Thanks for speaking with us, Holly! When Hamilton was in the starting eleven, what differences did you notice within Nottingham Forest’s defensive structure or organisation?
When she played at right back, it was usually in a straight four — and I would say this was her best position when in a deeper defensive role.
She offered a sturdy, solid force on the right hand side and would always stick to the task and rarely stray from it despite having the versatility to also play as a winger.
You knew what you were getting with Caragh at the back: strength, reliability, and “body on the line”.
Did she bring anything specific to the back line that other defenders didn’t — whether that was communication, positioning or composure?
She would bring real composure.
Her body positioning was excellent and could hold a ball
up exceptionally well. She reminded me of Lucy Bronze at times — incredibly strong and robust, and very attack-minded too.
She could also hug a touchline and bomb on into space.
How did she handle high‑pressure moments or difficult spells in matches?
She’s a model professional in every sense; the kind of player you’d want fighting for you in the trenches. She would handle pressure easily and was clearly someone the younger players looked up to.
She never panics.
From your perspective, what kind of defender is she? Proactive, positional, physical, vocal?
I would describe her first and foremost as your “no nonsense” defender — strong in the tackle and who always gives 100% in her duels.
Simple and sensible but dynamic enough to step in early and reset the team.
What stands out most about her game when you watch her live, how comfortable is she on the ball, and how did she contribute to Forest’s build‑up play?
She’s calm, she reads the game exceptionally well and always has a “let’s go again”-type attitude.
She’s also very comfortable on the ball due to her robust, athletic physique — and she has an explosive streak when played in a higher-lying position.
Hamilton can be very effective as a right winger, neatly linking up with attacking midfielders, and she’s been known to make the odd explosive run into the box herself.
What would you say are her biggest strengths as a player?
Physicality and strength, one-on-one defending, timing and a competitive mentality.
Were there any areas in which you felt she was still developing or adjusting to the league?
The only area was probably her pace as she got caught out on occasion by young, speedy players.
If you were describing Hamilton to a Sunderland fan who’s never seen her play, what would you say — and what do you think she’ll offer Sunderland that they might currently be missing?
She’s a proper “defender’s defender” — reliable, trustworthy and no-nonsense. She’s also an incredibly warm and genuine character, and Sunderland fans will fall in love with her.
She’ll also offer experience, leadership and composure.
How did you feel when the loan move was announced?
We were all absolutely shocked and gutted to see her go.
It actually makes no sense to the fanbase as she’d only just had a “player of the match” performance against Sheffield United. She’ll be hugely missed — not just as a player but as a key character in our squad. Caragh is irreplaceable.
