Natasha Harding

Natasha Marie Harding (born 2 March 1989) is a footballer who plays for the Welsh national women's team and FA WSL club Reading A wide or central forward, Harding began her career with Cardiff City and has also played in the FA WSL for Bristol Academy and Manchester City.Her high school was Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni

Natasha Harding
Harding in 2015
Personal information
Full name Natasha Marie Harding
Date of birth (1989-03-02) 2 March 1989
Place of birth Caerphilly, Wales
Playing position(s) Forward, Fullback
Club information
Current team
 Reading
Number 11
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2012 Cardiff City
2012–2014 Bristol Academy 39 (8)
2015 Manchester City 10 (1)
2016–2017 Liverpool Ladies 29 (11)
2017– Reading 30 (0)
National team‡
2008– Wales[1] 79 (12)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 May 2018 (UTC+1)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22 May 2018

Club career

Harding began her career at Cardiff City and made her first–team debut in January 2007, during a 4–0 Welsh Women's Cup quarter final win over Newport Strikers. Harding came on as a second-half substitute for Gwennan Harries.[2] She subsequently represented the club in the 2007–08 UEFA Women's Cup.[3]

She went on to captain Cardiff City,[4] then joined Bristol Academy ahead of the 2012 FA WSL campaign. Bristol manager Mark Sampson said of Harding: "Tash will really bring another dimension to our forward play, a striker who can play off the shoulder and with great speed was something we were missing last season so it will give us far more variation to our play going forward."[5] At the end of the 2014 season Harding signed for the Washington Spirit,[6] but her move fell through over visa issues and she signed instead for Manchester City.[7]

In January 2016 Harding was sold by Manchester City, who had signed Swedish forward Kosovare Asllani.[8] Later that week she signed for Liverpool.[9]

International career

Harding played five times for the Wales Under–19 team in season 2007–08.[1] She made her senior international debut, aged 19, as a late substitute in a 2–0 defeat to Switzerland in Oberdorf on 8 May 2008.[10]

Harding scored her first goals for Wales on 20 June 2012 in a UEFA Qualifying match against Israel at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham. She scored a hat-trick in a 5–0 win, to cap a fine evening both personally and for her country.[11]

As a student at UWIC, Harding was called–up to represent Great Britain at the 2011 World University Games in Shenzhen, China.[12]

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References
  1. "International Teams — Natasha Harding". Football Association of Wales. Archived from the original on 21 March 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  2. "Strikers no match for defending champions". South Wales Echo. 14 February 2007. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  3. "Natasha Harding". UEFA. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  4. "Harding 'ecstatic' with Cardiff City Ladies promotion". BBC Sport. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  5. "Vixens announce new signings". Bristol Academy WFC. 7 March 2012. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  6. "Natasha Harding leaves Bristol Academy for Washington Spirit". BBC. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  7. "Natasha Harding: Manchester City Women sign Wales forward". BBC. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  8. "Natasha Harding: Wales striker leaves Manchester City Women". BBC Sport. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  9. "Natasha Harding: Liverpool Ladies sign ex-Man City winger". BBC Sport. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  10. "Battling Wales edged out by Swiss". Women's Soccer Scene. 9 May 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  11. "Wales 5–0 Israel". Football Association of Wales. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  12. "Harding among best of British off to China; FOOTBALL". South Wales Echo. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
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