Londonderry, Market Drayton and Gibraltar might not have too much in common, yet for The New Saints Women’s Caitlin Chapman, they’re three pretty integral places. 

Born in the Northern Irish city, the midfielder now lives in the small Shropshire town, but it’s the British Oversees Territory sitting on the south coast of Spain that might take some explaining.

Since joining The New Saints in September 2021, the number 17 has helped her side avoid relegation on a dramatic final day of the season, qualify for the Genero Adran Premier Championship Conference for the first time, and also lift their first piece of silverware in the Welsh footballing pyramid.

But now, the 21-year-old is set for an entirely different challenge altogether.

Recently, Chapman received an unlikely phone call. It was an invite to join the Gibraltar senior women’s team this week at their upcoming training camp in De Lutte, Holland.

As a former Northern Ireland U19 international, the former Stoke City winger was initially reluctant to turn her back on her homeland, but after a lot of convincing from her parents, she decided that the opportunity was simply too good to pass up.

Despite the Gibraltar Football Association being accepted as member of FIFA and UEFA in 2013, it’s yet to field a women’s team in either FIFA Women’s Women’s World Cup or UEFA Women’s Championship qualification.

Next year, however, that’s set to change, as the senior team will enter their inaugural UEFA Women’s Nations League ahead of the 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifying cycle.

Drawn into group C1, they’ll face Moldova, Slovakia and the Faroe Islands both home and away, and this week’s camp will give head coach Scott Wiseman (a former English Football League veteran and Gibraltar international himself) the chance to shape his squad ahead of those big games to come.

With Chapman clearly part of those plans, she jetted off for the Netherlands last week, but not before I took the opportunity to sit down with her to get her thoughts…

SW: Caitlin, congratulations from everyone here at The New Saints on your call-up to the senior Gibraltar side. You must be really excited to join up with the squad for the first time next week. 

CC: Thank you! Yes, I’m very excited, it’s a fantastic opportunity and one that I’m really looking forward to. I can’t wait to meet the team next week!

SW: Most people know you as a Northern Ireland youth international and you’ve represented them at U19 level on a couple of occasions. How then are you eligible to play for Gibraltar? 

CC: That’s right, I was born in Londonderry, so I was representing Northern Ireland at youth level. I don’t think many people know this, but my mum was actually born in Gibraltar, so that’s how I qualify.

SW: What was your reaction when you first heard that Gibraltar were interested in calling you up for this month’s training camp? Have you known about it for a while or did it just come out of the blue?

CC: I was a bit stunned to be honest and I really didn’t know what to say. It honestly came really out of the blue. I got the call last Friday saying that they wanted me to go on the camp with them ahead of their Nations League games which start in 2025. 

SW: We’ve mentioned your previous Northern Ireland connections of course, so how different will it be pulling on the red shirt of Gibraltar, rather than the green of your home country?

CC: It will definitely be strange, but I’m grateful for any opportunity to play international football. No matter what shirt I put on, I will give it my all and do the best that I can. Ask me again in two weeks’ time though and I can probably give you a better answer!

SW: There are two games coming up against opposition from Germany and the Netherlands.  It’s no doubt an exciting time for you, so what are you hoping to achieve from your time away with the Gibraltar set-up? 

CC: I think the main thing that I’ll take from my time with Gibraltar is the opportunity to improve as a player. I’ll be testing myself against a really talented group of players in a couple of tough games which can only be a good thing. It’ll be good to meet some new teammates and hopefully make some new friends. It would also be amazing if I manage to impress enough to earn in place in the Nations League squads for next year.

SW: It’s been a good season so far for The New Saints, but are you happy with how it’s been going on a personal level?

CC: I’m happy with how it’s gone so far, but you can never be too content, as there is always room to improve. I haven’t scored as many goals or gotten as many assists as I did last season, so that’s what I’ll be working on in the coming weeks. 

SW: We’re almost halfway through the season now. What’s been your favourite moment so far?  

CC: There’s been lots of good moments, but I have to say my favourite is when we beat Swansea City 5-0 away from home. It was the first time we’d picked up any points from a visit to Swansea, so it do it in such a convincing manner was really enjoyable. 

SW: Thank you for taking the time to chat this afternoon Caitlin and once again, all the very best for the upcoming games. I’ll let you get off, as I know you’ve got a plane to catch!

CC: No problem and thank you for the interview. You know how much I love doing them!