Whirlwind first 16 months for Beth Healy in role as Ireland women’s team manager

Healy was also reflecting on how drastically different her expectations were from the reality of what she found, and how much she has enjoyed the challenge.

While cricket fans have enjoyed the sight of Ireland’s cricketers returning to play for what remained of the season after lockdown, there are a number of people working behind-the-scenes that have helped to keep the show on the road during challenging times. Beth Healy is one such person.

When she accepted the job in 2019, Belfast-based Healy envisioned travelling the world and supporting a team of high performance sportswomen through the trials and tribulations of international competitions and tours – little did she think she would in fact be taking people’s temperatures and organising virtual nutrition and psychology courses. Sixteen months into the role, she does not regret a day.

Speaking on the eve of the last round of the Super Series on Sunday, Healy said: “My role involves managing the logistical operations of the senior women’s team during all tours and trips both domestically and internationally.

“I work with the Head Coach and Cricket Ireland’s Head of Operations on all team matters, such as dealing with travel, accommodation, transport, kit, equipment, match arrangements, function arrangements, and any other logistical requirement needed for the team and support staff when they are in camp.

“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the players and their personalities - each player is unique and they are great athletes. Both the players and fellow team management staff were extremely welcoming from the start and they are a great bunch to work with, particularly Head Coach Ed Joyce, who I liaise with most regularly,” she addded.

“While it’s not a full-time position at this stage, it fits perfectly with my other role as an events manager for a sports management and consultancy company in Belfast.

“I find juggling multiple roles extremely enjoyable and rewarding – the chance to take on various different tasks and responsibilities, and seeing the end results is very rewarding. But my huge passion for sport makes my roles even more fulfilling.”

Holding a Degree in Sport and Exercise Science from Ulster University, Healy’s first operations in sport was with the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council.

“I had a year’s internship with the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council and really got a taste of the behind-the-scenes of team operations through preparing the national team for the Commonwealth Youth Games,” she explained.

“Once I graduated, I was offered the job as one of the Games Team Managers during which I was preparing the Northern Irish team for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018.”

Cricket, though, is not a new sport to Healy, and she has found an ideal role that combines her personal and professional loves.

“I started playing cricket two years ago and currently play for Civil Service NI Cricket Club in Belfast – although work commitments mean that I’m not the most consistent player,” she said.

“I love the game and once I saw the job opportunity for Team Operations Manager for the Ireland Women’s Team come up, I knew I had to apply.”

Healy has had the opportunity, pre-pandemic, to tour with the squad - most notably to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Scotland in July 2019 - but admits she originally underestimated the role.

“That trip to Scotland was a great experience, despite the team falling just short of qualifying. What surprised me most, however, was how much stuff I have to carry on tour!

“I remember when I was first given the two big management bags I thought: ‘I am definitely making these into only one bag’. However, lo and behold I still carry two 20kg bags full of stuff on every tour.

“Just when I think I will not need all this stuff, someone will ask for something - or something will happen - and I can actually say: ‘I have that in my management bags!’”

After lockdown was lifted, Healy soon found herself adding to her duties as a COVID-19 Safety Officer for Cricket Ireland.

She said: “When play resumed in the men’s inter-provincial series and women’s Super Series, I was juggling team management duties and COVID Safety Officer tasks at various matches. It’s not how I envisioned the role originally, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”

The women’s Super 50 Series concludes on Sunday, with the winner of the eighth match of the Series to be crowned champions for 2020. Cricket Ireland will livestream the match via its Youtube channel.

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