Joely Andrews Thrives in Full-Time Football with Hearts: A Journey of Growth and Adaptation

Joely Andrews, at just 22 years old, has already carved out an impressive career in football, earning 25 caps for Northern Ireland. After making her mark with Glentoran, Andrews felt the time was right to step into full-time football. In July 2024, she moved to Hearts in Scotland, a decision she describes as both challenging and rewarding.

"It's important it's the right move for the right person at the right time," Andrews said. "It's been challenging and that's what I wanted from the move. It's been really good for me and I'm really enjoying it."

Adapting to Full-Time Football

Andrews admits that transitioning to a full-time environment with Hearts has been a significant step up. However, she believes it has made her a more accomplished player.

"Being on the pitch every day and getting touches has improved me and my game, I have definitely developed," she explained. "Training has been a challenge, but it's been good for my game. My game understanding has improved."

She also noted the need for adaptability at the higher level, stating:

"Especially at the higher level, you can't play the same way for 90 minutes and you have to be adaptable. That's been a big thing for me from the summer to now."

Northern Ireland's Nations League Campaign

Andrews is currently on international duty with Northern Ireland, preparing for their opening Nations League match against Poland on Friday. This match comes after a tough Euro 2025 play-off defeat by Norway, where Northern Ireland showed resilience despite the 7-0 aggregate scoreline.

"When you play top teams like Norway, even if the result doesn't go your way you can still learn a lot from it," Andrews said. "That was definitely the case with us. Between the first leg and second leg, we can take a lot from the performance. That's the standard. We've set the bar. In the long run that game will stand us in good stead."

Looking Ahead

Andrews emphasized the importance of a strong start in the Nations League, which has implications for World Cup qualifying. Northern Ireland will face Bosnia-Herzegovina next, a team they defeated twice in Euro 2025 qualifying.

"We have grown a lot as a team and a squad from the last campaign, so it's important to get off to a good start," she added. "We're aiming to be right up there pushing for the top of the group and League A. We're in League B and our aim is to get out of it. We're not going to go into any game just to play it for the sake of it. We'll go to take points."

Andrews' journey with Hearts and her commitment to Northern Ireland highlight her dedication to the sport and her continuous growth as a player.