Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Josephine Julia Fletcher[1] | ||
Date of birth | 31 December 1980 | ||
Place of birth | Chester, England | ||
Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Watford | ||
Youth career | |||
Tranmere Rovers Ladies | |||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1999–2000 | Kentucky Wildcats | ||
2001–2002 | Oregon State Beavers | 39 | (0) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1997–1998 | Everton Ladies | ||
1998–1999 | Liverpool Ladies | ||
2002–2003 | Tranmere Rovers Ladies | 22 | (1) |
2003–2004 | Doncaster Rovers Belles | ||
2004–2006 | Birmingham City Ladies | ||
2006–2007 | Charlton Athletic Ladies | ||
2009 | Lincoln Ladies | 1 | (0) |
2017– | Watford Ladies | ||
International career‡ | |||
2005 | England | 9 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11:13, 15 September 2009 (UTC) |
Josephine Julia Fletcher (born 31 December 1980) is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Watford.[2] She played at full international level for England. She hails from Malpas, Cheshire and attended Bishop Heber High School.
Club career
[edit]Fletcher joined Tranmere Rovers Ladies as an under–18 player.[3] In summer 1998 she left FA Women's Premier League champions Everton for local rivals Liverpool.
Fletcher spent the US 2001 and 2002 seasons playing for Oregon State in the Pac-10 league, playing 39 times[4] In January 2003 she was selected as available to be drafted at the 2003 Women's United Soccer Association player draft.[5]
On returning to England, she re-joined Tranmere Rovers Ladies,[6] where she was coached by Tranmere Rovers' keeper John Achterberg.[7] She moved on to Doncaster Rovers Belles,[8] leaving them to join Birmingham City in June 2004.[9] She left City on joining the Army in 2005, but returned after initial training in October 2005.[10]
In the 2006 close season, Fletcher joined Charlton Athletic Ladies.[11]
But she later made a single appearance for OOH Lincoln Ladies in October 2009, deputising for Kay Hawke who was suspended.[12]
Fletcher signed for Watford in March 2017.[2]
International career
[edit]Fletcher played at junior level for England[4] and made her senior debut in February 2005, against Italy.[13] She played eight further games for England, the last being against Denmark in June the same year, having been included in the Euro 2005 Squad.[14] She played in place of the injured Rachel Brown at the start of the tournament, but was replaced by Brown on her return from injury.[15] Her international career effectively ended when she joined an Army Officer Training Scheme,[10] although she was later selected for a training squad.[16]
Fletcher was allotted 158 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England's inaugural international.[17][18]
Personal life
[edit]Fletcher, a Sheffield Wednesday fan,[3] majored in Biology at Oregon State University, having transferred from the University of Kentucky,[19] both times on football scholarships.[4] She returned to the UK after graduating and briefly worked for a pharmaceutical company before joining the Royal Military Academy where she marched in Prince Harry's commissioning parade.[4] In 2005, she graduated with an MSc in Exercise Science and Nutrition from the University of Chester.[20] Her mentor while at Chester was Wendy Owen who had played in England's first national women's football team.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ "International Alumni Newsletter" (PDF). Oregon State University. Fall 2005. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
- ^ a b "Jo Fletcher Signs". watford.fawsl.com. Watford Ladies FC. 17 March 2017. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ a b c "Jo has sights on Euro glory". Wirral News. 1 June 2005. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ a b c d "Where are they now? – Jo Fletcher". OSU Beavers. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ "Fletcher One of Roughly 80 Players Eligible For WUSA draft". PAC-10. 29 January 2003. Retrieved 15 September 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "Preview:Bristol City Ladies v Blues Ladies". Birmingham City. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ "John Achterberg – Academy for keepers". Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ "Jodie to follow the Oregon trail". Women's Football News Archive. 20 May 2004. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ "England star Amanda joins the Blues". Women's Football News Archive. 17 June 2004. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ a b "Fletcher's Blues lift". Sports Argus. October 2005. Retrieved 15 September 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "Charlton come unstuck against Toffees". Charlton Athletic F.C. 20 August 2006. Archived from the original on 11 July 2007. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ "Rod left frustrated after Lady Imps draw". Lincolnshire Echo. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
- ^ "England turn on style to crush Italy". Women's Football News Archive. 18 February 2005. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ "England squad guide". BBC Sport. 3 June 2005. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ Chris Blackhurst (10 June 2005). "Jo is axed!". Chester Chronicle. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ "Hope whisks her girls away to train in Spain!". Give Me Football. 4 January 2006. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ "England squad named for World Cup". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ Lacey-Hatton, Jack (18 November 2022). "Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present". mirror. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ "Women's Soccer Hosts L.A. Schools". OSU Beavers. 24 October 2001. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ "Alumni Stories". University of Chester Alumni Association. Archived from the original on 1 January 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2009.