Ruesha Littlejohn
 Playing for Ireland in November 2012 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ruesha Littlejohn | ||
| Date of birth | 3 July 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Glasgow City | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Clydebank Girls | |||
| Baillieston Girls | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2006–2007 | Arsenal North | ||
| 2007–2009 | Glasgow City | ||
| 2010 | Arsenal | 1 | (0) |
| 2010 | → Rangers (loan) | ||
| 2010–2011 | Glasgow City | ||
| 2011–2012 | Liverpool | 13 | (2) |
| 2011 | → Celtic (loan) | 2 | (1) |
| 2012– | Glasgow City | 26 | (14) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2007–2008 | Scotland U19[1] | 15 | (12) |
| 2012– | Ireland | 10 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 February 2014. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Ruesha Littlejohn (born 3 July 1990) is a football striker, currently playing for Glasgow City in the Scottish Women's Premier League. She has chosen to represent Republic of Ireland at senior international level despite having represented Scotland at junior level.
Club career
Glasgow–born Littlejohn played youth football with Clydebank and Baillieston girls before joining Arsenal North Ladies. She signed for Glasgow City in January 2007 and won four successive titles with the club. In January 2010 Littlejohn signed for English champions Arsenal and made an immediate debut in the Gunners' 2–1 home win over Chelsea.[2] Shortly afterwards Tony Gervaise, who had also been Littlejohn's coach in Scotland's youth national teams, stood down as Arsenal manager. With Littlejohn then out of favour she returned to Scotland on loan with Rangers, where she featured in the first women's match to be staged at Ibrox Stadium.[3]
Littlejohn then returned to Glasgow City. She hit seven goals in the final game of the season against Inverness, as City secured another Premier League title.[4]
Along with Megan Sneddon and Suzanne Lappin, Littlejohn signed for Liverpool Ladies ahead of the 2011 FA WSL season. The trio made their Liverpool bow in a friendly win over Hibernian Ladies.[5] On her competitive debut against Charlton Athletic in the FA Women's Cup, Littlejohn marked the occasion by scoring a hat-trick.[6] She also fired a last–minute goal as Liverpool held rivals Everton 3–3 in the opening match of the WSL campaign.[7] During the mid–season break Littlejohn and Lappin went back to Scotland, this time with Celtic, making their debuts against Rangers.[8]
In May 2012 the Football Association (FA) gave Littlejohn a six match ban and charged her £500 costs for comments made on Twitter.[9] During the 2012 FA WSL mid season break, Littlejohn returned to Glasgow City: "It is great to be back at City again. I know the club so well. I have been here since I turned 16 years old and City is like my home, as I always seem to come back here."[10]
International career
Littlejohn represented Scotland at Under–15 and Under–17 level. At the Under–19 age group, Littlejohn was part of the side which qualified for the 2008 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in France. She scored Scotland's goal in a 3–1 defeat to England at the final tournament group stage. According to the Scottish Football Association (SFA) website, Littlejohn scored 12 goals in her 15 appearances for Scotland's Under–19s.
In February 2012 Littlejohn received her first call–up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad, for the 2012 Algarve Cup.[11] She made her debut with the Irish national team against Hungary at the final game of the Algarve Cup on 7 March 2012. Ireland won 2–1 to avoid a last place finish.[12]
Personal life
Ruesha's twin sister Shebahn is a travel reporter on 102.5 Clyde 1 radio. The family has a Northern Irish background and grew up in Old Drumchapel. Shebahn competes at World Championship level in Irish dance.[13]
References
- ↑ "Ruesha Littlejohn – Women's U19 Squad". The Scottish FA. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ↑ "Ruesha Littlejohn". Arsenal.com. 6 February 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ↑ "Ladies Snatch Late Point". Rangers Football Club. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ↑ "Glasgow City finish with victory". Women's Soccer Scene. 8 November 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ↑ "Liverpool give Scots trio debuts". She Kicks. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
- ↑ Leighton, Tony (26 March 2011). "Lady in Red looks toward FA Women's Cup Final". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ↑ Hudson, Louise (15 April 2011). "FA WSL: A derby thriller on Merseyside". Sports Sister. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ↑ Gillian Campbell (24 May 2011). "Celtic women triumph in derby clash". Celtic FC. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
- ↑ "Littlejohn suspended for six games". TheFA.com. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ↑ "Glasgow City welcome the return of Ruesha Littlejohn". Glasgow City FC. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ↑ "Irish women depart for Algarve Cup in Portugal". Sports News Ireland. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ↑ "Ireland Women complete Algarve Cup with victory". Football Association of Ireland. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ↑ Fotheringham, Ann (1 March 2012). "WOMEN’S 10K: Countdown To The Big Run". Glasgow Evening Times. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
External links
- Ruesha Littlejohn at Glasgow City FC
- Ruesha Littlejohn at Liverpool LFC
- Ruesha Littlejohn at Celtic FC
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