Stef Curtis

Stefanie Leanne Curtis (born 5 December 1983 in Bristol, United Kingdom)[2] is a former international women's association footballer who played for Bristol Rovers Women (later renamed Bristol Academy, and now known as Bristol City), Chelsea Ladies and Birmingham City Ladies. She was also a senior Republic of Ireland international. Curtis, a prolific goalscorer, played mainly as a forward, but also spent time playing as a midfielder.

Stef Curtis
Personal information
Full name Stefanie Leanne Curtis[1]
Date of birth (1983-12-05) 5 December 1983
Place of birth Bristol, England
Playing position(s) Midfielder/Forward
Youth career
South Bristol Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2009 Bristol Academy
2009–2010 Chelsea Ladies
2011 Birmingham City Ladies 4 (0)
2012 Bristol Academy 0 (0)
National team
2003–2009 Republic of Ireland
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Curtis began her footballing career playing for South Bristol Wanderers as a teenager before joining Bristol Rovers Women in 1999.[3][4] The club (which is now known as Bristol City W.F.C. and not to be confused with an entirely new Bristol Rovers W.F.C. which has been founded since then) was still in its infancy at this point, having been launched just a year earlier, and was playing in the South West Combination Women's Football League.[5]

She quickly established herself as a prolific goalscorer and by 2004, still aged only 19, had established herself as one of the top scorers in English women's football.[4] As well as a talent for finding the back of the net Curtis showed remarkable adaptability, moving into midfield later in her career and providing cover in other positions, even playing as an emergency goalkeeper on one occasion.[6]

Bristol Rovers Women had changed their name to Bristol Academy in 2005 due to the Bristol Rovers men's club no longer being able to cover their running costs and the Bristol Academy of Sport stepping in to fund them,[7] but financial problems were never far away and by the summer of 2009 the need to cut costs led to the departure of Manager Gary Green and several leading players. Corinne Yorston left for Arsenal, Gwennan Harries for Everton, and Curtis for Chelsea after having spent a decade at her home town club.[8]

She made an immediate impact with her new team, even scoring a hat-trick against her former club in Chelsea's fourth game of the season.[9] In December 2010, after spending a year with the Blues, Curtis was named as a member of Birmingham City's squad for the brand new FA WSL, which replaced the Women's Premier League as the top level of Women's football in England in 2011.[10] After a campaign disrupted by injury, during which she made just four league appearances, her return to Bristol Academy was announced in March 2012,[11] however she failed to make any further appearances after returning to Bristol.[12]

International career

Curtis played international football for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team.[13] In October 2009 she suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury during a 2011 Women's World Cup qualifier in Kazakhstan.[14]

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References
  1. "RCD Espanyol 6–1 Bristol Academy WFC". International Women's Cup. 17 May 2008. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  2. "England & Wales births 1837-2006 Transcription". General Register Office for England and Wales. Retrieved 16 April 2016 – via Findmypast.
  3. "Stephanie Curtis". Bristol Academy Women's Football Club. Retrieved 20 November 2008.
  4. "Gas Girls Head For The Algarve". Bristol Rovers Football Club. 17 November 2004. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  5. "'We're just out there to enjoy it' - Bristol Rovers Women's FC look forward to their first football game". ITV News. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  6. Tony Leighton (13 December 2007). "Arsenal grab late win at Bristol". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  7. "In the Visitors Corner Bristol Academy WFC", Bristol City WFC matchday programme (vs Bristol Academy, FA Women's Cup), 2006–07: 13, 27 January 2007
  8. "Green loses Bristol Academy job amid funding worries". Bristol Evening Post. 8 July 2009. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  9. "Watford triumph to move joint top". BBC Sport. 15 October 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  10. "Exciting Blues news!". She Kicks. 20 December 2010. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  11. "Vixens' signing spree increases their firepower for the big kick-off". Bristol Evening Post. 8 March 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  12. "FA WSL player stats". The Football Association. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  13. "Republic of Ireland: Women – Squad Profile". Football Association of Ireland. 21 March 2006. Archived from the original on 5 October 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  14. "Senior Women Player Profiles". Football Association of Ireland. 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
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