Claire Rafferty is Chelsea’s longest serving player having joined the club back in 2007. She recently celebrated her ten year anniversary, with the home match against Tottenham Hotspur in the Continental Cup as she was named captain. The left back has found a new lease of life as a left wing back/winger as Emma Hayes has switched to new systems and will continue to fly down the wing for many years to come.
Orpington-born Rafferty, was a regular for Millwall Lionesses as a 14 year old on the left side of midfield and was snapped up by Chelsea in the summer of 2007. She began to develop a reputation for herself as a player who was always in the right position to tackle her opposing winger, while also being a potent threat going forward herself. In 2011, Rafferty unfortunately suffered an ACL injury, her second ACL injury at the time and missed the whole of the 2011/2012 season but was back just in time for the newly developed WSL league season in the summer of 2012.
She has been a dependable figure in the Chelsea dressing room for many years and her impact on the team is vital. As Chelsea stormed to their first ever trophies in 2015, Rafferty was consistently contributing from the left and was invited to lift the winner’s trophies with club captain Katie Chapman as a mark of respect to Chelsea’s longest serving player.
Rafferty currently has 18 caps for England having made her debut in 2010. She was the first choice left back for the Three Lions at the 2015 World Cup in Canada and it was famously revealed that she was still working as an analyst in the City part time. Being able to continue in her role as a business analyst has meant that she has had to turn down offers of a professional full time contract with Chelsea.
With wing backs all the fashion in today’s age of football, Rafferty has been tasked with adapting to a new role and she has taken to it easily. Bombing down the left has seen grab a lot more goals than she used to. One of her most memorable goals being a left footed volley after storming in late at the back post against Sunderland Ladies in 2016.
Her landmark game against Tottenham Ladies, saw both teams form a guard of honour for Rafferty while also being showered with gifts. The best gift being a 4-1 victory for the Blues and just like the past 10 years at Chelsea, Rafferty was always there to be depended on.
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