Ciara Alice Watling (née Sherwood; born 18 August 1992) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Millwall Lionesses.[2] Ciara signed for Millwall Lionesses on 25 January 2024.

Ciara Watling
Watling playing for Charlton in 2020
Personal information
Full name Ciara Alice Watling
Date of birth (1992-08-18) 18 August 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Sidcup, England
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Millwall Lionesses
Youth career
Swanscombe[1]
2007–2010 Charlton Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Charlton Athletic 20 (0)
2012–2016 Millwall Lionesses 49 (3)
2016–2020 Crystal Palace 37 (8)
2020–2021 Charlton Athletic 15 (1)
2021–2023 Southampton 10 (6)
International career
2015– Northern Ireland 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:52, 14 October 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:19, 23 February 2021 (UTC)

Club career

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Watling joined Charlton Athletic at the age of 15 after a successful trial following recommendation from Keith Boanas, where she was awarded Player of the Season for the academy in her first season.[3]

After a season with Charlton's first team, Watling went on loan to Millwall Lionesses before moving permanently. During the 2013–14 season, Watling captained the Millwall Lionesses Development Squad.[3][4] Watling made her debut for the first team as a substitute against London Bees in the FA WSL Cup in May 2014. She made her first start two months later against Watford.[4]

During the 2016 FA WSL mid-season transfer window, Watling left Millwall Lionesses by mutual agreement before signing for Crystal Palace for the 2016–17 season.[5][6] Watling moved back to Charlton on January 15, 2020.[7]

After her first full season with Charlton, Watling signed for Southampton in the FA Women's National League that summer. Following their successful promotion push in the 2021–22 season, she will play the 2022–23 season in the FA Women's Championship. At the end of the 2022–23 season, Watling left the club after agreeing to terminate her contract.[8]

International career

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Watling made her debut for the Northern Ireland national team on 24 October 2015 against Georgia.[9]

Personal life

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Watling is married to Harry Watling, assistant manager of Glasgow Rangers.[10] She is cousin both to EastEnders actresses Jacqueline Jossa and Megan Jossa.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Ciara Sherwood". cafcwomen.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Ciara Sherwood – First Team". crystalpalaceladiesfc.co.uk. Crystal Palace Ladies FC. Archived from the original on 18 March 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  3. ^ a b Conor de Smith (18 April 2015). "Interview: Millwall Lionesses' Ciara Sherwood on the first team, captaincy and women's football". vavel.com. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Ciara Sherwood Player Profile, Millwall Lionesses". millwall.fawsl.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Transfer Talk". shekicks.net. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Goss and Sherwood Join Palace Ladies". theeaglesbeak.com. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Northern Ireland international Ciara Watling joins Charlton Athletic". belfasttelegraph. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  8. ^ Wyatt, Mark (16 May 2023). "Southampton FC Women confirm 2023/24 squad list with experienced players leaving and 15 retained". Hampshire Live. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  9. ^ "UEFA Women's EURO – Ciara Sherwood". uefa.com. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  10. ^ Betz, Adam (12 January 2020). "Watling to coach Hartford Athletic". Journal Inquirer. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Former EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa reveals the one thing she had to sacrifice while on the show". digistalspy.com. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
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