Natalie Elizabeth Haigh (born 8 February 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender. She has previously played for Yeovil Town, Coventry United, Nordsjælland and Aston Villa.[3] In 2022 to May 2023 she was assistant manager at Lewes FC Women.

Natalie Haigh
Haigh (right) with Scott Booth as coaching team for Lewes F.C. Women in 2023
Personal information
Full name Natalie Elizabeth Haigh[1]
Date of birth (1989-02-08) 8 February 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Reading, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Wetherby Athletic
Leeds United
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007 Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2009 Leeds United
2009–2011 Leeds City Vixens
2012–2013 Swindon Spitfires
2013–2015 Yeovil Town
2015 Larkhall Athletic
2016 Swindon Town
2017 Yeovil Town 6 (0)
2017–2018 Coventry United
2018Nordsjælland (Loan)
2019–2022 Aston Villa 33 (2)
2022Coventry United (loan) 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 03:15, 20 December 2020 (UTC)

Early life

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Haigh was born in Reading,[4] but grew up in Wetherby and attended Boston Spa Sports College.[2] She began playing football at nine years old and her first club was Wetherby Athletic.[5]

Club career

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Leeds United

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In August 2005, 16-year-old Haigh made her FA Women's Premier League National Division debut for Leeds United as a substitute in a 4–3 defeat at Arsenal.[6] In May 2006 she started in Leeds's 5–0 FA Women's Cup final defeat by Arsenal.[7] She joined Leeds City Vixens in 2009.[8]

Yeovil

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Haigh rejoined Yeovil Town in February 2017 after previously being captain of the team.[9] Haigh made six appearances that season and saw this as a great achievement after having recovered from a back injury received in 2015.

Aston Villa

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On 21 July 2019, Haigh joined Aston Villa alongside Shania Hayles and Charlotte Greengrass who signed on the same day.[10] She made her debut on 18 August in a 3–2 home win over Sheffield United in the Women's Championship.[11]

Lewes

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In 2022 she took a position of assistant manager to Scott Booth at Lewes FC Women.[12] She left in May 2023.[13]

International career

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At the 2011 Summer Universiade in Shenzhen, China, Haigh represented the Great Britain Universities team.[14]

Personal life

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Haigh relocated to Gloucestershire to study at the University of Gloucestershire. Before turning professional with Aston Villa, she ran the women's football and futsal teams at Hartpury College.[15][16]

References

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  1. ^ "Eesti universiaadikoondis mängib kohtadele" (in Estonian). Põlva FC Lootos. 19 August 2011. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b "4. Natalie Haigh". California State University, Bakersfield. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  3. ^ "England - N. Haigh - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  4. ^ Waite, Ben. "Natalie Haigh". She Plays Fantasy League. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  5. ^ @NatHaigh6 (18 May 2014). "Big mention2 @WetherbyLFC @LeedsVixens @swindonspits67 in the official @YeovilLadiesFC programme #neverforgetmyroots" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. ^ "Ladies edged out in seven goal thriller". Leeds United F.C. 22 August 2005. Retrieved 20 December 2020. We really missed Sophie Clough when she had to come off in the first half, although 16 year old Natalie Haigh did well when she came on, it was a lot to ask of a 16 year old to make her League debut against Arsenal in that manner.
  7. ^ "Five-star Gunners crush Leeds". Women's Soccer Scene. 2 May 2006. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Women's first team playing profile". Leeds City Vixens. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  9. ^ "Natalie Haigh: Yeovil Town Ladies re-sign former captain for 2017". 21 February 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  10. ^ Frith, Wilf (21 July 2019). "Aston Villa Women sign trio". SheKicks. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  11. ^ "Aston Villa vs. Sheffield United - 18 August 2019 - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  12. ^ "Lewes appoint former Aston Villa defender Haigh as assistant manager". FAWSL Full-Time. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Haigh moving on – Lewes Community Football Club". lewesfc.com. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Match Report" (PDF). 2011 Summer Universiade. 15 August 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  15. ^ Nichols, Ben (8 December 2020). "Aston Villa's Nat Haigh on how life in Gloucestershire propelled her to the Women's Super League". Ben Nichols Journalism. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Haigh laying a path for the next generation". The Football Association. 22 April 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.