Jo Fletcher

Jo Fletcher
Personal information
Full nameJosephine Julia Fletcher[1]
Date of birth31 December 1980
Place of birthChester, England
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Youth career
Tranmere Rovers Ladies
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1997–1998Everton Ladies
1998–1999Liverpool Ladies
1999–2000Kentucky Wildcats
2001–2002Oregon State Beavers39(0)
2002–2003Tranmere Rovers Ladies22(1)
2003–2004Doncaster Rovers Belles
2004–2006Birmingham City Ladies
2006–2007Charlton Athletic Ladies
2009Lincoln Ladies1(0)
National team‡
2005England9(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11:13, 15 September 2009 (UTC)

Josephine Julia "Jo" Fletcher (born 31 December 1980) is an English female football goalkeeper. She played at full international level for England. She hails from the Wirral.[2]

Club career

Fletcher joined Tranmere Rovers Ladies as an under–18 player.[2] In summer 1998 she left FA Women's Premier League champions Everton for local rivals Liverpool.

Fletcher spent the US 2001 and 2002 seasons playing for Oregon State in the Pac-10 league, playing 39 times[3] In January 2003 she was selected as available to be drafted at the 2003 Women's United Soccer Association player draft.[4]

On returning to England, she re-joined Tranmere Rovers Ladies,[5] where she was coached by Tranmere Rovers' keeper John Achterberg.[6] She moved on to Doncaster Rovers Belles,[7] leaving them to join Birmingham City in June 2004.[8] She left City on joining the Army in 2005, but returned after initial training in October 2005.[9]

In the 2006 close season, Fletcher joined Charlton Athletic Ladies.[10]

But she later made a single appearance for OOH Lincoln Ladies in October 2009, deputising for Kay Hawke who was suspended.[11]

International career

Fletcher played at junior level for England[3] and made her senior debut in February 2005, against Italy.[12] She played eight further games for England, the last being against Denmark in June the same year, having been included in the Euro 2005 Squad.[13] She played in place of the injured Rachel Brown at the start of the tournament, but was replaced by Brown on her return from injury.[14] Her international career effectively ended when she joined an Army Officer Training Scheme,[9] although she was later selected for a training squad.[15]

Personal life

Fletcher, a Sheffield Wednesday fan,[2] majored in Biology at Oregon State University, having transferred from the University of Kentucky,[16] both times on football scholarships[3] She returned to the UK after graduating and briefly worked for a pharmaceutical company before joining the Royal Military Academy where she marched in Prince Harry's commissioning parade.[3] In 2005 she graduated with an MSc in Exercise Science and Nutrition from the University of Chester.[17] Her mentor while at Chester was Wendy Owen who had played in England's first national women's football team.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "International Alumni Newsletter". Oregon State University. Fall 2005. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Jo has sights on Euro glory". Wirral News. 1 June 2005. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Where are they now? – Jo Fletcher". OSU Beavers. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  4. ↑ "Fletcher One of Roughly 80 Players Eligible For WUSA draft". PAC-10. 29 January 2003. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  5. ↑ "Preview:Bristol City Ladies v Blues Ladies". Birmingham City. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  6. ↑ "John Achterberg – Academy for keepers". Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  7. ↑ "Jodie to follow the Oregon trail". Women's Football News Archive. 20 May 2004. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  8. ↑ "England star Amanda joins the Blues". Women's Football News Archive. 17 June 2004. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Fletcher's Blues lift". Sports Argus. 2005-10-2005. Retrieved 15 September 2009. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ↑ "Charlton come unstuck against Toffees". Charlton Athletic F.C. 20 August 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  11. ↑ "Rod left frustrated after Lady Imps draw". Lincolnshire Echo. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  12. ↑ "England turn on style to crush Italy". Women's Football News Archive. 18 February 2005. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  13. ↑ "England squad guide". BBC Sport. 3 June 2005. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  14. ↑ Chris Blackhurst (10 June 2005). "Jo is axed!". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  15. ↑ "Hope whisks her girls away to train in Spain!". Give Me Football. 4 January 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  16. ↑ "Women's Soccer Hosts L.A. Schools". OSU Beavers. 24 October 2001. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  17. ↑ "Alumni Stories". University of Chester Alumni Association. Retrieved 15 September 2009.