Rebecca Spencer

Last updated

Rebecca Spencer
Becky Spencer, 15 September 2019 (01) (cropped).jpg
Spencer with Tottenham in 2019
Personal information
Full name Rebecca Leigh Spencer [1]
Date of birth (1991-02-22) 22 February 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Harrow, London, England
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Tottenham Hotspur
Number 22
Youth career
Watford Ladies
2001–2006 Arsenal
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2006–2011 Arsenal 10 (0)
2009Nottingham Forest (loan) 1 (0)
2010–2011Gillingham Ladies (loan) 12 (0)
2011–2012 ASJ Soyaux 3 (0)
2012 Arsenal 0 (0)
2012 Birmingham City 8 (0)
2013 Arsenal 0 (0)
2013–2015 Birmingham City 30 (0)
2016–2018 Chelsea 8 (0)
2018–2019 West Ham United 12 (0)
2019– Tottenham Hotspur 60 (0)
International career
2010 England U19 5 (0)
2010 England U20 3 (0)
2021– Jamaica 17 (0)
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 07:39, 27 November 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 07:39, 27 November 2023 (UTC)

Rebecca Leigh "Becky" Spencer (born 22 February 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Women's Super League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Jamaica national team. After coming through the ranks at Arsenal, she had spent short spells with French club ASJ Soyaux and Birmingham City before returning to Arsenal ahead of the 2013 FA WSL. She spent two-and-a-half more years with Birmingham City, before joining Chelsea in January 2016. Born in England, Spencer represented England at Under-19 and Under-20 levels and now represents Jamaica at senior international level.

Contents

Early life

Born in Northwick Park Hospital, Spencer attended Welldon Park First and Middle School, appearing as the school goalkeeper aged 10. She then attended Rooks Heath College and in January 2009 was a fitness student in St Albans. [2]

Club career

Spencer began her career as a junior with Watford before joining the Centre of Excellence at Arsenal in 2001. [2] She progressed through the centre of excellence age groups and joined the senior team in 2006, where she was primarily the understudy to first choice keeper Emma Byrne. She made her FA Women's Premier League debut and in April 2008 was in goal as Arsenal beat Millwall Lionesses 3–1 in the London Cup Final, [3] having been in the Arsenal side beaten by Charlton Athletic in the 2006 final. [4]

Spencer was an unused substitute in the 2008 FA Women's Cup Final as Arsenal beat Leeds Carnegie [5] and in the 2009 final as Arsenal beat Sunderland. [6] She has also won an FA Women's Premier League Cup winners' medal having been an unused substitute for Arsenal's win against Leeds in March 2007. [7]

Spencer joined Gillingham on loan for 2010–11. She said "I have had a frustrating few years regarding getting regular game time and Gillingham has been the right choice of club to do this." [8] In December 2011 Spencer left Arsenal for French Division 1 Féminine club ASJ Soyaux. [9] [10] She returned to England in March 2012 for family reasons, [11] briefly rejoining Arsenal and appearing on the bench for two matches in the Champions League. [12] [13] Spencer then signed for Birmingham City, making her debut in a 4–0 FA Women's Cup win over Sunderland. [14] She went on to play a pivotal role as Birmingham defeated Chelsea in the 2012 FA Women's Cup Final on penalties. [15]

Spencer returned to Arsenal for the first half of 2013, but left Arsenal for a third time in July 2013. [16] She returned to Birmingham City. In January 2016, Spencer announced her transfer from Birmingham to WSL champions Chelsea. [17] Birmingham described the transfer fee banked from Chelsea as "an extremely good deal for the club". [18]

Spencer moved to West Ham United in June 2018. [19] She made 12 league appearances and four in the FA Women's League Cup. [20] She was an unused substitute in the side that played against Manchester City in the 2018–19 FA Women's Cup final. [21] In June 2019, it was announced that Spencer would leave West Ham upon the expiration of her contract. [22]

International career

Spencer has represented England at Under–15, [2] Under–19 [23] and Under–20 level. [24] She was the first choice for the Under–20s World Cup side in 2008. [25] In 2009, she was a key player as England's Under–19s side won the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship in Belarus, keeping clean sheets throughout the tournament, [26] and was named as one of ten 'emerging talents' from the tournament on the UEFA website. [27] She was called up to Mark Sampson's senior England squad in 2016 and was an unused substitute against Estonia. [28]

Spencer also qualifies for Jamaica through her heritage and received her first call-up to the Jamaican national team in June 2021. During that camp, Spencer made her senior international debut in a 1–0 win over Nigeria. She wears the number 13 jersey.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 26 November 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup [lower-alpha 1] League cup [lower-alpha 2] Continental [lower-alpha 3] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arsenal 2006–07 Women's Premier League 00??00?000
2007–08Women's Premier League40??10?050
2008–09Women's Premier League40??10?050
2009–10Women's Premier League20??10?030
2011Women's Premier League00??002020
Total100??3020150
Nottingham Forest (loan)2009–10Women's Premier League10?00010
Gillingham 2010–11Women's Premier League120?010130
ASJ Soyaux 2011–12 D1 Féminine 300030
Birmingham City 2012 Women's Super League 80?0100090
Arsenal2013Women's Super League00?0100010
Birmingham City2013Women's Super League60?00060
2014Women's Super League140?03080250
2015Women's Super League100?030130
Total300?06080440
Chelsea 2016Women's Super League60?0000060
2017Women's Super League00?000
2017–18Women's Super League20?0200040
Total80?02000100
West Ham United 2018–19 Women's Super League1200040160
Tottenham Hotspur 2019–20 Women's Super League1402010170
2020–21 Women's Super League1603030220
2021–22 Women's Super League1101020140
2022–23 Women's Super League1100010120
2023–24 Women's Super League80000080
Total6006070730
Career total1440602501001850

International

As of match played 27 September 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Jamaica 202110
202280
202380
Total170

Related Research Articles

The 2002–03 FA Premier League was the 11th season of the Premier League, the top division in English football. The first matches were played on 17 August 2002 and the last were played on 11 May 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sebastian Larsson</span> Swedish footballer

Bengt Ulf Sebastian Larsson is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Beginning his career at hometown club IFK Eskilstuna, Larsson was signed by Arsenal. He made three Premier League appearances for the Gunners, before joining Birmingham City, initially on loan for the 2006–07 season, before a permanent transfer in the winter of 2007. Larsson spent five years at Birmingham, experiencing promotion to, and relegation from, the Premier League on two occasions. He joined Sunderland on 1 July 2011 upon the expiry of his contract, after Birmingham suffered relegation. He left Sunderland in 2017 to sign for Hull City in the EFL Championship where he spent one season. He returned to his native Sweden in 2018 to sign for AIK, and helped them win the 2018 Allsvenskan title before retiring in 2022. Larsson is renowned for being a set-piece specialist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005–06 FA Premier League</span> 14th season of the Premier League

The 2005–06 FA Premier League was the 14th season of the Premier League. It began on 13 August 2005, and concluded on 7 May 2006. The season saw Chelsea retain their title after defeating Manchester United 3–0 at Stamford Bridge towards the end of April. On the same day, West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City were relegated, joining Sunderland in the Championship for the following season. Chelsea drew the record they set the previous season, with 29 wins in home and away campaigns.

<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">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-Nigerian 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">Siobhan Chamberlain</span> English footballer, sports pundit, and commentator

Siobhan Rebecca Chamberlain is an English sports pundit, commentator, and former professional footballer who last played as a goalkeeper for Manchester United.

<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">Laura Bassett</span> English footballer

Laura Bassett is an English former football defender who represented England internationally. She played for FA WSL club Notts County, Birmingham City, Arsenal, Leeds Carnegie, Chelsea, and Australian W-League club Canberra United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Williams (footballer)</span> English footballer

Rachel Louise Williams is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United of the English Women's Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danielle Bowman</span> English footballer

Danielle Josephine "Dani" Bowman is an English football coach and a retired international footballer. She is currently a first-team coach for West Ham United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danielle Hill</span> English footballer

Danielle Marie Hill is a retired English football goalkeeper and currently the goalkeeping coach for the Blackburn Rovers of the FA Women's Championship. She retired in 2020 after a spell with Blackburn Rovers. Hill briefly played for Doncaster Rovers Belles in the FA WSL 2. Born in Liverpool, she began her career with Everton Ladies and had a previous spell with Blackburn Rovers. She also played for ÍBV of the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild and in Norway for Toppserien club Avaldsnes IL. She has represented England up to Under 23 level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellen White (footballer)</span> English footballer (born 1989)

Ellen Toni Convery is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward. She is the record goalscorer for the England women's national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Nobbs</span> English footballer

Jordan Nobbs is an English professional footballer who plays for Women's Super League club Aston Villa. She previously played for Sunderland and Arsenal.

<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 Manchester United and the England national team. She previously played for Division 1 club Olympique Lyonnais, Manchester City, Everton and Arsenal.

<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">Drew Spence</span> Jamaican footballer (born 1992)

Drew Spence is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for FA WSL club Tottenham Hotspur. Born in England, she played for the England women's national football team in 2015 and currently represents Jamaica since 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie Baggaley</span> English footballer

Sophie Baggaley is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Brighton & Hove Albion in the Women's Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Moorhouse</span> English footballer

Anna Victoria Moorhouse is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawa Cissoko</span> French footballer

Hawa Cissoko is a French professional footballer who plays as a defender for Women's Super League club West Ham United and the France national team. She also holds Malian citizenship.

References

  1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/10/2009 and 31 October 2009" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Tim Edwards (22 January 2009). "Rebecca aiming to stay top of her game". Harrow Observer. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  3. "Arsenal retain London Cup". Fair Game. 17 April 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. "Charlton retain London Cup". Fair Game. 23 March 2006. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  5. David Ornstein (5 May 2008). "FA Cup win secures Arsenal double". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  6. Gareth Davis (4 May 2009). "Report:Arsenal 2 Sunderland 1". Derby County F.C. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  7. "Arsenal clinch League Cup glory". BBC Sport. 4 March 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  8. "Spencer: Keeping clean sheets is my main priority". Gillingham Ladies media. 15 December 2010. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  9. "Rebecca Spencer and Fiona O'Sullivan move to France". CWF Football. 23 December 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  10. O'Neill, Jen (24 January 2012). "Rebecca Spencer/ ASJ Soyaux Charente". She Kicks. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  11. "D1 : Rebecca Spencer rentre au pays..." ASJ Soyaux Charente. 12 March 2012. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  12. https://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/match/2009088--arsenal-vs-hacken/
  13. https://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/match/2009092--hacken-vs-arsenal/
  14. "BLUES 4 SUNDERLAND 0". Birmingham City Ladies. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  15. "FA Cup Final throwback: Birmingham topple Chelsea in 2012 thriller". The FA. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  16. "Beattie and Spencer Leave Arsenal". She Kicks. 16 July 2013. Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  17. "Jade Bailey and Becky Spencer join Chelsea Ladies". BBC Sport. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  18. "Statement: player movements in transfer window". Birmingham City L.F.C. 26 January 2016. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  19. "Rebecca Spencer: West Ham Ladies sign former Chelsea goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  20. Rebecca Spencer at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  21. "Women's FA Cup final 2018-19: Manchester City Women 3-0 West Ham United Women". BBC Sport. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  22. "Visalli and Spencer to depart West Ham United". West Ham United F.C. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  23. "Sweden deny England semi spot". Fair Game. 13 July 2008. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  24. "England U20s bow out to USA". Fair Game. 1 December 2008. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  25. "13. Rebecca Spencer". Arsenal F.C. Archived from the original on 22 August 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  26. "England are UEFA U19 Champions!". Fair Game. 27 July 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  27. "England dominate emerging talents". UEFA. 27 July 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  28. "England vs. Estonia - 15 September 2016". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 June 2019.