Jessica Sigsworth

Jess Sigsworth

Sigsworth playing for Manchester United, February 2019
Personal information
Full name	Jessica Lucy Sigsworth [1]
Date of birth	(1994-10-13) 13 October 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth	Doncaster, England [2]
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.72 m) [1]
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
	Branton Boys
	Doncaster Rovers Belles
2008–2011	Sheffield United Academy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2011–2015	Doncaster Rovers Belles	44	(7)
2015	Notts County	0	(0)
2016–2018	Doncaster Rovers Belles	25	(17)
2018–2021	Manchester United	47	(22)
2021–2023	Leicester City	13	(2)
2023–2024	Sheffield United	16	(1)
Total		145	(49)
International career‡
2011	England U17	3	(1)
2011–2013	England U19	18	(3)
2014	England U20	3	(0)
	England U23	5
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 July 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 June 2016

Jessica Lucy Sigsworth (born 13 October 1994) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker for Manchester United, Sheffield United, Notts County, Doncaster Rovers Belles and Leicester City, and has represented England at numerous youth levels.

Sigsworth won the Golden Boot award for most goals scored during the 2017–18 FA WSL 2 season and the 2018–19 FA Women's Championship.

Early life

Sigsworth, aged seven, started her youth career playing for Branton Boys. ^[3] Her twin brother played for Branton and the coach asked her if she wanted to play. ^[3] After playing for Doncaster Rovers Belles Juniors, she moved to Sheffield United Girls’ Centre of Excellence, where she broke into the England under-17 squad. After three seasons, she returned to Doncaster Belles. ^[4]

As a youth, Sigsworth was a fan of Manchester United and dreamed of playing for the club. ^[5]

Club career

Doncaster Rovers Belles, 2011–15

Sigsworth playing for Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2011.

Sigsworth began her senior career by signing with Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2011. ^[4] She made her senior debut on 23 July 2011 in a 3–0 defeat against Birmingham City. ^[6] In four years, she scored seven goals in 41 appearances.

Notts County, 2015

In January 2015, Sigsworth moved to FA WSL outfit Notts County. ^[7] Though she was named in a matchday squad twice, she never made an appearance. ^[8]

Return to Doncaster Rovers Belles, 2016–18

In November 2015, Sigsworth re-signed with hometown team Doncaster Rovers Belles ahead of the 2016 season. ^[9] On 20 March 2016, she scored her first goal, in her first appearance since returning to the club in a 4–1 defeat against Chelsea in the FA Women's Cup. ^[10] In May 2016, she signed a full-time contract. ^[2] In August, she suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury, missing the rest of the season, as the team were relegated to FA WSL 2, as well as the subsequent Spring Series. ^{[11] [12]} In the 2017–18 season, Sigsworth won the FA WSL 2 Player of the Month award for March. ^[13] Sigsworth guided Doncaster to the FA WSL 2 title and won the golden boot with 15 goals. ^{[14] [15]}

Manchester United, 2018–21

Sigsworth playing for Manchester United against Brighton & Hove Albion in 2019.

In July 2018, Sigsworth was announced as part of the inaugural Manchester United squad that was set to compete in the newly restructured FA Women's Championship. ^[16] She made her competitive debut for Manchester United in a 1–0 League Cup victory against Liverpool on 19 August. ^[17] On the opening day of the 2018–19 Championship season, Sigsworth scored five goals in a 12–0 win away to Aston Villa. ^[18] On 9 March 2019, during a 2–0 FA WSL Cup win against West Ham, Sigsworth was involved in an incident with Brooke Hendrix; three days later, Hendrix was charged with violent conduct by the FA and banned for three games. ^[19] Sigsworth finished the season with consecutive Championship titles and golden boot awards, having scored 17 league goals. ^{[20] [21]}

Sigsworth scored her first goal of the 2019–20 season in United's 2–0 League Cup win against Manchester City on 20 October 2019. ^[22] During a match against Reading on 27 October, her "cool, calm and collected" goal in the 85th minute secured the team's 2–0 win. ^{[23] [8]} She finished the regular season with two goals in 14 matches. ^[8] Manchester United finished in fourth place with a 7–5–2 record. ^[24]

Ahead of the 2020–21 season, Sigsworth signed a new one-year contract with an option for a further year. ^[25] Of the signing, she said, "I love this club; as a kid growing up supporting United it was always a dream to be a part of its history." ^[26] With a decrease in playing time for a second successive season, limited to 577 minutes in 14 league appearances, it was announced on 21 June 2021 that Sigsworth would leave United on the expiry of her contract at the end of the month. At the time, Sigsworth departed the club as the third highest goalscorer behind Ella Toone and Lauren James. ^[27]

Leicester City, 2021–23

On 16 July 2021, Sigsworth signed for newly-promoted Leicester City ahead of their maiden FA WSL season. ^[28] In February 2022, Sigsworth ruptured her ACL ending her season early. ^[29]

Sheffield United, 2023-2024

On 21 July 2023, Sigsworth signed for Sheffield United. ^[30]

On July 31, 2024, Sigsworth announced her retirement at the age of 29. ^[31]

International career

Sigsworth has represented England at under-17, under-19, under-20 and under-23 levels. ^[32]

In April 2011, Sigsworth scored for the under-17s in a 1–0 win against Sweden in the UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship second qualifying round. ^[33] In August 2013, Sigsworth was part of the England under-19 team who finished as runners-up to France at the UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in Wales. ^[34] In July 2014, Sigsworth was named as part of the England under-20 squad for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. ^[35] Sigsworth started all three games as England failed to progress, having finished third in Group C. ^[36]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 3 march 2024. ^{[37] [38]}

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup [a]		League Cup [b]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Doncaster Belles	2011	WSL 1	6	0	—		1	0	7	0
	2012		14	1	2	0	3	0	19	1
	2013		10	1	—		3	1	13	2
	2014	WSL 2	14	5	2	1	5	2	21	8
	Total		44	7	4	1	12	3	60	11
Notts County	2015	WSL 1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Doncaster Belles	2016	WSL 1	7	1	1	1	1	0	9	2
	2017	WSL 2	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
	2017–18		18	16	—		3	2	21	18
	Total		25	17	1	1	4	2	30	20
Manchester United	2018–19	Championship	19	17	3	0	6	1	28	18
	2019–20	WSL	14	2	1	0	5	2	20	4
	2020–21		14	3	2	1	2	0	18	4
	Total		47	22	6	1	13	3	66	26
Leicester City F.C.	2021-22	WSL	13	2	1	0	3	0	17	2
	2022-23		1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	Total		14	2	1	0	3	0	18	2
Sheffield United F.C.	2023-24	Championship	16	1	1	1	2	1	19	3
Career total			142	49	13	3	34	9	189	62

1. Includes the Women's FA Cup
2. Includes the WSL Cup/Women's League Cup

Honours

Doncaster Rovers Belles

• FA WSL 2: 2017–18 ^[14]

Manchester United

• FA Women's Championship: 2018–19 ^[20]

Individual

• FA WSL 2 / FA Women's Championship Golden Boot: 2017–18, ^[15] 2018–19 ^[21]

See also

• List of Manchester United W.F.C. records and statistics
• List of Manchester United W.F.C. players

References

1. "List of Players - England" (PDF). FIFA. 4 August 2014. p. 5. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
2. "Doncaster Belles: Sigsworth gunning for Arsenal after signing full-time deal". South Yorkshire Times. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016. The Doncaster-born forward has signed a new deal with the Belles after completing her studies at Sheffield Hallam University.
3. "Manchester United forward Jess Sigsworth 'always on the up'". The Mind Map. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
4. "A parent's role – Dad aids daughters rise up football ladder – Sheffield & Hallamshire CFA". Sheffield & Hallamshire CFA. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
5. "JESS SIGSWORTH SIGNS NEW CONTRACT". Manchester United. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
6. "FA WSL: Birmingham Ladies 3 Doncaster Rovers Belles 0". sportsister.com. 24 July 2011. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
7. "Doncaster Belles: Jess Sigsworth signs for Notts County Ladies". Doncaster Free Press. 6 January 2015. Archived from the original on 3 August 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
8. "Jessica Sigsworth". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
9. "Jess Sigsworth: Doncaster Rovers Belles re-sign Notts County striker". BBC. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
10. "Women's FA Cup: Holders Chelsea beat Doncaster to reach quarter-final". BBC Sport. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
11. "Doncaster Rovers Belles: Step to Women's Super League 1 'bigger than expected'". BBC Sport. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
12. "Doncaster Belles: Jess Sigsworth determined to repay Belles' faith". Doncaster Free Press. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
13. "White and Sigsworth named players of the month". fawsl.com. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
14. "Brilliant Belles celebrate title win with three points". FAWSL.com. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
15. "CELEBRATION TIME AT 20TH ANNUAL FA WOMEN'S FOOTBALL AWARDS". thefa.com. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
16. "Manchester United include England stars in unveiled women's squad". 13 July 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
17. Drudge, Harriet (19 August 2018). "MATCH REPORT: LIVERPOOL WOMEN 0 UNITED WOMEN 1". ManUtd.com. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
18. "MATCH REPORT: ASTON VILLA 0 UNITED WOMEN 12". www.manutd.com. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
19. "Brooke Hendrix: West Ham Women defender banned after stamp". BBC Sport. 12 January 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
20. "Man Utd Women 7-0 Crystal Palace Ladies: Women's Championship title sealed by win". BBC Sport. 20 April 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
21. Bonsu, Benny (18 May 2019). "The winners from the 21st annual FA Women's Football Awards". givemesport.com. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
22. "Women's Continental League Cup: Manchester United 2–0 Manchester City". BBC Sport. 20 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
23. "'Cool, calm, collected!' Sigsworth seals win for Man Utd over Reading". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
24. "Women's Super League: 2019-20". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
25. "Sigsworth signs new Man Utd Women's contract". www.manutd.com. 24 June 2020.
26. "Jess Sigsworth: Manchester United Women forward signs new one-year deal". BBC Sport. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
27. "Jess Sigsworth to depart United Women". www.manutd.com. 21 June 2021.
28. "LCFC Women Sign Striker Jess Sigsworth". Leicester City.
29. Wilson, Megan (26 February 2022). "Chelsea goal fest sees FA Cup hopes dashed for Leicester". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
30. Frith, Wilf. "Sheffield United Women sign Jess Sigsworth". SHEKICKS. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
31. "Jess Sigsworth retires". www.sufc.com.
32. "Jessica Sigsworth". Doncaster Rovers Belles. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
33. "Women's Under-17 2011 - England-Sweden". uefa.com. UEFA. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
34. "Women's Under-19 - England-France". UEFA. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
35. Lavery, Glenn (1 July 2014). "Mo Marley names England squad for Women's U20 World Cup". thefa.com. The Football Association . Retrieved 31 May 2019.
36. "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2014 – Group C". FIFA. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
37. "Jessica Sigsworth player profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
38. "Appearances, goals and cards for Sigsworth". Football-Lineups. Retrieved 18 May 2019.

Further reading

• Aluko, Eniola (2019), They Don't Teach This, Random House, ISBN   9781473564480
• Caudwell, Jayne (2013), Women's Football in the UK: Continuing with Gender Analyses, Taylor & Francis, ISBN   9781317966234
• Grainey, Timothy (2012), Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women's Soccer, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN   0803240368

External links

• Profile at the Manchester United F.C. website
• Profile at the Football Association website
• Jessica Sigsworth – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Jessica Sigsworth – UEFA competition record ( archive )
• Jessica Sigsworth at Soccerway
• Jessica Sigsworth on Twitter