Claire Utley

Claire Utley (born 11 February 1979) is an English former football defender, best known for her long association with Doncaster Rovers Belles. Utley represented England five times at senior international level.

Claire Utley
Personal information
Date of birth (1979-02-11) 11 February 1979[1]
Place of birth South Elmsall, England
Height 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Doncaster Rovers Belles
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–2002 Doncaster Rovers Belles
2002–2003 Leeds United Ladies
2003–2010 Doncaster Rovers Belles
2010 Whitley Bay Ladies
International career
1998– England 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:58, 12 August 2009 (UTC)

Club career

In summer 1994 three players from Doncaster Belles' double-winning team left for Liverpool Ladies. As a result, Minsthorpe High School pupil Utley was drafted into the first team as a fifteen-year-old centre-back, making her debut in a 7–1 home win against Millwall Lionesses on the opening day of the 1994–95 season. In October 1994 she featured in the FA Women's Premier League Cup final, held over from the previous season, as the Belles were beaten 4–0 by Arsenal Ladies.

Utley was nicknamed Des after Des Walker. She suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury in April 2001[2] and missed a year of action, returning for the Belles' 2–1 defeat to Fulham in the 2002 FA Women's Cup final.[3] She then spent a short spell at Leeds United in 2002–03.[4]

In 2004 Doncaster Belles suffered an exodus of players after a financial crisis, however, Utley and Vicky Exley chose to remain loyal to the club.[5]

She joined Whitley Bay ahead of season 2010–11.[6] After two appearances that season, Utley left the club.[7]

International career

After breaking through at Doncaster Belles, Utley was thought likely to play for England "as sure as the sun shines on the Sahara."[8]

Utley eventually won five caps for the senior England women's national football team.[9]

She was allotted 130 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural international.[10][11]

References
  1. "England - Claire Utley". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  2. "TITLE HOPES SUFFER SETBACK". Doncaster Free Press. 19 April 2001. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  3. Tony Leighton (7 May 2005). "Fulham too professional for battling Belles". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  4. "Doncaster Belles – Meet The Squad". Doncaster Free Press. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  5. "BELLES DEFY THE ODDS". Doncaster Free Press. 26 August 2004. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  6. "Pen Pics 2008–2009". Whitley Bay FC. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  7. "Season 2010-2011 Archive". Whitley Bay FC. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  8. Davies, Pete (1996). I Lost My Heart to the Belles. London: Mandarin. p. 9. ISBN 0-7493-2085-0. [...] merely fifteen years old – a centre-half who, if she stayed fit and keen would play for England one day as sure as the sun shines on the Sahara.
  9. "Claire Utley". Doncaster Rovers Belles. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  10. "England squad named for World Cup". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  11. Lacey-Hatton, Jack (18 November 2022). "Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present". mirror. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
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