Arguably England’s Player of the Tournament at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011, Jill Scott earned many plaudits in Germany for her performances from the centre of the park.
The tall midfielder, nicknamed ‘Crouchy’ by her team-mates, cut an imposing figure against all three Group B opponents; Mexico, New Zealand and Japan. She got the Three Lions back on level terms against the Kiwis with a well placed header and teed up
Jess Clarke to fire home the winner 18 minutes later. Jill was also instrumental in the 2-0 victory over Japan, earning the Player of the Match award for her all-round performance.
The Sunderland-born 24-year-old continued her own personal World Cup crusade by rifling home the opening goal against France in the quarter final, although England eventually lost on penalties.
Jill’s rapid rise to prominence began during the 2006-07 season, when she made her England debut aged 19, coming on as a substitute to help her country to a 4-0 win over Holland. At the 2007 World Cup in China she featured in all four matches, scoring her first international goal, against Argentina, and she was named as The FA Players’ Player of the Year the following season.
Jill’s form saw her included in the England squad for Euro 2009, where she notched the semi-final winner against the Dutch, dedicating the goal to her then one-year-old nephew Charlie by blowing kisses at the TV cameras.
At club level, Jill has won the 2008 FA Women’s Premier League Cup and the 2010 FA Women’s Cup with Everton.