Team GB Women's Squad

• Wednesday, 13 June 2012
 

The 18 players representing Team GB Women's at London 2012

Goalkeepers

KAREN BARDSLEY
Age: 27
Club: Linkoping
International Caps: 22 (England)
Profile: Although born and raised in California, Karen played for England’s U19s and U21s before making her first senior appearance in the 2005 Algarve Cup against Northern Ireland. She staked her claim for the No.1 jersey and started all four matches at the 2011 World Cup. She made important stops against New Zealand and saved a spot-kick in the quarter final against the French.

RACHEL BROWN
Age: 31
Club: Everton
International Caps: 78 (England)
Profile: A composed presence as the last line of England’s defence, Rachel has grown in stature and experience. She made her senior debut against Germany in 1997 and has now passed the 70-cap mark. In 2007 she was selected to be part of the FIFA All-Star team that played an exhibition match against World Cup hosts China. She played in the Euro 2009 Final against Germany.

Defenders

SOPHIE BRADLEY
Age: 22
Club: Lincoln
International Caps: 15 (England)
Profile: A former England U19 captain, Sophie made her senior debut in the 4-0 win over Austria in 2010. The talented defender has since put in a number of impressive performances at the heart of the England backline, notably against Sweden and eventual World Cup winners Japan, the match in which she made her first World Cup start. She had been a substitute against Mexico.

IFEOMA DIEKE
Age: 31
Club: Vittsjo GIK
International Caps: 90 (Scotland)
Profile: Ifeoma was born in Massachusetts to Nigerian parents but moved to Cumbernauld in Scotland when she was three years old. She has played football in the US for Atlanta Beat, Chicago Red Stars and Boston Breakers, and linked up with Swedish side Vittsjo this year. She made her debut for Scotland against Greece in 2004 and now has a century of caps in her sights.

STEPHANIE HOUGHTON
Age: 24
Club: Arsenal
International Caps: 27 (England)
Profile: A composed and versatile player, Stephanie made great strides with Sunderland in her younger years and that has now seen her recognised at international level. After making it into the senior squad that travelled to Germany in 2006, she followed it up with a stirring display for the U21s against France. She made her full debut for England against Scotland in 2007.

CLAIRE RAFFERTY
Age: 23
Club: Chelsea
International Caps: 6 (England)
Profile: After earning seven caps for England’s U19s and playing in the U20 World Cup in 2008, Claire made her senior bow against Austria in 2010. The energetic, tough-tackling left-back collected her second cap in Malta, starting in England’s 6-0 win. She has been involved in numerous senior squads since then and made her World Cup Finals debut in the 2011 quarter final with France.

ALEX SCOTT
Age: 27
Club: Arsenal
International Caps: 90 (England)
Profile: A tireless defender with good concentration, Alex has become a mainstay at the back for England with some excellent displays. She is most at home at right-back but has appeared in midfield and even in attack. She started her club career at Arsenal and switched to Birmingham in 2004, the year in which she made her England senior debut against Holland in Heerhugowaard.

CASEY STONEY
Age: 30
Club: Lincoln
International Caps: 103 (England)
Profile: Against France in the 2012 Cyprus Cup, Casey became the fifth player to reach 100 caps for the England women’s team. The defender has been a fixture in Hope Powell’s set-up for over a decade, having first appeared against France in 2000, and has deservedly risen to captain. She was part of the England squad that qualified for the 2007 World Cup, England’s first for 12 years.

Midfielders

ANITA ASANTE
Age: 27
Club: Gothenburg
International Caps: 55 (England)
Profile: A confident and assured player, Anita has shown on many occasions how cool she can be on the biggest stages. Having come through the youth ranks and been part of the U19 squad for the inaugural World Championship, she made her senior debut against Iceland in 2004. She started three matches at the 2007 World Cup in China and featured in the Euro 2009 Final.

KAREN CARNEY
Age: 24
Club: Birmingham City
International Caps: 75 (England)
Profile: Karen, a winger with pace and an eye for goal, was playing for Birmingham City’s first team at just 14. She joined Arsenal in 2006 and played a major part in a team that won four trophies in her first season. She made her England senior debut at 17 and became a star during the Euro 2005 Finals, notching a last-minute winner before 29,000 fans at the opening match with Finland.

KIM LITTLE
Age: 21
Club: Arsenal
International Caps: 70 (Scotland)
Profile: Kim was born in Aberdeen and joined Arsenal from Hibernian in 2008. She scored the opening goal and was voted Player of the Match at the 2011 FA Women’s Cup Final in which the Gunners beat Bristol Academy 2-0. She made her Scotland debut in 2007 and has now clocked up 23 goals in her 70 internationals. She scored a hat-trick in an 8-0 win against Israel last month.

JILL SCOTT
Age: 25
Club: Everton
International Caps: 58 (England)
Profile: Arguably England’s Player of the Tournament at last year’s World Cup, Jill earned many plaudits in Germany for her performances in midfield. She made her England debut aged 19, and at the China World Cup she featured in all four matches and scored against Argentina. Jill’s good form saw her included in the squad for Euro 2009, where she notched the semi-final winner.

FARA WILLIAMS
Age: 28
Club: Everton
International Caps: 105 (England)
Profile: One of the finest midfielders in the women’s game, Fara started playing football aged just seven and was a Chelsea first-teamer at 17, the same age at which she made her England senior debut in Portugal. Having been in the set-up for over a decade, she joined an illustrious list of players earning their 100th cap at the 2012 Cyprus Cup, scoring the winner against Switzerland.

RACHEL YANKEY
Age: 32
Club: Arsenal
International Caps: 119 (England)
Profile: Rachel became only the second player to reach 100 caps for England’s women and has now drawn level with Gillian Coultard. The skilful winger missed out on the squad for Euro 2009 but roared back to form in World Cup qualifying, celebrating her century with a goal and the captain’s armband as Turkey were beaten 3-0 at Walsall. She also scored against Japan in the Finals.

Forwards

ENIOLA ALUKO
Age: 25Club: Birmingham CityInternational Caps: 61 (England)Profile: Eniola was named Young Player of the Year at the 2003 FA Awards and has gone on to fulfil that early promise. She played for England’s U19s and U21s before making her senior debut against Holland in 2004 when she was still only 17. She famously played at Euro 2005 while taking her A-levels and her three goals at Euro 2009 included a fantastic solo effort against the Finns.

KELLY SMITH
Age: 33
Club: Arsenal
International Caps: 111 (England)
Profile: When Kelly netted against the Swiss in a 2011 World Cup play-off, she surpassed Karen Walker’s tally of 40 to become England’s all-time leading scorer. Kelly, who has earned praise from around the world for her performances, made her England debut as a Wembley Ladies player in 1995 and was the first English player to feature in America’s professional league. She had an exceptional World Cup in China.

RACHEL WILLIAMS
Age: 24
Club: Birmingham City
International Caps: 11 (England)
Profile: The former Doncaster Rovers Belle made her England debut against Iceland in 2009 and impressive form for new club Birmingham earned her a deserved recall into Hope Powell’s senior squad. Previously comfortable in midfield, she was pushed further forward by Blues boss David Parker and ended up being the top goal-scorer in the inaugural FA WSL season.

ELLEN WHITE
Age: 23
Club: Arsenal
International Caps: 29 (England)
Profile: Ellen made a name for herself during the World Cup qualifiers and then subsequently in the 2011 Finals. She scored on her debut against Austria and managed a wonderful lob against eventual world champions Japan in Augsburg. She joined Arsenal from Leeds Carnegie, where she won The Premier League Cup, and her goals helped to fire the Gunners to a domestic treble.