Jill Scott (footballer) explained

Jill Scott
MBE
Fullname:Jill Louise Scott[1]
Birth Date:2 February 1987
Birth Place:Sunderland, England
Height:1.81m (05.94feet)[2]
Position:Midfielder
Youthclubs1:Boldon Girls
Years1:2004–2006
Years2:2006–2013
Years3:2013–2022
Years4:2021
Years5:2022
Clubs1:Sunderland
Clubs2:Everton
Clubs3:Manchester City
Clubs4:Everton (loan)
Clubs5:Aston Villa (loan)
Caps2:114
Goals2:21
Caps3:111
Goals3:19
Caps4:11
Goals4:2
Caps5:7
Goals5:0
Nationalyears1:2006–2022
Nationalteam1:England
Nationalcaps1:161
Nationalgoals1:27
Nationalyears2:2012–2021
Nationalteam2:Great Britain
Nationalcaps2:9
Nationalgoals2:1
Totalcaps:243
Totalgoals:42

Jill Louise Scott (born 2 February 1987) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.[3] The FIFA technical report into the 2011 Women's World Cup described Scott as one of England's four outstanding players; "[an] energetic, ball-winning midfielder who organises the team well, works hard at both ends of the pitch and can change her team's angle of attack."[4]

At 1.81m (05.94feet), Scott is nicknamed "Crouchy" after male international footballer Peter Crouch, who towers over his fellow players to a similar degree.[5] [6] After leaving hometown club Sunderland for Everton in 2006, she contributed to the Blues FA Women's Premier League Cup win in 2008 and FA Women's Cup victory in 2010. With Manchester City, she won the FA WSL in 2016 and is a three-time winner of the FA Women's Cup and the FA WSL Cup. On the individual level, Scott was voted 2008 FA Players' Player of the Year and 2011 FA International Player of the Year.

Following her retirement from football in 2022, Scott went on to win the twenty-second series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and was crowned "Queen of the Jungle".[7] [8]

Early life

Scott grew up in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, and attended Monkwearmouth Comprehensive School.[9] [10] A keen long-distance runner, Scott ran for Sunderland Harriers, winning the North of England Under-13 cross-country title and the Junior Great North Run, whilst playing football for Boldon CA girls' team. At the age of 13, she had to decide between football or running, and chose to concentrate on playing football. Future England teammates Steph Houghton and Demi Stokes also played for Boldon;[11] as part of the "Where Greatness Is Made" campaign, plaques honouring Stokes and Scott were installed at the club in 2022.[12]

After leaving school in 2003, Scott received a BTEC National Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science at Gateshead College. She remained at the college to study for a University of Sunderland foundation degree in sports and exercise development. She also played for the college football team alongside fellow Sunderland and international teammate Carly Telford.[13] After completing her diploma, both Scott and Telford enrolled at Loughborough University to study sport.

Club career

Sunderland

Scott began her senior career with Sunderland Women.[14] In October 2005, aged only 18 years, she won the Women's Player of the Month award for September, based on her performances for both her club and country (at under-19 level).

Everton

Scott joined Everton Ladies in July 2006,[15] having turned down an approach from Doncaster Rovers Belles.[16] Her first game for Everton came the following month, a 3–0 defeat against Arsenal Ladies in the FA Women's Community Shield.[17]

At the end of the 2007–08 season, she picked up the FA Tesco Players' Player of the Year award. Also nominated were Arsenal's Alex Scott and Karen Carney.[18] In April 2012, Scott was appointed as one of eight digital media ambassadors, one from each team, who wear their Twitter account name on their shirt sleeves to raise the profile of the WSL.[19] Scott decided to leave Everton at the end of the 2013 season.[20]

During her first spell at Everton, Scott won the FA Women's Premier League Cup and the FA Women's Cup, playing in both finals.

Manchester City

After leaving Everton, Scott signed a two-year deal with Manchester City.[21] This move proved a success, as she played her part in securing the Continental Cup Trophy for Manchester City in 2014.[22]

In April 2015, Scott was shown the red card and banned for three matches for headbutting Arsenal's Jade Bailey during Manchester City's 1–0 defeat.[23] In the 2017 FA Cup Final, Scott scored in a 4–1 win against Birmingham City.

In June 2020, Scott signed a new two-year contract which saw her take up a coaching role at the club.[24] At the 2020 Women's FA Community Shield on 29 August 2020, Scott was shown a red card for two bookable offences in Manchester City's scrappy 2–0 defeat by Chelsea at Wembley Stadium.[25]

Return to Everton (loan)

On 21 January 2021, Scott returned to Everton on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.[26]

Aston Villa (loan)

On 25 January 2022, Scott signed for Aston Villa on loan until the end of the season.[27]

On 23 August 2022, Scott announced her retirement from football.[28]

International career

England

At junior level, Scott played for the England Under-19s side, scoring three times in three games as England won through the first round of qualifying for the 2006 UEFA Under-19s tournament.[29] Her first call-up to the England senior squad came in May 2006, having captained the Under-19s side for the previous 18 months.[30] She made her debut for the England senior team against the Netherlands in August 2006, coming on as a late substitute for Kelly Smith in a 4–0 win.[31] She made the squad for the 2007 World Cup, coming on as a substitute in England's opening match against Japan. She went on to start the remainder of England's matches in the tournament, scoring her first international goal in the 6–1 demolition of Argentina in the group stage. England bowed out at the quarter-final stage after a 3–0 defeat against the United States.[32]

In May 2009, Scott was one of the first 17 female players to be given central contracts by The Football Association.[33] She was named in coach Hope Powell's squad for the 2009 UEFA Women's European Championships, scoring a late winner as England beat the Netherlands in the semi-final, having come on as a substitute for Jessica Clarke at the beginning of extra-time.[34]

At the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, Scott scored against New Zealand in England's 2–1 group B win. She put England ahead against France in the quarter final, but did not take a penalty in her team's 3–4 shootout defeat following a 1–1 draw.[35] In February 2019, Scott pulled out of the England squad for the SheBelieves Cup.[36]

On 23 February 2021, Scott made her 150th appearance for the England team in a game against Northern Ireland, which she would captain and play the whole 90 minutes as England would win 6–0.[37] [38]

In June 2022, Scott was included in the England squad which won the UEFA Women's Euro 2022.[39] [40] On 23 August 2022, Scott announced her retirement from football, a day after England and Manchester City teammate Ellen White did. Scott retired as England's second-most capped international footballer (men and women), behind Fara Williams.[41]

Scott was allotted 161 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England's inaugural international.[42] [43]

Great Britain

In June 2012, Scott was named in an 18-player Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics.[44]

In 2021, Scott was announced as one of the 22-player squad for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.[45]

Post-footballing career

In November 2022, Scott won the twenty-second series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and was crowned "Queen of the Jungle",[46] becoming the first LGBTQ+ woman to win the show.[47] Scott has appeared as a pundit for several Men's and Women's matches, including England Men's Euros qualifying games against Malta and North Macedonia, and the UEFA Women's Champions League final.[48] In June 2023, she became the first female player to captain England for Soccer Aid.[49]

In 2023 Scott became a captain in the panel show A League of Their Own.[50]

Personal life

In March 2020, she announced her engagement to long-term partner Shelly Unitt.[51] [52] Scott sometimes works at Boxx2Boxx Coffee, a coffee shop in Northenden, Manchester, which she co-owns with Unitt.[53] [54]

Scott was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to women's football.

Coaching career

In September 2008, Scott was appointed as the coach of the Women's Football Academy at Gateshead College, with former Darlington manager Mick Tait taking over as coach of the Men's Academy.[55]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sunderland2004–05FA WPL Northern
2005–06FA WPL National
Total!colspan="2"—!!
Everton2006–07FA WPL National
2007–08
2008–09
2009–10
2011FA WSL
2012
2013
Total!
Manchester City2014FA WSL1442071235
20151212150192
2016143203121215
201773310030134
2017–18177306081348
2018–19160104010220
2019–20160000030190
2020–217100001081
2021–228000000080
Total1111913225218216525
Everton (loan)2020–21FA WSL112000000112
Aston Villa (loan)2021–22FA WSL0000000000
Career total!

International

Year Great Britain
AppsGoalsAppsGoals
200621colspan=2
2007111colspan=2
200862colspan=2
2009111colspan=2
2010111colspan=2
2011113colspan=2
20128331
2013140colspan=2
2014111colspan=2
2015172colspan=2
2016123colspan=2
2017120colspan=2
20186?colspan=2
2019143colspan=2
202032colspan=2
2021?030
202241colspan=2
Total1612761

Scores and results list England or Great Britain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Scott goal.

List of international goals scored by Jill Scott[56]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
Goals for England
1 25 October 2006 Städtisches Waldstadion, Aalen, Germany 1–5 Friendly
2 17 September 2007 Chengdu Longquanyi Football Stadium, Chengdu, China 6–1 2007 FIFA World Cup
3 8 May 2008 Darida, Minsk, Belarus 6–1 UEFA Euro 2009 qualification
4 28 September 2008 Ďolíček, Prague, Czech Republic 5–1 UEFA Euro 2009 qualification
5 6 September 2009 Ratina Stadion, Tampere, Finland 2–1 2009 UEFA Championship
6 24 March 2010 Larnaca, Cyprus 1–0 2010 Cyprus Cup
7 17 May 2011 Kassam Stadium, Oxford, England 2–0 Friendly
8 1 July 2011 Glücksgas Stadium, Dresden, Germany 2–1 2011 FIFA World Cup
9 9 July 2011 BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany 1–1 2011 FIFA World Cup
10 21 June 2012 Ob Jezeru, Velenje, Slovenia 4–0 UEFA Euro 2013 qualification
11
12 19 September 2012 Bescot Stadium, Walsall, England 3–0 UEFA Euro 2013 qualification
13 20 October 2012 Stade Sébastien Charléty, Paris, France 2–2 Friendly
14 5 April 2014 Falmer Stadium, Brighton and Hove, England 9–0 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
15 21 September 2015 A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia 8–0 UEFA Euro 2017 qualification
16 29 November 2015 Ashton Gate, Bristol, England 1–0 UEFA Euro 2017 qualification
17 8 April 2016 New York Stadium, Rotherham, England 1–1 UEFA Euro 2017 qualification
18 7 June 2016 Sports Center of FA of Serbia, Stara Pazova, Serbia 7–0 UEFA Euro 2017 qualification
19 15 September 2016 Meadow Lane, Nottingham, England 5–0 UEFA Euro 2017 qualification
20 1 March 2018 Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, United States4–1 2018 SheBelieves Cup
21 18 June 2018 Sapsan Arena, Moscow, Russia 3–1 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
22
23 31 August 2018 Rodney Parade, Newport, Wales 3–0 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
24 25 May 2019 Bescot Stadium, Walsall, England 2–0 Friendly
25 27 June 2019Stade Océane, Le Havre, France 3–0 2019 FIFA World Cup
26 30 November 2021 Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster, England 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
27 30 June 2022 Letzigrund Stadium, Zürich, Switzerland 4–0 Euro 2022 Warm-up match
Goals for Great Britain
1 28 July 2012 3–0 2012 Olympic Games

Honours

Everton

2007–08

2009–10

Manchester City

2014, 2016, 2018–19

2016

2016–17, 2018–19, 2019–20

England

2022;[58] runner-up: 2009[59]

2009, 2013, 2015[60] [61] [62]

2022[63]

Individual

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015: List of players: England . FIFA . 10 . 6 July 2015 . 1 June 2019 . 2 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200202104009/https://www.fifadata.com/document/FWWC/2015/pdf/FWWC_2015_SquadLists.pdf . dead.
  2. https://www.englandfootball.com/womens-senior-team/squad/jill-scott England Women's player profile: Jill Scott
  3. Web site: Jill Scott: England profile . 2022-04-08 . www.thefa.com.
  4. Web site: Technical Report and Statistics. https://web.archive.org/web/20111227001733/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/footballdevelopment/technicalsupport/01/50/87/69/technicalreportfwwcgermany2011.pdf. dead. 27 December 2011. FIFA. 16 October 2011.
  5. Web site: Women's World Cup: England lifted by joker Jill Scott. BBC News. 8 July 2011. Alistair. Magowan. 16 October 2011.
  6. Web site: The girls done good  - now for the final test. Moore. Glenn. The Independent. 10 September 2009. 16 October 2011.
  7. Web site: Matt Hancock finishes third in I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! as Jill Scott is crowned queen . 27 November 2022 . Sky News.
  8. Web site: 27 November 2022 . I'm a Celebrity 2022 announces its winner . 27 November 2022 . The Independent.
  9. Web site: Women's World Cup 2019: Mapping England's Lionesses squad . BBC Sport . 6 September 2019 . 2 July 2019.
  10. Web site: Durham County Schools FA - Past Players (S) . DurhamCountySchoolsFA . 6 September 2019.
  11. Web site: Goodwin . Nicole . 2023-01-09 . Jill Scott returns to Boldon Girls club to visit aspiring Lionesses in BBC show . 2023-05-18 . ChronicleLive . en.
  12. Web site: 2022-09-22 . England's Euro 2022 winners honoured with gold plaques at local football clubs . 2023-04-02 . 90min.
  13. News: Sunderland star makes the full England squad . Sunderland University . 4 May 2006 . 7 September 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090915204644/http://seacoast.sunderland.ac.uk/~wu0caf/206may4.htm . 15 September 2009 .
  14. Web site: 2021-02-22. 'She's so unselfish': history beckons for Jill Scott with 150th England cap Suzanne Wrack. 2021-10-15. The Guardian. en.
  15. News: Everton sign Scott . Fair Game . 31 July 2009 . 7 September 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090915222729/http://www.fgmag.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=2808 . 15 September 2009 .
  16. News: Belles miss Scott but chase Wright . Fair Game . 14 July 2006 . 7 September 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090915222703/http://www.fgmag.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=2737 . 15 September 2009 .
  17. News: Arsenal win community shield . Fair Game . 3 August 2006 . 7 September 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090915223202/http://www.fgmag.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=2817 . 15 September 2009 .
  18. News: Winners revealed. TheFA.com. 26 July 2011. 23 May 2008.
  19. Web site: Women's Super League launches Twitter kit initiative to raise profile.. BBC Sport. 10 April 2012. 4 April 2012.
  20. Web site: Scott Leaves Blues. everton.fawsl.com. 13 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20180119121000/http://everton.fawsl.com/news/scott_leaves_blues.html. 19 January 2018. dead.
  21. Web site: Jill Scott: England midfielder joins Manchester City . BBC Sport . 15 November 2013 . 24 January 2014.
  22. Web site: Jill Scott: Official Manchester City FC profile. Manchester City FC. 9 February 2017. 7 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190407203112/https://www.mancity.com/jill-scott. dead.
  23. News: Currie . Jo . Jill Scott: Manchester City Women player banned for headbutt . 7 July 2018 . . 20 April 2015.
  24. Web site: Jill Scott: England midfielder signs new Manchester City contract as player-coach . BBC Sport . 18 September 2020 . 11 June 2020.
  25. News: Chelsea beat Man City in women's Community Shield despite Kerr misses . 29 August 2020 . The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 August 2020.
  26. News: ENGLAND GREAT SCOTT SEALS EVERTON WOMEN RETURN . 21 January 2021 . Everton F.C.. 21 January 2021.
  27. Web site: 25 January 2022. Jill Scott joins Aston Villa Women. 2022-01-25. Aston Villa Football Club.
  28. Web site: Christenson. Marcus. 2022-08-23 . 'No sad faces!' England's Euro 2022 winner Jill Scott retires from football . 2022-08-23 . . en.
  29. News: Scotty gets top player award . Fair Game . 7 September 2009 . 3 October 2005 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090915222655/http://www.fgmag.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=1969 . 15 September 2009 .
  30. News: After 13-goal romp Hope warns against complacency . Give Me Football . 4 May 2006 . 7 September 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090915205029/http://www.givemefootball.com/womens-football/after-13-goal-romp-hope-warns-against-complacency . 15 September 2009 .
  31. News: England Women 4–0 Holland Women 0. BBC Sport. 31 August 2006. 7 September 2009.
  32. News: World Cup was a great experience – Scott. Tony Leighton. The Sunderland Echo. 24 September 2007. 7 September 2009.
  33. News: England Women awarded contracts. BBC Sport. 14 May 2009. 7 September 2009.
  34. News: England Ladies 2–1 Holland Ladies. BBC Sport. 6 September 2009. 7 September 2009.
  35. News: England 1-1 France (France win 4-3 on pens). BBC Sport.
  36. News: Jill Scott: Manchester City midfielder pulls out of England squad for SheBelieves Cup. BBC Sport. 24 February 2019.
  37. Web site: Fisher. Bethany. 2021-02-24. Jill Scott: A journey to 150 caps for the Lionesses. 2021-05-19. Her Football Hub. en-GB.
  38. Web site: Lea. Connie. 2021-02-23. New era begins for England with 6-0 victory over N. Ireland. 2021-05-19. Her Football Hub. en-GB.
  39. Web site: England Women's final squad named for EURO 2022 . Davies . Callum . England Football.com . The FA . 15 June 2022 . 12 July 2022.
  40. https://www.uefa.com/womenseuro/teams/500039/squad/ England Squad
  41. Web site: 2022-08-23. England's Euro 2022 winner Jill Scott announces retirement from football. 2022-08-23. the Guardian.
  42. Web site: England squad named for World Cup . 2023-06-19 . The Football Association . en.
  43. Web site: Lacey-Hatton . Jack . 2022-11-18 . Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present . 2023-06-19 . mirror . en.
  44. News: Team GB women's squad for London 2012 announced. BBC Sport. 26 June 2012. 26 June 2012.
  45. Web site: Jill SCOTT. 2021-10-15. Olympics.com.
  46. News: Stichbury . Tom . 1 November 2022 . England Lioness Jill Scott set to head into I'm A Celebrity jungle . Metro . 7 November 2022.
  47. News: Jill Scott makes LGBTQ+ history after winning I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here . Jordan . Robledo . . 29 November 2022 . 7 December 2023 .
  48. News: Joyce . Paul . 20 June 2023 . Jill Scott: I'll get stick but I want to make female punditry the norm . en . 20 June 2023. 0140-0460.
  49. News: Lacey-Hatton . Jack . 7 March 2023 . Soccer Aid stars unveiled as Lionesses hero Jill Scott returns to lead England . 20 June 2023 . . en.
  50. Web site: I'm a Celebrity winner Jill Scott lands next TV role . Digital Spy . 1 July 2024 . 4 July 2023.
  51. Web site: Turner . Alicia . England and Manchester City star Jill Scott announces engagement . NewsChain . 25 May 2020 . 18 March 2020 .
  52. News: Marriage Story: The best of lez/bi love . Griffiths . Sophie . 25 May 2020 . . 20 March 2020.
  53. News: Hudson . Molly . Jill Scott: My age was no concern but something had to change to get me to the Tokyo Olympics . 21 June 2021 . The Sunday Times . 29 May 2021.
  54. Web site: Shelly Anne UNITT personal appointments . 2022-11-11 . .
  55. News: Jill Scott's academy appointment . Fair Game . 10 September 2008 . 7 September 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090915223234/http://www.fgmag.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=5480 . 15 September 2009 .
  56. Book: Karsdorp . Dirk . The England Women's FC 1972 – 2018: The Lionesses – A Statistical Record . 2018 . Soccer Books Ltd . 978-1-86223-391-1 .
  57. Web site: 4 July 2015 . Match for third place - Match report . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150706175120/http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/66/09/64/eng_51_0704_ger-eng_fulltime.pdf . 6 July 2015 . 7 July 2019 . FIFA.
  58. Web site: Sanders . Emma . England 2–1 Germany . BBC Sport . 31 July 2022 . 31 July 2022.
  59. Web site: UEFA Women's EURO 2009 - Final . UEFA . 7 July 2019 . 10 September 2009.
  60. News: Leighton . Tony . 12 March 2009 . England women win Cyprus Cup . The Guardian .
  61. News: Leighton . Tony . 13 March 2013 . Rachel Yankey volley earns England women their second Cyprus Cup title . The Guardian .
  62. Web site: Lavery . Glenn . 11 March 2015 . England 1–0 Canada: Cyprus Cup final match report . The Football Association.
  63. Web site: England 3-1 Germany . BBC Sport . 23 February 2022 . 23 February 2022.
  64. Web site: 1 August 2022. Lionesses and Sarina Wiegman given Freedom of the City of London after Euros win. 1 August 2022. ITV News.
  65. Web site: Steph Houghton, Gary Bennett and Jill Scott given freedom of Sunderland . BBC News . 9 March 2023 . 10 March 2023.
  66. Web site: JILL SCOTT INDUCTED INTO NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM HALL OF FAME. National Football Museum. 5 December 2023. 6 March 2024.
  67. News: 29 August 2023 . Rachel Daly and Erling Haaland win PFA player of the year awards . The Guardian . 30 August 2023.
  68. Web site: 13 November 2023 . WSL Hall of Fame: Jill Scott, Ellen White and Anita Asante named as 2023 inductees . 23 May 2024 . BBC Sport.