Drew Spence

Last updated

Drew Spence
Drew Spence.png
Spence in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (1992-10-23) 23 October 1992 (age 31)
Place of birth London, England
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Tottenham Hotspur
Number 24
Youth career
Arsenal
Fulham
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2008–2022 Chelsea 223 (49)
2022– Tottenham Hotspur 34 (5)
International career‡
2015 England 2 (0)
2021– Jamaica 7 (1)
Medal record
Representing Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
CONCACAF W Championship
Bronze medal icon.svg 2022 Mexico
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14.40, 9 January 2022 (CET)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:45, 13 August 2022

Drew Spence (born 23 October 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Tottenham Hotspur. Born in England she played for the England national football team in 2015, and as of 2021, represents Jamaica.

Contents

Club career

Chelsea

Chelsea and England teammate Gilly Flaherty recalled playing alongside Spence in the Arsenal Centre of Excellence. [1] Spence progressed to Fulham's youth team, before signing for Chelsea in 2008. [2]

Spence and Chelsea reached the FA Women's Cup final for the first time in 2012, but were eventually beaten by Birmingham City in a penalty shootout after twice taking the lead in a 2–2 draw. Spence's effort was saved by Becky Spencer. [3] In 2015, Spence won her first ever major trophy, in the 2015 FA Women's Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. Spence secured her first FA WSL title as her team beat Sunderland 4–0 in October 2015 to secure the League and Cup "double". [4] At the end of the season Spence signed a new two-year contract with Chelsea. [5]

During a 5–0 thrashing by Arsenal in October 2018, Spence left Kim Little nursing a broken leg with what Arsenal's website described as a "heavy tackle". The match officials were criticised for failing to send off Spence, who left Little ruled out for around ten weeks. [6] In 2020 Spence signed a new contract that will see her stay with Chelsea until 2022. [7]

Tottenham Hotspur

In June 2022, Spence signed a two-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur, leaving Chelsea as their longest serving player. [8]

International career

National coach Mark Sampson gave Spence her first senior call up in October 2015, in an understrength squad for the 2015 Yongchuan International Tournament. [9] She won her first England cap on 23 October 2015, as a substitute in England's 2–1 defeat to China in Chongqing. [10]

In September 2017, Spence's Chelsea team-mate Eniola Aluko was pursuing allegations of racial discrimination against The FA through the pages of The Guardian newspaper. Spence was drawn into the controversy when she was revealed as the previously-anonymous "The Player" who was said to have been "upset and offended" by Mark Sampson on the trip to China. [11]

In November 2022, Spence was recognized by The Football Association as one of the England national team's legacy players, and as the 192nd women's player to be capped by England. [12] [13]

Spence qualfied for Jamaica through her heritage and made her debut on 24 October 2021. [14]

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.26 September 2023 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1–01–2 CONCACAF Olympic Play-in

Personal life

Spence's brother Lewwis Spence is also a professional footballer. [15]

Spence spoke on a podcast in 2020 about being part of the LGBT+ community. [16]

Honours

Chelsea [17]

Individual

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karen Carney</span> English footballer and sports journalist

Karen Julia Carney is an English sports journalist and former professional footballer who played as a winger and midfielder. Carney has been a regular broadcaster for live football on Sky Sports, ITV and Amazon Prime, including Women's Super League and men's Premier League matches since 2019. She is also a sports columnist for BBC Sport, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Television, and The Guardian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chelsea F.C. Women</span> English womens association football club

Chelsea Football Club Women, formerly known as Chelsea Ladies Football Club, are an English women's football club based in Kingston upon Thames, London. Founded in 1992, they compete in the Women's Super League, the top flight of women's football in England, and play their home games at the Kingsmeadow with some select games at Stamford Bridge. Since 2004, the club has been affiliated with Chelsea F.C., the men's team in the Premier League. Chelsea Women were a founding member of the Super League in 2010. From 2005 to 2010, the side competed in the Premier League National Division, the top tier of women's football in England at the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katie Chapman</span> English footballer (born 1982)

Katie Sarah Chapman is an English former professional footballer who notably played for FA WSL clubs Arsenal Ladies and Chelsea Ladies and was a member of the England women's national team. She primarily played as a central midfielder, although she was also deployed in central defence while playing for England. Chapman was described as "a physical player who handles a brunt of the dirty work in the middle of the pitch." Her playing ability, profile and influence have drawn comparisons to former England captain David Beckham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eniola Aluko</span> British-Nigerian footballer (born 1987)

Eniola Aluko is a British football executive, football broadcaster and former professional player who played as a winger and striker. Aluko has been a regular broadcaster for live football on ITV, BT Sport, Amazon Prime and Fox Sports in the USA, including men's Premier League matches and Women's Super League since 2014. She was the first Sporting Director for Angel City FC of the American National women's soccer league and formerly held the position of Sporting Director at Aston Villa W.F.C. from January 2020 to June 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casey Stoney</span> English football manager (born 1982)

Casey Jean Stoney is an English professional football manager and former player who was most recently the head coach of San Diego Wave FC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilly Flaherty</span> English footballer

Gilly Louise Scarlett Flaherty is an English former footballer who last played for FA WSL club Liverpool. Flaherty is a former Arsenal Ladies player who began her career in Millwall Lionesses' youth teams. She usually plays in the centre back position and represented England at youth level before making her senior debut in October 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gemma Davison</span> English footballer

Gemma Suzanne Davison is an English footballer who plays as a winger. She has previously played for Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Reading whom she joined from Chelsea in 2018. After joining Arsenal at youth team level from Watford Ladies, Davison became a regular player and won several trophies. She also spent time in the United States playing for various American clubs in three separate spells. Davison is a full senior international player for the England women's national football team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie Bradley-Auckland</span> English footballer (born 1989)

Sophie Elizabeth Bradley-Auckland is an English former international football defender who played for Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, Lincoln Ladies, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Liverpool, and, Sheffield United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jo Potter</span> English footballer and pundit

Josanne Potter is an English Association football Manager and former footballer who played as a midfielder, most recently for Reading. Originally a left-winger, she matured into a creative central midfield player. At club level Potter enjoyed three separate spells at Birmingham City Ladies and was noted for her crossing abilities and goalscoring record. She played in three FA Women's Cup finals – with Arsenal in 2004, Charlton Athletic in 2007 and Birmingham City in 2012. On the international stage, she often had to compete with Rachel Yankey and Sue Smith for a place on the left flank of the England team. After 2007 Potter worked as a BBC television football pundit. In June 2023, Potter was appointed the head coach of Rangers W.F.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jade Moore</span> English footballer

Jade Ellis Moore is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for USL Super League club Tampa Bay Sun FC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 FA Women's Cup final</span> English football cup final

The 2012 FA Women's Cup final was the 42nd final of the FA Women's Cup. 276 clubs competed for the years trophy. The winners did not qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Sampson</span> Welsh footballer and coach

Mark Geraint Sampson is a Welsh football coach who was most recently a first team coach at Stevenage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fran Kirby</span> English footballer

Francesca Kirby is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Women's Super League club Brighton & Hove Albion and the England national team. She began her career with hometown club Reading before moving to Chelsea in July 2015 where she remained until 2024. In August 2014, Kirby won her first senior cap for England. She represented her country at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France and the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 in the Netherlands. She is considered as one of the best players of her generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikita Parris</span> English professional footballer (born 1994)

Nikita Josephine Parris is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Super League club Brighton & Hove Albion and the England national team. She previously played for Division 1 club Olympique Lyonnais, Manchester City, Everton, Arsenal and Manchester United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hannah Blundell</span> English footballer (born 1994)

Hannah Jayne Blundell is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Manchester United in the Women's Super League and the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 FA Women's Cup final</span> English football cup final

The 2015 FA Women's Cup final was the 45th final of the FA Women's Cup, England's primary cup competition for women's football teams. The showpiece event was the 22nd to be played directly under the auspices of the Football Association (FA) and was named the SSE Women's FA Cup final for sponsorship reasons. The final was contested between Chelsea Ladies and Notts County Ladies on 1 August 2015 at Wembley Stadium in London. Chelsea made its second final appearance, after losing the 2012 final. Notts County appeared in its first ever final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Coombs</span> English footballer (born 1991)

Laura Coombs is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Manchester City and the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millie Bright</span> English footballer (born 1993)

Millie Bright is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Women's Super League club Chelsea who she captains, and the England national team. She previously played for Doncaster Belles and Leeds Ladies, and represented England on the under-19 and under-23 national teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vyan Sampson</span> Jamaican footballer (born 1996)

Vyan Sampson is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for WE League club JEF United Chiba. Born in England, she represents Jamaica internationally.

The 2017 season was Chelsea Ladies Football Club's 25th season of competitive football and its seventh season in the FA Women's Super League and at the top level of English women's football, being one of the league's foundation clubs.

References

  1. ↑ Flaherty, Gilly (2 April 2015). "Chelsea Ladies One by One". Chelsea L.F.C. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  2. ↑ Randall, James (12 November 2015). "Drew: Let's keep the Wolf from the door". The Football League Paper. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  3. ↑ Nisbet, John (27 May 2012). "Shoot-out has unhappy ending for Chelsea Ladies". The Independent . Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  4. ↑ Garry, Tom (4 October 2015). "WSL 1: Chelsea Ladies 4–0 Sunderland Ladies". BBC Sport . Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Ladies Preview: Spence Seeks Solidity". Chelsea L.F.C. 11 November 2015. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "Kim Little: Lucy Bronze criticises officials as Arsenal's Scotland midfielder fractures leg". BBC Sport. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  7. ↑ "Spence signs contract extension". Chelsea F.C. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  8. ↑ "Drew Spence completes move". www.tottenhamhotspur.com. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  9. ↑ Lavery, Glenn (21 October 2015). "Laura Coombs determined to grab her England chance in China". The Football Association . Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  10. ↑ "England women beaten by China despite Eniola Aluko goal". BBC Sport. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  11. ↑ Taylor, Daniel (14 September 2017). "FA may launch new Mark Sampson inquiry after Drew Spence intervention". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  12. ↑ "ENGLAND PLAYER LEGACY AND RESULTS ARCHIVE" (Press release). The Football Association. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  13. ↑ Lacey-Hatton, Jack (18 November 2022). "Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present". Mirror . Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  14. ↑ Official J. F. F. "Four International debuts for the #ReggaeGirlz! Murray, Bailey, Spence and Gayle all start ✊🏿 . #ReggaeGirlz #JAMvCR #Rooted2Rise #ReggaeGirlzFoundation #StrikeHard #JFF_Football" – via Twitter.
  15. ↑ "Spence siblings complete Wembley dream as Hornchurch skipper Lewwis follows in Drew's footsteps". The Herald . 22 May 2021.
  16. ↑ "EP 54. Are There ACTUALLY Many Lesbians In Sports? ... Ft. @_spence23". Amazon Music. Two Twos Podcast. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  17. ↑ "Drew Spence Profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  18. ↑ "Dumornay, Lavelle and Shaw headline CMU20 Best XI". CONCACAF . 19 July 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.