Molly-Mae Sharpe (born 11 March 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as forward for Women's Championship club Crystal Palace. She previously played for Durham, NCAA Division II college team Barry Buccaneers in the United States, and Bradford City in the National League.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 11 March 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Bradford, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward / winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Crystal Palace | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2007 | Leeds United | ||
| 2007–2013 | Bradford City | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2019 | Barry Buccaneers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013-2015 | Bradford City[1] | 15 | (5) |
| 2019–2021 | Durham | 33 | (10) |
| 2021– | Crystal Palace | 66 | (17) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:01, 3 November 2024 (UTC) | |||
Early career
editYouth
editSharpe began playing football with her local club Thackley Juniors before joining Leeds United Academy at the age of 9.[2] Age 12 she moved to Bradford City. Originally a midfielder, she made the switch to a forward in her Senior debut aged 16.[3]
In her first year she scored a hat-trick in the final of the West Riding County Cup which saw Bradford City crowned champions over arch rivals Leeds United.[4]
College
editIn 2015, Sharpe moved to the United States with a scholarship,[4] attracted to the financial opportunities that the US provided.[5] She studied at Barry University in Miami, Florida, alongside playing football for the Barry Buccaneers college team. She was awarded Offensive Player of the Year in her last year.[4]
Club career
editDurham
editOn 19 July 2019, Sharpe signed for Durham in the Women’s Championship.[6]
Durham finished second in the league in the Championship season of 2020–21, with Sharpe finishing as the League's joint top scorer.[7]
Crystal Palace
editOn 8 August 2021, Sharpe made the move to London, joining for Crystal Palace for the 2021–22 Women's Championship season.[8][9] Her goal to take the lead against Coventry City in a 3–2 win on 10 October helped Palace gain their first away win in 10 months.[10]
On 27 August 2022, in her first start of the 2022–23 season and third season with Palace, Sharpe scored the opening goal against Coventry City in a 3–0 victory to bring Palace top of the Championship.[11] On 26 March 2023, her goal against Blackburn Rovers, as the only goal of the game, gained Palace their ninth win of the campaign, with the team positioned sixth in the league.[12]
For the 2023–24 season, Sharpe was a regular in the Palace side that won promotion to the Womens Super League for the first time in the clubs history.[13] She contributed 11 goals and 7 assists to become the third highest goal scorer for the season,[14] and was short-listed for the Championship Player of the Season award.[15]
For March 2024, Sharpe was voted as Palace's Player of the Month after scoring 3 goals,[16] including against Charlton Athletic within 4 minutes in front of a record crowd,[17] and crucially against Sheffield United to bring Palace to second place in the WSL on 14 March.[18] On 4 April, she was among the goalscorers against her former club Durham in a 5–1 victory to bring Palace to the top of the Championship.[19] Two weeks later, her goal against Lewes helped to confirm Lewes' relegation from the Championship,[20][21] prior to Palace's promotion being confirmed on 28 April.[13]
Personal life
editSharpe grew up supporting Bradford City as a season ticket holder.[22] Having spent four years in Florida gaining a degree in Sport & Exercise Science.[4] she completed a Master's Degree at Durham University, with a scholarship from the football club.[6]
Honours
editCrystal Palace
Individual
- Crystal Palace Player of the Month: March 2024[8]
References
edit- ^ "Player Season Stats – Bradford City Womens – The FA Women's National League". The FA. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ "Molly-Mae Sharpe: From Yorkshire to Palace - via the USA". Crystal Palace F.C. 8 March 2023.
- ^ Frith, Wilf (15 July 2019). "Durham WFC snap up 'Sharpe-shooter'". SheKicks.
- ^ a b c d "Molly-Mae Sharpe: From Yorkshire to Palace - via the USA". Crystal Palace F.C. 8 March 2023.
- ^ Johnson, Becky (31 October 2014). "Boost For Aspiring Female Footballers". Sky News. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ a b Powell, Jennie (16 July 2019). "Durham Women FC sign Molly Sharpe". 4 The Love Of Sport.
- ^ "Molly-Mae Sharpe: From Yorkshire to Palace - via the USA". Crystal Palace F.C. 8 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Molly-Mae Sharpe". Crystal Palace F.C. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ "Crystal Palace announce signing of former Durham forward Sharpe". Crystal Palace F.C. 23 July 2021.
- ^ "Palace win thriller as Durham stay top". Womens Leagues and Competitions. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ Wallis, Sian (27 August 2022). "Crystal Palace top the Barclays Women's Championship table after defeating Coventry United". WSL Full-Time. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ "Sharpe finish as Crystal Palace collect ninth win of the campaign". South London News. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ a b Veevers, Nick (28 April 2024). "Crystal Palace confirmed as Championship winners on entertaining final day". Womens Leagues and Competitions. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ "Women's Championship Top Scorers". BBC Sport. 24 May 2024. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ "Sharpe shortlisted for Championship Player of the Month". Crystal Palace F.C. 12 April 2024.
- ^ "Sharpe wins Women's Player of the Month for March". Crystal Palace F.C. 11 April 2024.
- ^ Brack, Edmund (26 March 2024). "Women's football round-up: Charlton slip up against London City at The Valley as Palace close gap in front of record Selhurst Park crowd". South London News. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ Brack, Edmund (14 March 2024). "Women's football round-up: Charlton suffer promotion blow as Palace climb to second in Championship standings". South London News. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ Brack, Edmund (4 April 2024). "Women's football round-up: Crystal Palace boost Championship title prospects". South London News. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ Armitage, Megan (21 April 2024). "Lewes relegated from Women's Championship as Crystal Palace win at Dripping Pan". Sussex World. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ Frith, Wilf (21 April 2024). "Crystal Palace Women champions elect of Barclays WSL". SheKicks. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ "Molly-Mae Sharpe: From Yorkshire to Palace - via the USA". Crystal Palace F.C. 8 March 2023.
- ^ Molly-Mae Sharpe at Soccerway
External links
edit- Molly-Mae Sharpe at Crystal Palace F.C.
- Molly-Mae Sharpe at Soccerway