Casey Howe says joining celtic this summer has been a “surreal” step in her career after the 23-year-old Northern Ireland international scored her first goal for the club in only her second appearance.
- Casey Howe joined Celtic in June after leaving Nottingham Forest and scored in her second appearance.
- Howe has 14 caps for Northern Ireland and made her international debut at 17.
- Her club career includes Linfield, Glentoran (treble winners), Sligo Rovers, Athlone Town, Nottingham Forest and a promotion with Wolves.
- Howe values Celtic’s attacking, freer tactical approach and credits family sacrifices for her development.
What happened
Howe completed a move to Celtic in June following her exit from Nottingham Forest and opened her scoring account for the Scottish Women’s Premier League side with a left-footed curler in the 82nd minute of a 3-0 win over Montrose. The goal came in only her second appearance for the club.
Player background and career path
Born in Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh, Howe made her Northern Ireland debut aged 17. Her domestic career includes spells at Linfield, Glentoran—where she was part of a treble-winning season—Sligo Rovers and a prolific period with Athlone Town in the League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division. She has also played in England with Nottingham Forest and won promotion with Wolves.
Why the move matters
At 23, Howe is joining one of the better-resourced clubs in Scottish women’s football and says the move is already helping her tactical and technical development under head coach Grant Scott. She described Celtic’s attacking style as well suited to her strengths as a forward, praising the freedom to make different runs, dribble and “drive at people”.
Family sacrifice and early development
Howe emphasised the practical sacrifices her family made to support her development, with regular long drives to training and matches across Northern Ireland—travelling to Ballinamallard, Cookstown and Belfast multiple times a week. She credited her parents for enabling the opportunities that helped her reach a club like Celtic.
International implications
Howe has 14 caps for Northern Ireland and says her ambitions include helping leave the national team in a stronger position than when she arrived. She wants her progress at club level to feed into the international squad and to serve as a visible pathway for young players from Fermanagh and beyond.
What she says about Celtic’s style
Howe contrasts her current environment with previous managers who she says emphasised rigid movement. At Celtic, she values the tactical freedom granted to attackers, which she believes creates a more unpredictable and confident front line. She expects that freedom to help both her individual performance and collective team play.
Practical next steps and what to watch
- Howe will continue to adapt to Celtic’s tactical demands under Grant Scott; further starts and appearances in SWPL fixtures will show how quickly she settles into the side.
- Her form at club level could influence her role with Northern Ireland as the national side prepares for future fixtures and tournaments; increased playing time in a higher-profile club environment often factors into international selection and responsibility.
- For young players in Northern Ireland, particularly in counties with fewer local facilities, Howe’s pathway—from local clubs through the League of Ireland and English football to Celtic—provides a concrete example of a viable route to professional football.
Timeline (verified milestones)
- Age 17: Made Northern Ireland debut.
- Played for Linfield, Glentoran (treble-winning season), Sligo Rovers and Athlone Town.
- Moved to England with Nottingham Forest; later involved in promotion with Wolves.
- June: Joined Celtic after leaving Nottingham Forest.
- Second Celtic appearance: Scored a left-footed curler in the 82nd minute in a 3-0 SWPL win over Montrose.
Context for G3.Football readers
For followers of the SWPL and Northern Ireland internationals, Howe’s transfer is a typical example of a young player moving through several domestic systems (Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland), then England and Scotland, to find a club that aligns with her playing style and development needs. Celtic’s attacking philosophy offers her a platform to showcase skills that may carry weight in future international selections.
Final note
Howe described her move to Celtic as “pretty surreal” given her journey from Maguiresbridge. She has made an immediate impact with an early goal, and her progress at Celtic will be watched closely by supporters in Scotland and Northern Ireland.