Melissa Fletcher (born 28 January 1992) is a former professional footballer who played as a forward for the Wales national team and FA WSL club Reading.[1][2][3][4] She joined Reading as a youth player, graduating to the first team at the age of 16. She spent a further ten years with the club before retiring from playing in 2018 due to injury.
 Fletcher playing for Wales in 2015 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Melissa Fletcher | ||
| Date of birth | 28 January 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | England | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2008 | Reading | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2018 | Reading | 21 | (5) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2015–2018 | Wales | 6 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:25, 6 February 2016 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:25, 6 February 2016 (UTC) | |||
Early life
editFletcher grew up in Bracknell and attended Garth Hill College for seven years.[5]
Club career
editFletcher began playing football for a local boys team, Bracknell Cavaliers. At age eight, she also joined the youth academy at Reading, playing simultaneously for the two sides before being forced to leave the Cavaliers at 12 years old due to age restrictions on boys and girls mixed teams. She was promoted to the Reading first team squad at the age of 16.[6]
She helped the side win promotion to the FA Women's Super League in 2016 and made twelve appearances in their first season in the top flight. In January 2017, Fletcher signed her first fully professional contract with the club.[7] Fletcher retired from football in July 2018 after undergoing two operations on an ankle injury, stating that her ankle was "not fit to continue."[8]
International career
editAlthough born in England, Fletcher represents Wales at international level. She was selected for Wales' first UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying match in Austria and started the 3–0 defeat in Sankt Pölten.[9]
Personal life
editFletcher is also a qualified accountant and previously worked part-time for Ernst & Young alongside her footballing career.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Reading women: Melissa Fletcher and Harriet Scott sign new deals". BBC Sport. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ^ "Wales Women's Senior Squad Announced". Football Association of Wales. 19 February 2015. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Superb Ward hat trick seals first win for Wales Women in European campaign". Pembrokeshire Sport. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ^ Stone, Dayne (26 November 2015). "Ward hat-trick boosts Wales". Pembrokeshire Herald. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ^ Perrin, Isabella (29 November 2018). "Bracknell students scoop top prizes from Melissa Fletcher at Garth Hill College's 'Celebration of Success' evening". Bracknell News. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
- ^ Coleman, Tom (5 April 2018). "The women at the heart of an incredible Welsh football tale unfolding right now – and the fascinating stories behind them". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
- ^ a b Canning, Tom (23 January 2017). "Melissa Fletcher turns 'pro' with new Reading Women FC deal". footballinbracknell.co.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
- ^ "Melissa Fletcher: Wales & Reading forward announces retirement". BBC Sport. 7 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
- ^ "Austria 3 - 0 Wales". UEFA. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
External links
edit
- Melissa Fletcher – UEFA competition record (archive)
- Reading player profile
- Melissa Fletcher at Soccerway
- Melissa Fletcher on Twitter
