the team’s hotel during their pre-season camp in sunny Spain.
“I think the biggest point for me coming here is Dario [Vidošić, head coach] has probably forgotten more things about football than I’ve ever actually known!” she says with a wry chuckle.
“That was definitely somebody I wanted to work under in terms of even just learning from him. Doing the January move can be tough just in terms of mentally moving and then joining an already formed team, but the girls welcomed me with open arms and the facilities and infrastructure we have is just something you try and keep up with on a daily basis.”
Brighton remains one of the league’s most intriguing clubs. Every summer the club catches the eye in the transfer market, but after a period of instability and multiple managerial changes, last season was the first they showed glimpses of their untapped potential under Vidošić after signing some quality players last summer.
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