Redmond, who began her playing career for the Post Office as a teenager before spending 10 years as a player and head coach in the United States, says the opportunity for women to be paid in a massive step forward.
“Next year is very exciting with professionalism and the opportunity for women to get paid,” she said.
“It is the best way to find the next Rachel Furness, Marissa Callaghan or Julie Nelson.”
She travelled to the University of Southern Mississippi on a scholarship at 18 before spending six years at the College as head soccer coach, where she was the youngest manager in the Division at just 24.
She returned to Northern Ireland and joined Glentoran, swayed by Cheryl Lamont and the late Maura Muldoon, and went on to win 16 honours with the east Belfast club before her retirement in 2016 – despite an achilles injury which threatened her career in 2010.
The midfielder also played “around 25 times” for Northern Ireland, captained her country and scored two international goals.
She jokes the lack of accurate record keeping around her time as an international highlights how far the game has progressed.