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Leah Williamson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused withLeah Williams.

Leah Williamson
OBE
Williamson with England in 2022
Personal information
Full name Leah Cathrine Williamson[1]
Date of birth (1997-03-29)29 March 1997(age 27)[2]
Place of birth Milton Keynes,England
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder,centre back
Team information
Current team
 Arsenal
Number 6
Youth career
2003–2006 Rushden & Diamonds
2006–2013 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014– Arsenal 145 (8)
International career‡
2010–2011 England U15 1 (0)
2012–2013 England U17 16 (2)
2014–2016 England U19 15 (6)
2014 England U20 3 (0)
2014–2018 England U23 6 (0)
2018– England 48 (4)
2021– Great Britain 3 (0)
Medal record
Women'sfootball
RepresentingEngland
UEFA Women's Championship
Winner 2022 England
UEFA–CONMEBOL Finalissima
Winner 2023 England
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 July 2024

Leah Cathrine WilliamsonOBE(born 29 March 1997) is an English professionalfootballerwho plays forWomen's Super LeagueclubArsenalandcaptainstheEngland women's national team.A versatile player, she plays incentral defenceor themidfield.She has spent her entire senior domestic career at Arsenal. She also representedGreat Britain at the Olympicsin 2021. Williamson captained England to their firstUEFA European Championshipvictory, and the women's team's first international title, in2022,for which she was named in theTeam of the Tournament.

After being part of Arsenal's youth programme from the age of nine, Williamson debuted for the senior team as a teenager at the end of their 2014 Champions League campaign; she started for them inthe League Cup finalthat year, in which she had individual success.[3]With Arsenal, Williamson has won the League once and the FA Cup and League Cup twice each. She has captained Arsenal on various occasions and reached 200 appearances for them in December 2022.[4]

Williamson represented England for all their age-group teams before making her senior debut in 2018, for2019 FIFA World Cup qualifying.She was used sparsely in her first years with England, then became a regular under managerSarina Wiegman,who also made her permanent captain in 2022.[5][6]

Early life

[edit]

Leah Cathrine Williamson was born on 29 March 1997 inMilton Keynesto David Williamson and his wife, Amanda (Baker) Williamson[7]and grew up inNewport Pagnellon the northern edge of theurban area,attending Portfields School for primary education andOusedale Schoolfor secondary.[8]She comes from a divided footballing family, with her brother and father fans of North London teamTottenham Hotspur,while she, her mother and grandmother are lifelong fans ofArsenal F.C.(Spurs' main rivals).[9][10][11]Williamson's mother played football when she was younger, cutting her hair short so that she would look like a boy and be allowed to play.[12]

In 2006, she was selected as the mascot to the Arsenal men's team in a league cup match atthe HawthornsagainstWest Bromwich Albion,despite being on holiday, her mother, drove her the 430 mile round trip fromBudeto ensure her dream was fulfilled, she was rewarded with a photo with Arsenal'sTheo Walcott.[11]In 2007, she was selected as a mascot for the Lionesses and accompaniedKelly Smith,the captain at the time and a future teammate who Williamson would later follow when she became England captain. Smith autographed a photo for Williamson and told her to "dream big".[13][14]

After watching long jumperGreg Rutherford,who also comes from Milton Keynes, at the2012 Summer Olympics,Williamson briefly considered switching her focus toathletics,a sport she had local experience in, inspired to become an Olympic athlete.[15]

Club career

[edit]

Rushden & Diamonds

[edit]

Williamson joinedRushden & Diamonds Centre of Excellenceat the age of 6. On that period, Williamson said, "My coach at the time left to go to Arsenal. I went across with her and had a couple of trials and luckily they took me on and I never looked back from there. So I owe it all to my coach from when I was 9."[16]

Arsenal

[edit]

Williamson joinedArsenal's Centre of Excellence in 2006 at the age of nine.[17]

2014

[edit]

Williamson made her senior team debut the day after her seventeenth birthday when she came on as an 81st-minute substitution forRachel Yankeyin Arsenal's 0–2 defeat toBirmingham Cityin theUEFA Women's Champions Leaguequarter-final.[18][failed verification]She made herFA WSLdebut on 16 April againstNotts County.[19]She won her first major title, the2014 FA Women's Cupwith Arsenal on 1 June in the final againstEverton,in which she came on as a 76th-minute substitute forJade Bailey.[20][failed verification]On 13 July, Williamson netted her first professional goal for Arsenal in a 4–0 win away againstMillwall Lionessesin theLeague Cup.[21]On 4 September, she scored her first league goal againstChelsea.[22]She made 12 appearances in the2014 FA Women's Super League.Williamson played in the 2014 League Cup final against Manchester City which Arsenal lost 1–0.[23]At the end of the 2014 season, she was named theLeague CupPlayer of the Year, ahead ofJess Clarkefrom Notts County,Ji So-yunfrom Chelsea andToni DugganfromManchester City.[3]

2015

[edit]
Rachel Yankeygiving Williamson the captain's armband during a match in 2015

On 8 January, Williamson won theEngland Women's Youth Player of the Yearaward.[24]Before the start of the2015 FA Women's Super League,on 31 March, Williamson signed her first professional contract with Arsenal.[25]On 26 April, she was named the2014–15 PFA Young Women's Player of the Year.[26]Williamson scored her first goal of the season in a convincing 3–0 home victory overWatfordin theLeague Cupon 23 July.[27]Williamson was a key figure in the club's victorious League Cup campaign, after the quarter final win over holders Manchester City, who had beaten Arsenal in the final, Williamson said, "I think Arsenal as a football club have won a lot of trophies in the past and we wanted to keep winning silverware for the club. Even with the younger players in the squad we all thought we have got to win, the morale was certainly high before the game. Last year’s final was always in the back of our mind and we know how good a side City can be. After going 1–0 up it was all about defending which we managed to do and it was a great result for us. I think we can win the cup as we have won it three times but we have to keep on focusing on the next game."[28]

2016

[edit]

Williamson helped her team reach the final of theFA Cupof2016,which Arsenal won by a 1–0 margin overChelsea.[29]

2017–18

[edit]

Williamson was ever-present in the2017–18 FA WSL Cupas Arsenal ended as Champions beating the defending champions,Manchester Cityin the final. Arsenal's league campaign was more disappointing with Arsenal missing out a top two finish and Champions League qualification for the sixth consecutive edition of theWSL.She started the season in midfield but switched to central defence with the arrival of new managerJoe Montemurroin December 2017. On her change of position, Williamson said, "I’m not sure in the long term and I never want to shut the door on either position, because I know I can do both. But I’m enjoying playing as a centre back with the way we play. Under Joe we want to play out from the back and that suits my qualities. At the minute I am enjoying playing at centre half, but I’m open minded about what the future holds."[30]Towards the end of the season, Williamson reflected on the season since Montemurro took over, "I feel like since Joe came in we’re back on a journey again, we had lost that a little bit. Despite today, I feel like we’re building something. But pretty much every game we have played since around November has been a must win game and that takes its toll emotionally. In every single game we have known no less than a win will do, in the league and in the cups."[31]

2018–19

[edit]

On 14 October 2018, Arsenal laid down a marker in their title challenge with a 5–0 thrashing of championsChelsea,inflicting a first home defeat on the champions since July 2016.[32]Joe Montemurrobegan utilizing Williamson on the right of a back three and after a 4–0 win atBristol Cityon 28 October, in which Williamson assistedJordan Nobbsfor one of the goals, he commented positively on her performance.[33]Arsenal won their first nine games and went into the match withManchester Citysix points clear of their title rivals; however, they lost 2–0 amid an injury crisis. Two games later, on Williamson's 100th Arsenal appearance, a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea allowed Manchester City to move a point clear albeit having played one game more.[34]

On 23 February, Arsenal attempted to defend their title in theFA WSL Continental Cupbut Manchester City won 4–2 on penalties; nevertheless, Montemurro praised Williamson after the match.[35]In the league, Arsenal won four games in a row, and after a 5–1 victory atLiverpoolon 24 March, England managerPhil Nevilleindicated his confidence that Williamson would one day captain the national team.[36]The team won another four games in a row to clinch the title with a 4–0 defeat ofBrightonat theFalmer Stadiumon 28 April.[37]During the season, the most common passes exchanged were between Williamson andLisa Evansat right wing back. Williamson took the most touches out of any Arsenal player, with 1,501, and completed the most passes in the opposition’s half (591). She also made thirty interceptions, more than any other player in the squad.[38][39]

2019–20

[edit]

Williamson was voted to the PFA Team of the Year for 2019-20.[40]

2020–21

[edit]

On 13 September 2020, Williamson netted her first goal of the season in Arsenal's 9–1 victory over fellow London sideWest Ham United.

On 18 November, Williamson made her 150th appearance in all competitions for Arsenal againstTottenham Hotspurin the Continental Cup a game which Arsenal would draw 2–2 but go on to win 5–4 on penalties.

2021–22

[edit]

On 16 June 2021, Arsenal announced that Williamson had signed a new one-year contract with the club until the end of the 2021–22 season.[41]On November 13 she suffered a signfificant hamstring injury in the match against Tottenham.[42]TeammateLotte Wubben-Moydedicated her goal in the next game to Leah.[43]She returned to play after two months.[44]

Just seven months after signing the one-year contract, in January 2022, she agreed to a prolonged contract with the club. Arsenal did not disclose the duration of the new commitment, but coachJonas Eidevallstated that Leah Williamson is "a player for us to build Arsenal around".[45]

2022–23

[edit]

On 21 April, she announced her injury from two days prior was a ruptured ACL, ruling her out of the Champion’s League and the World Cup later that year.[46]

2023–24

[edit]

Williamson returned from injury on 21 January 2024 to play in theConti CupagainstReading,where she came on as a substitute forJen Beattiein the 61st minute and assisted a goal in the 6-0 win.[47]

International career

[edit]

England

[edit]

Youth

[edit]

Williamson has representedEnglandsince 2010 at youth levels. As a midfielder, she was first called up to train with the under-15 team for a thirty-player camp in April 2010,[48]and was retained for the new season in August 2010.[49]She captained theEngland under-17 sidein the2014 UEFA Under-17 Championship(held in November and December 2013), where they eventually finished fourth; they loston penaltiesin the third place play-off againstItaly,with Williamson scoring one of England's three to Italy's four[50][51]and being included inthe team of the tournament.[52]She was also part of theunder-20 teamto compete in the2014 FIFA U-20 World Cupin Canada in August 2014. Williamson featured in the starting lineup in each England game, though they exited in the group stage without winning a match.[53]

On 9 April 2015, Williamson scored a penalty forher teamina qualifying matchagainstNorwayfor the2015 UEFA under-19 championship,which had been ordered to be retaken five days after the original contest. In an unprecedented decision,[54]UEFAhad ordered the match to be restarted from the 96th minute.

Previously, on 4 April, Williamson's successful penalty for England was disallowed for player encroachment (by substituteRosella Ayane,who had won the penalty and scored a goal in her brief cameo from the bench). The laws of the game state that in such a situation, the penalty should be retaken, but the German referee, Marija Kurtes instead awarded Norway a free kick. After protests from the England camp, the European governing body agreed that the match should be replayed from the time of the incident.[55]

The players returned to finish the last two minutes of their match after each had played what was scheduled to be their last qualifying matches for the tournament. With the scores standing at 2–1 to Norway, Williamson equalised and, in doing so, booked her team's place in thetournament finals.

Senior

[edit]
Williamson with England in 2018

In November 2017, Williamson was called up to train with the senior England squad.[56]She then travelled with the team to the2018 SheBelieves Cupin the United States in March 2018, without being available for the squad, as part of the development pathway.[57]On 8 June 2018, she made her debut for the senior team coming on for Walsh with six minutes left in their2019 FIFA World Cup qualifieragainstRussia,which England won 3–1.[58]She had her first senior start in September that year, in a 6–0 victory overKazakhstan.[59]

She was part of the England squad that won the2019 SheBelieves Cup,playing in the final game, a 3–0 win over Japan,[60]and was part of the squad that defeated Denmark 2–0 in one of their final friendly preparation matches for the World Cup.[61]She was then selected for the2019 FIFA World Cup,withIan Wrightannouncing her selection in May 2019.[10]On being selected, Williamson said that she had aimed to go to a World Cup after seeing theprevious edition in Canada,considering herself lucky to be called up.[62]She made her World Cup debut from the bench in the Round of 16 match againstCameroonon 23 June 2019.[63]Then-managerPhil Nevillefelt he did not use Williamson as much as he could have during the qualifiers and World Cup, putting in more experienced defenders and consideringKeira Walshcrucial to the defensive midfield instead.[64]

Williamson scored her first England goal, an 86th-minute winner, in a 3–2 friendly win against theCzech Republicon 12 November 2019.[65]

On 17 September 2021, Williamson was named England captain for the FIFA World Cup qualifier against North Macedonia at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton. On 5 April 2022, she was appointed permanent England captain;[66]previous captainSteph Houghtonhad suggested Williamson was one of the players who could eventually take over as captain even before the 2019 World Cup.[67]Williamson captained the England squad which won theUEFA Women's Euro 2022;[68]she made the most ball recoveries in the competition[69]and was named to the Team of the Tournament.[70]

She was the 205th player to represent the England women's team, with this announced as her legacy number on 18 November 2022, the 50th anniversary of the team.[71][72]

As European champions, England qualified to contest the firstWomen's Finalissima;on 6 April 2023, Williamson captained the Lionesses to another international title by defeating Brazil on penalties after 90 minutes.[73]

On 19 April 2023, Williamson sustained an injury in Arsenal's 1-0 Women's Super League loss to Manchester United. The injury was later revealed to have been an anterior cruciate ligament, meaning she would miss the rest of the season and the2023 World Cupin Australia & New Zealand.[74]During her period of recovery, Williamson learned how to play the piano and performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra for theBBC Sportdigital show Out Of Office, which follows players pursuing interests off the pitch.[75]

Great Britain

[edit]

Williamson played for theGreat Britain Olympic football teamat theTokyo 2020 Summer Olympics(held in 2021). She was proud of her defensive work in the team's group games, and of being an Olympian, saying she had to close her eyes when the camera passed her duringthe anthemas she was tearing up.[76]Williamson has said that a shift in her mentality came when GB was knocked out of the Olympics, not wanting to feel the same disappointment, "she recognised what she needed to do to fulfil her potential" in terms of the demands of international competition.[77]

Style of play

[edit]

Williamson has been likened to Italian defenderPaolo Maldiniby numerous news outlets due to her ability to regain possession for her team without having to tackle her opponent.[6][78]InEuro 2022,she completed the championships having recovered the ball 56 times and having completed 472 passes, in both cases doing so more than any other player in the tournament.[79]Another article describes Williamson as the "epitome of a modern-day ball-playingcentre back",citing her ability to anticipate opponent's passes and also to predict her teammates' attacking runs so that she can play a precise forward pass among her strengths.[80]She also has by far the highest rate of passes into the final third for a defender in the WSL since 2021, with a November 2022 Arsenal technical report saying that "she wrecks the curve" for this statistic due to the margin.[81]

[edit]

In Williamson's hometown,Newport Pagnell,a mural of her was completed in August 2022. The artwork was painted on a former garage by professional street artists.[82]As part of the "Where Greatness Is Made" campaign, a plaque honouring Williamson was installed at Scot Sports & Social Club in Milton Keynes.[83]She was one of the legends of football featured inNike's "The Football Verse" ad spot for the2022 FIFA Men's World Cup.[84]She guest wrote about theEngland men's football teamat this tournament forThe Athletic.[85]

In 2022, she was one of the honourees of theBritishGQMen of the Year Award.[86]She appeared as a special guest onThe Graham Norton Showon New Year's Eve 2022, his 30th series.[87]In 2023 she appeared onCBeebies Bedtime StoryreadingRemarkably Youby Pat Zietlow Miller.[88]

Activism and charity work

[edit]

Williamson frequently uses her platform for social justice, although she has said: "I’m uncomfortable with the way the word activism is used, because I think it’s just how normal people should behave.”[89]

Williamson wore aStonewallrainbow armband throughout the 2022 Euro in support ofLGBTQ+ rights.[90]

Because ofcontroversies relating to the 2022 Men's World Cup,Williamson said that while she would still "support the boys [she has not] got any interest in it as a fan really this year, which is sad."[91]

The day after England triumphed at the2022 Euros,the team wrote an open letter to Tory leadership candidatesRishi SunakandLiz Trussrequesting government support for girls to receive two hours a week of PE lessons and to support resources for girls’ football sessions in school.[92][93]Williamson credited teammateLotte Wubben-Moywith driving the success of the request.[94]

In August 2023, Williamson travelled to Jordan and visited thelargest Syrian refugee camp in the worldin support of the Coaching for Life programme. Afterwards, she spoke about how the programme is empowering girls and transforming male attitudes to gender stereotypes.[95][96]

Williamson was the first England women's footballer to address the United Nations when she appeared at the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) Summit in September 2023.[97]

As well as her involvement with Coaching for Life, Williamson is an ambassador for theWillow Foundation.[98]

Writing

[edit]

Williamson has co-authored two books to date:

Non-fiction

[edit]

You Have the Power: Find Your Strength and Believe You Can(2023)[99]- A positive guide for empowering young girls, written with sports journalistSuzanne Wrack.

Fiction

[edit]

The Wonder Team and the Forgotten Footballers(2023)[100]- A time-travel adventure forchildren aged 8–12,written with Williamson's cousin Jordan Glover; illustrations by Robin Boyden. This is the first of a three book deal Williamson signed with Macmillan Children's Books.[101]

Williamson was a special guest editor ofThe Beano,in an edition celebrating 70 years sinceMinnie the Minx's first appearance.[102]

Personal life

[edit]

Williamson was training to be an accountant but has reportedly put her studies on hold to focus on football.[103][104]

She is close friends with former Arsenal teammateAlex Scott,[86]and international teammateKeira Walsh.Williamson and Walsh went through all the England junior ranks together and received their first senior call up on the same day in 2017; in 2019, Williamson commented that whenever England teams were announced "the first thing you do, you check for your name on the list and then you check for Keira's." Walsh also reflected that there was "nobody [she] would rather have shared this journey with".[105]

Williamson hasendometriosis,which made her anxious to play whilemenstruating,and has spoken about it to increase awareness of the disruptive condition and the need for more symptom-relieving measures.[106]She is part of the LGBTQ+ community.[107][108]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of 18 May 2024.[109]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Arsenal 2014 WSL 13 1 4 0 7 1 1 0 25 2
2015 7 0 2 0 4 1 — 13 1
2016 8 0 4 0 0 0 — 12 0
2017 7 0 2 0 — — 9 0
2017–18 17 1 4 0 7 0 — 28 1
2018–19 19 1 2 0 6 1 — 27 2
2019–20 15 1 4 0 6 1 4 0 29 2
2020–21 20 1 4 1 3 0 — 27 2
2021–22 18 2 2 0 1 0 7 1 28 3
2022–23 12 1 2 0 3 0 7 0 24 1
2023–24 9 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 13 0
Career total 145 8 31 1 40 4 19 1 235 14

International

[edit]
Statistics accurate as of match played 16 July 2024.
Year England Great Britain
Apps Goals Apps Goals
2018 4 0 —
2019 10 1 —
2020 3 0 —
2021 7 1 3 0
2022 15 0 —
2023 4 2 —
2024 5 0 —
Total 48 4 3 0
As of match played 22 February 2023
Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Williamson goal.
List of international goals scored by Leah Williamson
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 12 November 2019 Stadion Střelecký ostrov,České Budějovice,Czech Republic Czech Republic 3–2 3–2 Friendly [65]
2 26 October 2021 Daugava Stadium,Liepāja,Latvia Latvia 8–0 10–0 2023 FIFA World Cup qualification [110]
3 22 February 2023 Ashton Gate Stadium,Bristol,England Belgium 2–0 6–1 2023 Arnold Clark Cup [111]
4 6–1

Honours

[edit]

Arsenal

England

See also:Collective honours for the England women's national football team

Individual

Orders

References

[edit]
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  83. ^"England's Euro 2022 winners honoured with gold plaques at local football clubs".90min.22 September 2022.Retrieved2 April2023.
  84. ^Dabbs, Ryan (16 November 2022)."Watch: Nike FC pits legendary players from the past and present against each other in fascinating advert".fourfourtwo.Retrieved18 November2022.
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  87. ^The Graham Norton Show - Series 30: New Year's Eve Show,retrieved31 December2022
  88. ^Footballer Leah Williamson to read CBeebies Bedtime Story,retrieved24 March2023
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  92. ^"Lionesses: England's Euro 2022 winners urge Tory leadership duo to help schoolgirls play football".BBC Sport. 3 August 2022.
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  94. ^Wrack, Suzanne (8 March 2023)."Government pledges equal access to school PE sports for boys and girls".The Guardian.
  95. ^"Williamson asks the UN:" Don't leave girls behind "".Arsenal Media. 19 September 2023.
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