Jody Handley

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Jody Handley

Handley (right) playing for Everton in November 2006
Personal information
Date of birth (1979-03-12) 12 March 1979
Place of birthStafford, England
Height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)[1]
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current clubEverton Ladies
Number7
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
Shrewsbury Ladies
1993–1995Wolves Women25(7)
1995–1996Liverpool Ladies
1997University of Detroit Mercy
1998–2000Liverpool Ladies
2000–2001Everton Ladies
2001–2004Doncaster Rovers Belles
2004–Everton Ladies
National team‡
2002–2010England38(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22:18, 2 October 2010 (UTC)

Jody Handley (born 12 March 1979) is an English footballer from Stafford. She is a pacy and experienced attacking player, and plays mainly as a wide midfielder for England Women, and as a striker for Everton Ladies. She has featured in four FA Women's Cup finals with three different clubs, losing the first three but captaining Everton Ladies to their win in 2010.

On the international stage Handley has won over 35 England caps since her debut in July 2002. She took part in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, and was a non-playing squad member at both UEFA Women's Euro 2005 and UEFA Women's Euro 2009.

Club career

Early career

Handley began her career at Shrewsbury Ladies before moving on to Wolves Women in the middle of season 1993–94. Making nine appearances, she scored five goals to help Wolves take the Northern Premier title. In her first season in the National Premier Division she made 16 appearances and scored two goals including the opener in Wolves first National Division win against Milwall Lionesses. The rest of Wolves' campaign did not go so well and they were eventually relegated after a further season.

Merseyside and Detroit

Handley remained in the top–flight, having signed for Liverpool Ladies in December 1995. She also made an appearance in the FA Women's Cup final in April 1996, which Liverpool lost on penalties to Croydon.[2]

In 1997 Handley played varsity soccer for the University of Detroit Mercy. She registered ten assists[3] and was named league Newcomer of the Year.[4]

After her scholarship in the USA Handley returned to Liverpool in March 1998. However, the Reds were kicked out of the 1997–98 FA Women's Cup when Handley played in a win over Millwall without international clearance.[5] In 2000 she left Liverpool for local rivals Everton[6] and was successfully converted from a midfielder to a striker.[7]

Doncaster Belles

She moved to Doncaster Belles for season 2001–02 and scored twice on her debut.[8] She went on to play in her second FA Women's Cup final, this time against Fulham. Despite getting on the score sheet Handley had to make do with another runners–up medal; as professional outfit Fulham secured a 2–1 win.[9]

Everton

Handley with the 2010 FA Women's Cup

Handley returned to Everton Ladies in the 2004–05 season and went on to score in the FA Cup semi-final win against Arsenal, however she was to be disappointed once again after a 1–0 loss to Charlton Athletic in the 2005 final.[10] In the 2007–08 season Handley was named Everton captain through the absence of Leanne Duffy. Handley then led Everton to their first silverware in over a decade with a 1–0 win against Arsenal in the Premier League Cup final,[11] where she was named Player of the Match.

Season 2008–09 seemed to be full of promise for Handley, but it got off to a bad start when she suffered a broken ankle during the Umbro pre-season tournament.[11] She recovered ahead of schedule and came on as a substitute in the 4–0 FA Cup win against Manchester City before travelling to Cyprus with England for a squad get together. In 2009–10 Handley captained Everton to their FA Women's Cup final win over Arsenal, setting up Natasha Dowie for the opening goal.[11]

International career

Handley first represented England as a 16-year-old[12] and played in the U-18 national team.[7] She also represented English Universities while a student.[13]

Good performances at club level led to further international recognition for Handley. She made her full debut against Nigeria in July 2002 and was named Player of the Match by Sky Sports.[14] In October 2003 she got her first goal for the senior England team in a 2–2 draw against Russia in Moscow.[12] She was on the score sheet in a 5–0 whitewash of Mexico in the 2005 Algarve Cup and was also involved in the World Cup qualifying campaign, bagging a goal in the record 13–0 win against Hungary en route to China 2007.[15] She played in the finals, coming on for the last ten minutes of England's third game against Argentina, a 6–1 win which guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals.[16]

In May 2009, Handley was one of the first 17 female players to be given central contracts by the Football Association.[17]

International goals

Scores and results list England's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Result Competition Scored
1 21 October 2003 Kryoia Soveto, Moscow  Russia 2–2 Friendly 1
2 17 February 2005 National Hockey Stadium, Milton Keynes  Italy 4–1 Friendly 1
3 13 March 2005 Estádio Fernando Cabrita, Lagos  Mexico 5–0 Algarve Cup 1
4 27 October 2005 Tapolca  Hungary 13–0 2007 FIFA World Cup Qual. 1
5 20 April 2006 Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham  Austria 4–0 2007 FIFA World Cup Qual. 1
6 22 July 2009 County Ground, Swindon  Denmark 1–0 Friendly 1

Personal life

Handley attended Sir Graham Balfour School[15] then studied health, diet and fitness at Liverpool University.[12] She was later employed as a health development worker in Knowsley.[12]

Honours

Club

Everton

Wolves

References

  1. ↑ "#17 Jodie Handley". The Sports Network. Retrieved 8 September 2009. 
  2. ↑ Sarah Forde (29 April 1996). "Croydon spot chance for first cup victory". The Times. 
  3. ↑ "2009 UDM Women's Soccer Yearbook". University of Detroit Mercy. Retrieved 3 October 2010. 
  4. ↑ "ALL-TIME LEAGUE TEAMS". Horizon League. 2005-12-15. Retrieved 3 October 2010. 
  5. ↑ "Red-faced Ladies are KO'd". Western Daily Press. 26 March 1998. 
  6. ↑ Colin Aldis. "Review of matches in England AXA FA Women's Premier League, National Division played September 10, 2000". Women's Soccer World. Retrieved 4 October 2010. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Tony Leighton (8 October 2000). "Arsenal lose 100 per cent record". BBC. Retrieved 4 October 2010. 
  8. ↑ Tony Leighton (19 August 2001). "Spacey reaches for stars". BBC. Retrieved 11 October 2010. 
  9. ↑ Tony Leighton (7 May 2005). "Fulham too professional for battling Belles". The Independent. Retrieved 3 October 2010. 
  10. ↑ Tony Leighton (9 December 2005). "Handley's old pals wish". TheFA.com. Retrieved 3 October 2010. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Contenders: Handley". TheFA.com. 28 December 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2010. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 "Jody's on target for England". Staffordshire Newsletter. 30 October 2003. Retrieved 4 October 2010. 
  13. ↑ "Gearing up for the BUGs". TheFA.com. 13 March 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2010. 
  14. ↑ "England women Fixtures and Results, 2004/05". Cresswell Wanderers FC. Retrieved 11 October 2010. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 James Benstead (16 August 2007). "World Cup call-up for Stafford girl". Staffordshire Newsletter. Retrieved 4 October 2010. 
  16. ↑ "England 6–1 Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 4 October 2010. 
  17. ↑ "England Women awarded contracts". BBC Sport. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009. 

External links

England squad – 2005 UEFA Women's European Championship
England
England squad – 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup
England
England squad – 2009 UEFA Women's European Championship
England
Everton L.F.C. – current squad
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