Lucy Staniforth
 Staniforth in September 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lucy Elizabeth Staniforth | ||
| Date of birth | 2 October 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | York, England | ||
| Playing position | Attacking Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Liverpool | ||
| Number | 37 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2007 | Blyth Town Ladies | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2007–2010 | Sunderland | ||
| 2010–2012 | Notts County | 27 | (9) |
| 2012–2014 | Bristol Academy | 3 | (1) |
| 2014– | Liverpool | 0 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 2008–2009 | England U17s | 8 | (1) |
| 2009–2010 | England U19s | 12 | (2) |
| 2010 | England U20s | 2 | (0) |
| 2012– | England U23s | 6 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 February 2014. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Lucy Elizabeth Staniforth (born 2 October 1992) is an English female footballer. A centre attacking midfielder, she currently plays her club football for Liverpool and internationally for England under-23s. She has been described as 'one of the best young players in Europe'.[1]
Club career
Whilst only 16, Staniforth began playing for the Sunderland Women first-team. In her first season in senior football, Lucy was instrumental in helping Sunderland win the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division and reach the 2009 FA Women's Cup final, where they were narrowly beaten by Arsenal. The following season, Staniforth figured prominently as a key player in Sunderland's success as they finished fifth in their first season back at the top level.
Upon Sunderland's failed bid to join the FA WSL in 2010, Staniforth joined successful applicant, Lincoln Ladies. Lucy would start in every game in her first season at the club, as well as netting three times for the club. The most notable of her goals in her first season in the Women's Super League came in the away fixture at Doncaster Belles. Staniforth helped her side reach fourth place in the league, superseding all expectations.
In the 2012 FA WSL, Lucy bettered her goalscoring tally substantially, scoring on a further 6 occasions. In the two ultimate games of the season, Staniforth scored the winner for her side. She scored an extravagant lob from 35 yards against Everton Ladies, and scored the winner against Chelsea Ladies, lifting the side to fifth in the table.
In December 2012, it was announced that Staniforth would be joining Bristol Academy, against whom she had scored twice in the preceding 2012 FA WSL season.[2] Staniforth scored her first goal for the club in the home fixture against Doncaster Rovers Belles, with a 22-yard drive. In her first season at the Stoke Gifford Stadium, Staniforth reached the second FA Women's Cup Final of her career. Unfortunately during the match she suffered a serious knee injury and was stretchered off. After only a short time at the club, Staniforth subsequently spent the remainder of the season sidelined, with plans to return in time for the 2014 season. Bristol ended the season runners-up, losing 2–0 on the final day of the season to Liverpool.
In February 2014, Staniforth joined reigning FA WSL champions, Liverpool L.F.C., for a reported five-figure fee.[3][4][5] Staniforth sustained an injury during preseason, this time to the anterior cruciate ligament in her other leg, which put her out of action for the entirety of the 2014 season.[6] Despite not seeing any playing time because of injury, Staniforth's Liverpool went on to win the FA WSL title for the second consecutive year.
International career
Staniforth featured for England in their fourth-place finish at the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand, scoring an excellent goal against Japan in the quarter final.
In July 2009 Lucy also took part in the 2009 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in Belarus, where England returned victorious. In her time with the U-19s, Lucy scored twice. In 2010 Staniforth helped England reach the final of the 2010 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in Macedonia, where they lost their title to France. Later that summer Lucy featured twice in England's games at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Germany.
Lucy has since joined the ranks of the U-23s, making her debut against Norway in February 2012. Staniforth scored an impressive 25-yard drive in the first game of the Under-23 Four Nations La Manga Tournament, helping her team see off Sweden 2–0.
Personal life
Staniforth comes from a footballing family, where both her father and brother were professionals. Gordon Staniforth, her father, played for York City and Hull City, his hometown club, as well as a host of other clubs. Her brother, Tom, also played for Sheffield Wednesday but died at the age of 20. Throughout her career Lucy has worn the number 37 — Tom's old Sheffield Wednesday squad number. After hitting the first goal in Lincoln's 3–0 WSL win at Doncaster Rovers Belles, Lucy revealed a T-shirt paying tribute to Tom on the tenth anniversary of his death.[7][8]
Honours
Club
References
- ↑ "Bristol Academy: Manager Mark Sampson sees squad ambition". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
- ↑ http://www.bristolacademywfc.co.uk/news/staniforth_is_a_vixen.html
- ↑ Daily Press, Western. "Academy boss landed job in Skype interview". Retrieved 21 February 2014.
- ↑ Staff, FA. "England U23 midfielder Lucy Staniforth joins Liverpool". Retrieved 5 February 2014.
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26045774
- ↑ http://www.liverpoolladiesfc.com/news/staniforth_suffers_injury_setback.html. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/9056934.Footballer_Lucy_Staniforth_pays_tribute_to_late_brother__Tom_Staniforth/
- ↑ http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Lucy-Staniforth-leads-way-Lincoln-Ladies/story-13162565-detail/story.html
External links
Lucy Staniforth – FIFA competition record
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