Steph Houghton

Stephanie Jayne Houghton MBE (/ˈhɔːtən/; born 23 April 1988) is an English footballer who both plays for and captains Manchester City and the England national team.[3] At club level, Houghton started at Sunderland in her native North East England before moving on to Leeds United in 2007 then Arsenal Ladies in 2010. She broke into the Sunderland team as a striker before moving back into midfield and later into defence.

Steph Houghton
MBE
Houghton in 2017
Personal information
Full name Stephanie Jayne Houghton[1]
Date of birth (1988-04-23) 23 April 1988[1]
Place of birth Durham, England[2]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.74 m)[1]
Playing position(s) Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Manchester City
Number 6
Youth career
Sunderland
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2007 Sunderland
2007–2010 Leeds United 45 (9)
2010–2013 Arsenal 74 (11)
2014– Manchester City 81 (10)
National team‡
2008 England U19 4 (0)
2010 England U23 3 (0)
2007– England 120 (13)
2012– Great Britain 4 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:40, 21 April 2019 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 March 2020

Since her debut in 2007, Houghton has played over 100 times for the England national team. She suffered serious injuries immediately before the 2007 World Cup and Euro 2009, but recovered to play in the 2011 World Cup and Euro 2013. She was made England captain in January 2014. At the 2012 London Olympics, Houghton scored three goals in Great Britain's four games, including winners against New Zealand and Brazil.

Houghton was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to football.[4]

Club career

Houghton began her career playing for five years at Sunderland.[5] She helped Sunderland to win promotion from the Northern Division in 2005–06 and then won the FA Young Player of the Year Award in 2006–07. After Sunderland were relegated that season, Houghton became a target for Arsenal and Everton.[6] She eventually joined Leeds United Ladies.[6] After helping Leeds win the 2010 FA Women's Premier League Cup, Houghton signed for Arsenal in August of that year.[7]

On 5 December 2013, it was announced that Houghton had signed an agreement to leave Arsenal for new WSL side Manchester City on 1 January 2014.[8] Houghton signed a two-year contract extension with Manchester City on 24 January 2020.[9]

International career

England
Houghton captaining England against Montenegro in April 2014

Houghton was involved with England at U16 schools, U19, U20, U21 and U23 level. She was called into the full squad for a match against Germany on 25 October 2006, when Katie Chapman withdrew with an illness. She was an unused substitute in the 5–1 defeat in Aalen.[10] She made her debut in the next match, replacing Emily Westwood after 73 minutes of a 6–0 win over Russia in Milton Keynes on 8 March 2007.[11] Her first start came three days later, in a 1–0 win over Scotland at Adams Park.[12] She missed the 2007 World Cup with a broken leg and Euro 2009 with a damaged cruciate ligament.[13]

In May 2009, Houghton was one of the first 17 female players to be given central contracts by The Football Association.[14] She played in all three games at UEFA Women's Euro 2013 as England finished in last place; she described the result as "a massive disappointment personally and collectively as a squad."[15] In January 2014 she was named the new captain for England's team under coach Mark Sampson, beginning on a 1–1 draw with Norway.[16]

For the 2015 World Cup in Canada, Houghton was again named England's team captain.[17] Houghton scored her first World Cup goal against Norway in the round of 16,[18] and was chosen Player of the Match during the quarterfinals with Canada, which qualified England for their first semi-finals ever.[19]

Houghton earned her 100th England Cap on 11 November 2018 against Sweden at New York Stadium in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.[20][21] In May 2019 it was announced that Houghton had been selected for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.[22] She scored a goal in the Round of 16 match against Cameroon.[23]

Team GB

Houghton was called up to the first Great Britain women's side for the 2012 Summer Olympics as a defender. She became the team's record goalscorer from the left–back position, scoring in all three group games to help Great Britain to win the group with a 100% record, as well as making important challenges to help ensure the side progressed without conceding a goal. Houghton was also named left back of the tournament due to her outstanding performance during the games.[24]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 27 February 2019
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sunderland 2002–03 FA WPL Northern —
2003–04 —
2004–05 —
2005–06 FA WPL National —
2006–07 —
Total—
Leeds United
('Leeds Carnegie' from 2008)		 2007–08 FA WPL National —
2008–09 —
2009–10 —
Total—
Arsenal 2011 FA WSL
2012
2013
Total
Manchester City 2014 FA WSL 1302071—221
2015 1121061—183
2016 152304020242
2017 50410030121
2017–18 152107081313
2018–19 163216000244
Total75913230213113114
Career total

International goals
For England
Scores and results list England's goal tally first.
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.5 March 2009GSZ Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus South Africa4–06–02009 Cyprus Cup
2.22 September 2011County Ground, Swindon, England Slovenia3–04–0Euro 2013 qualifying
3.31 March 2012Sajmište, Vrbovec, Croatia Croatia5–06–0
4.6–0
5.20 October 2012Stade Sébastien Charléty, Paris, France France1–02–2Friendly
6.6 March 2013GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus Italy2–24–22013 Cyprus Cup
7.14 June 2014Traktar Stadium, Minsk, Belarus Belarus2–03–02015 World Cup qualifying
8.22 June 2015Lansdowne Stadium, Ottawa, Canada Norway1–12–12015 World Cup
9.25 October 2016Estadio Pedro Escartín, Guadalajara, Spain Spain2–02–1Friendly
10.24 November 2017Bescot Stadium, Walsall, England Bosnia and Herzegovina1–04–02019 World Cup qualifying
11.3–0
12.2 March 2019Nissan Stadium, Nashville, United States United States1–12–22019 SheBelieves Cup
13.23 June 2019Stade du Hainaut, Valenciennes, France Cameroon1–03–02019 World Cup
For Great Britain
Scores and results list Great Britain's goal tally first.
#DateVenueOpponentResultCompetition
125 July 2012Millennium Stadium, Cardiff New Zealand1–02012 Olympic Games
228 July 2012Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Cameroon3–02012 Olympic Games
331 July 2012Wembley Stadium, London Brazil1–02012 Olympic Games

Honours
Houghton (right) with Ellen White and the FA WSL trophy

Leeds United

Arsenal[25]

Manchester City[25]

England

In October 2014, Houghton was the first female player to appear on the cover of Shoot magazine.[31]

Personal life

Houghton is married to former Bolton Wanderers defender Stephen Darby.[32] They married on 21 June 2018.[33] On 18 September 2018, Darby announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 29 after being diagnosed with motor neuron disease.[32]

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See also
  • List of women's footballers with 100 or more caps

References
  1. "FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015: List of players: England" (PDF). FIFA. 6 July 2015. p. 10. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  2. Alan Hubbard (22 May 2011). "Houghton is football's Jill of all trades". The Independent. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  3. "Stephanie Houghton". The FA. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  4. "No. 61450". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2015. p. N20.
  5. "Steph Houghton: England star, role model, leader". BBC Sport. 5 June 2015.
  6. "Young star Steph joins Leeds". 30 July 2007.
  7. "Houghton and Nobbs join Arsenal". UEFA. 1 August 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  8. "Steph Houghton signs for City". ManCity.com. 5 December 2013. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  9. "Steph Houghton: Manchester City and England captain extends contract to 2022". BBC Sport. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  10. "Germany Women 5–1 England Women". BBC. 25 October 2006. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  11. "England Women 6–0 Russia Women". BBC. 8 March 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  12. "England Women 1–0 Scotland Women". BBC. 11 March 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  13. Leighton, Tony (14 May 2009). "Steph Houghton rejoins England squad after two years of injury agony". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  14. "England Women awarded contracts". BBC Sport. 10 January 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  15. Moore, Leigh (29 August 2013). "Houghton's Euro pain eased by Arsenal form". BT Sport. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  16. Wilson, Scott (19 January 2014). "North-Easterner Houghton expresses pride at captaining England". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  17. Lavery, Glenn (11 May 2015). "England squad named for FIFA Women's World Cup". The Football Association. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  18. "England comeback sinks former champs". FIFA. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  19. "ENGLAND 2–1 CANADA". FIFA. 27 June 2015.
  20. Garry, Tom (11 November 2018). "England Women 0-2 Sweden Women: Lionesses lose in skipper Steph Houghton's 100th cap". BBC Sport.
  21. Taylor, Louise (10 November 2018). "Stage set for England to honour 'humble, brilliant' Steph Houghton". The Guardian.
  22. Sport, Telegraph (23 May 2019). "England Women's World Cup 2019 squad: Team updates, fixtures, injury news and more". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  23. "England beat Cameroon to reach quarter-finals amid VAR drama". Guardian. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  24. "Triple goal scorer Steph Houghton 'bends like Beckham'". BBC Sport. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  25. "S. Houghton". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  26. Leighton, Tony (12 March 2009). "England women win Cyprus Cup". The Guardian.
  27. Leighton, Tony (13 March 2013). "Rachel Yankey volley earns England women their second Cyprus Cup title". The Guardian.
  28. Lavery, Glenn (11 March 2015). "England 1-0 Canada: Cyprus Cup final match report". The Football Association.
  29. "Match for third place - Match report" (PDF). FIFA. 4 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  30. "England record statement win over Japan to clinch prestigious SheBelieves Cup". The Football Association. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  31. Glenda Cooper (9 July 2015). "Steph Houghton: 'I'm still getting used to being recognised in Topshop'". The Daily Telegraph.
  32. "Stephen Darby: Motor neurone disease diagnosis forces Bolton full-back to retire". BBC Sport. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  33. "Disease forces Stephen Darby to quit football at 29". Metro Newspaper UK. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
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