Grace Jale Explained

Grace Jale
Full Name:Grace Joana Ella Jale[1]
Birth Date:1999 4, df=yes
Birth Place:Auckland, New Zealand
Height:178 cm
Position:Midfielder
Collegeyears1:2019
College1:Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Collegegoals1:0
Collegecaps1:6
Years1:2021–2022
Caps1:12
Goals1:6
Clubs1:Wellington Phoenix
Years2:2022–2023
Caps2:17
Goals2:3
Clubs2:Canberra United
Years3:2023–2024
Caps3:19
Goals3:3
Clubs3:Perth Glory
Nationalyears1:2016
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalteam1:New Zealand U-17
Nationalyears2:2016
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalteam2:New Zealand U-20
Nationalyears3:2018–
Nationalcaps3:27
Nationalgoals3:9
Nationalteam3:New Zealand
Pcupdate:28 May 2024
Ntupdate:20 February 2024

Grace Joana Ella Jale (born 10 April 1999) is an association football midfielder who played for Perth Glory and the New Zealand women's national football team. She has previously played for Wellington Phoenix and Canberra United.

Early life

Born and raised in Auckland to a Fijian father and New Zealand mother, Jale started playing football (soccer) at age 7.[2] She attended Mt Albert Grammar School where she helped the team to a national First XI championship. She also played for the Eastern Suburbs premier women's team.[3] During her first year playing for the Bay Olympic Club Team, she was named Player of the Year and was awarded a Variety Gold Heart Scholarship.[3]

Club career

In August 2018, Jale was offered a contract with Czech first-division club AC Sparta Praha,[4] but opted to attend and play for Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in the United States.[5]

On 19 October 2021 Jale signed with the newly formed Wellington Phoenix team to play in their inaugural season of the 2021–22 A-League Women league.[6]

In July 2022, following a successful season with Wellington Phoenix, Jale joined for Australian A-League Women club Canberra United on a two-year contract.[7]

In August 2023, Jale was signed by A-League Women club Perth Glory.[8] At the end of the season she departed the club.[9]

International career

Jale made her debut for the senior national team and scored her first international goal during a match against Tonga at the 2018 OFC Women's Nations Cup.[10] She previously represented New Zealand on the under-17 and under-20 national teams.[10] She competed at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Jordan and 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea.

2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

In June 2023, Jale was selected as part of the 23 player Football Ferns squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, which was co-hosted in Australia and New Zealand. She played two matches in the group stage.[11]

International goals

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 19 November 2018 11–0 11–0 2018 OFC Women's Nations Cup
2. 22 November 2018 6–0 6–0
3. 7 February 2024 1–0 3–0 2024 OFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
4. 3–0
5. 16 February 2024 3–0 7–1
6. 6–0
7. 7–0
8. 19 February 2024 4–0 11–1
9. 8–1

Notes and References

  1. News: List of Players - 2018 FIFA Women's U20 World Cup. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 13 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190803232204/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fu20w/2018/pdf/fu20w_2018_squadlists.pdf. 3 August 2019. dead.
  2. Web site: Football Fern's Grace Jale looking for more game time in Noumea . OFC Football . 16 March 2019 . 21 November 2018.
  3. News: Exams first for schoolgirl star . 16 March 2019 . New Zealand Herald . 14 November 2015.
  4. Web site: Grace Jale offered European football contract . Mount Albert Grammar School . 16 March 2019 . 2 August 2018.
  5. Web site: Da Luz Welcomes Seven on Signing Day . Wake Forest University . 16 March 2019 . 15 November 2018.
  6. News: Wellington Phoenix women sign New Zealand midfielders Chloe Knott and Grace Jale . . 18 October 2021 . en.
  7. Web site: Jale, Burrows and Taranto sign for United. Canberra United. 15 July 2022.
  8. Web site: Glory land Women's World Cup striker. Gareth. Morgan. Perth Glory. 15 August 2023.
  9. Web site: Women’s football squad announced for Paris 2024. New Zealand Football. 4 July 2024. Grace Jale* (31 caps) Unattached.
  10. News: Grace Jale relishing senior debut tournament . 16 March 2019 . WN.com.
  11. Web site: Grace Jale National Team Match Logs . 2023-08-26 . FBref.com . en.