Leanne Champ

Leanne Kelly Champ (born 10 August 1983) is an English football player and coach, who last played for North Jersey Valkyries of the North American W-League. A tough-tackling full back who can also play in midfield, Champ previously played for FA WSL club Chelsea Ladies, Arsenal and Pali Blues as well as spending three spells with Millwall Lionesses. She has also represented England at youth and senior level. She is now the Pro Team Second Assistant Coach and Breakers College Academy Coach for the Boston Breakers in the NWSL.

Leanne Champ
Personal information
Full name Leanne Kelly Champ
Date of birth (1983-08-10) 10 August 1983
Place of birth Portsmouth, England
Position(s) Defender / Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2001 Millwall Lionesses
2001–2008 Arsenal Ladies
2008–2009 Millwall Lionesses
2009–2011 Chelsea Ladies
2010 → Pali Blues (loan) 2 (0)
2012 Philadelphia Fever 9 (1)
2013 Millwall Lionesses
2013 North Jersey Valkyries 7 (0)
International career‡
2003– England 10 (0)
Managerial career
2017– Boston Breakers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 April 2017

Club career

Champ began her career with nine years at Millwall Lionesses, moving to Arsenal in 2001.[1] She spent six years with Arsenal, working in the club laundry when not playing,[1] before returning to Millwall during 2007–08. Champ had sat out Arsenal's quadruple-winning 2006–07 season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.[2] In the 2008–09 season, she helped Millwall to the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division title, and with it a return to the FA Women's Premier League National Division.[3] Early in the 2009–10 campaign Champ switched to Chelsea and scored against former club Arsenal in a 3–2 home League defeat in November 2009.[4]

She played for North American W-League club Pali Blues in summer 2010.[5] She returned to Chelsea for the inaugural 2011 FA WSL and played in 13 of the club's 14 league matches. In 2012 Champ played for Philadelphia Fever in America's Women's Premier Soccer League Elite (WPSL Elite). She agreed a brief return to Millwall in January 2013,[6] before heading off again to America in April 2013, with North Jersey Valkyries.

In 2014 Champ was employed as a soccer coach by the Boston Breakers. She coached the National Women's Soccer League club's academy teams and intended to play for the reserve team as player-coach.[7]

International career

Champ played for England in the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship and reached the quarter-final.[8] She had previously won seven caps at U-16 level, and by 2001–02 was an established member of the senior squad.[9]

In February 2003 Champ made her Senior debut in a 1–0 friendly defeat in Italy.[10]

She has 10 caps for England.[11]

She was allotted 145 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural international.[12][13]

Coaching career

Leanne is a new member of the 2017 Boston Breakers coaching staff, serving as both the Pro Team Second Assistant Coach and the Breakers College Academy Coach as "part of the player identification and scouting network for both Boston Breakers senior teams, and Academy teams."[14]

Personal life

Champ worked as a postwoman in her native Kent.[15]

References
  1. "Leanne Champ". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  2. Paul Saffer (22 April 2007). "Arsenal's women true to tradition". UEFA. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  3. "Leanne's Lionesses to be crowned". The Football Association. 17 April 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  4. James Masters (8 November 2009). "Gunners see off Chelsea challenge". The Football Association. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  5. "2010 ROSTER". Pali Blues Soccer Club. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  6. "Leanne Champ Returns To Millwall". She Kicks. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  7. "Leanne Champ, GU10 Coach". Strikers United. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  8. Leanne Champ – FIFA competition record (archived)
  9. "England Player Biographies". Womens Soccer World. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  10. "England women Fixtures and Results, 2004/05". Cresswell Wanderers FC. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
  11. "England women's legacy and results archive". The Football Association. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  12. "England squad named for World Cup". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  13. Lacey-Hatton, Jack (18 November 2022). "Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present". mirror. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  14. "Coaching Staff – Boston Breakers". bostonbreakerssoccer.com. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  15. "PLAYER PROFILE". Millwall Lionesses F.C. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
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