Investment needed for NI to bridge gap - Nelson

Northern Ireland women's record cap holder Julie Nelson says investment is needed "across the game" to help drive the team forward, adding "it's almost an impossible task" to match the top nations.

Having qualified for the European Championship finals in 2022, Northern Ireland fell short in their bid to reach next year's tournament in Switzerland, losing 7-0 on aggregate to two-time champions Norway in the play-offs.

Northern Ireland boss Tanya Oxtoby, who took over last year, says her squad have improved "leaps and bounds" during her time in charge, but Nelson says the team needs additional support.

"It's obviously a massive ask to close the gulf to those top nations," Nelson told BBC Sport NI.

"Obviously you're going to need more investment but as we invest at levels of the game here in Northern Ireland, the bigger nations have more money and are able to invest more."

On Wednesday, Irish FA director of women's football Angela Platt confirmed the association will launch a women's and girls' football strategy in early 2025 with the senior team next in action in the Nations League in February.

"In it, will be a raft of exciting work to ensure we continue to progress at all levels of the game," said Platt.

"The senior women’s team is an important part of this but so is the work done in our development teams and across the wider pathway to ensure young girls enjoy the game and see a future in it for them."

Nelson, who won the last of her 130 caps in 2022, also suggested introducing an extra layer to the women's football structure given the jump from under-19 to senior level.

"We need something to bridge the gap between under-19s and senior football," said Nelson, who scored NI's only goal at Euro 2022.

"There are a lot of players now, once they finish under-19s football they're maybe not getting the chance to get exposure again into the international squad.

"The direction Tanya's taking the squad, it seems she's looking more at players who are playing in a full-time environment across the water.

"We need to bridge the gap here in Northern Ireland to get more players the opportunity, firstly to try and get moves across the water and secondly to be involved with the international squad going forward."

Northern Ireland have won seven out of 18 games under Australian Oxtoby and earlier this year retained their status in League B of the Nations League.

Oxtoby has handed opportunities to younger players with experienced campaigners such as Nelson, former captain Marissa Callaghan and Demi Vance seeing their involvement reduced.

"There's been a lot of talk about the young players who have been introduced into the group. There's been a lot of experience lost out of the squad," added Nelson.

"There's over 600 caps worth of experience that's been lost over the last 12 to 15 months and that makes up a lot of the build of the squad.

"Those young players are getting lots of exposure now and opportunities. There's been lots of games, 18 since Tanya took over, so there are lots of opportunities for them to get exposure into international football and when you play teams of the level of Norway you see the levels you need to try to get to."