Melanie Garside-Wight

Melanie "Mel" Garside-Wight (born 11 August 1979) is an English footballer, and former England women's national football team player. A forward or winger comfortable on either flank, Garside-Wight began her career with local club Bradford City and later joined Doncaster Belles. She was known as Melanie Garside until she married Gillian Wight in May 2010 and added her surname to her own.[1]

Mel Garside-Wight
Personal information
Full name Melanie Garside-Wight
Date of birth (1979-08-11) 11 August 1979
Place of birth Halifax, England
Position(s) Striker / Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Bradford City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1999 Bradford City
1999–2002 Doncaster Belles
2002–2003 Sheffield Wednesday
2003–2004 Manchester City
2004–2005 Stockport County
2005– Bradford City
International career
1998 England 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Garside-Wight came to prominence with Bradford City Women, playing in the FA Women's Premier League National Division and achieving England recognition. In November 1998 she suffered a broken leg in a freak accident while training in Peel Park.[2]

In 1999–00, with City having been relegated in her absence, Garside-Wight joined Doncaster Belles. She scored the winner in that season's FA Women's Cup semi–final victory over Arsenal as Doncaster reached a record 12th final.[3] She also started The Belles' controversial 2–1 defeat to Croydon in the final at Bramall Lane.[4]

Two years later Garside-Wight was an unused substitute as Doncaster Belles lost another FA Women's Cup final, this time to Fulham at Selhurst Park.[5] She transferred to Northern Division club Sheffield Wednesday that summer.[6] In 2003–04 Garside-Wight was Manchester City's top goalscorer, before she joined Stockport County ahead of 2004–05.[7]

Garside-Wight subsequently returned to Bradford City and became the club's captain and all–time record goalscorer.[8] In 2010–11 she was converted to a goalkeeper.[9]

International career

As a teenager Garside-Wight played three times[1] for England in 1997–98.[2] Her debut came in February 1998, playing 90 minutes of a 3–2 friendly defeat to France in Alençon.[10] The following month she appeared as a substitute for Mo Marley in a 1–0 World Cup qualifying loss to Germany at The New Den.[10] Garside-Wight's third and final cap came in a 2–1 home friendly defeat to Italy in April 1998.[10] She and fellow striker Joanne Broadhurst were substituted at half-time after failing to make an impact.[11]

After Hope Powell was appointed England manager in July 1998, Garside-Wight remained on the fringes of the national team, until suffering serious injury later that year.[2]

Garside-Wight was allotted 129 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural international.[12][13]

References
  1. "Wedding of the sporting girls". Halifax Courier. 1 June 2010. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  2. "Melanie's agony". Telegraph and Argus. 19 November 1998. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  3. Colin Aldis (25 March 2000). "The 'Belles' break record of Final appearances". Women's Soccer World. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  4. Sarah Hughes (2 May 2000). "Hunt keeps Croydon on double track". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  5. Tony Leighton (7 May 2005). "Fulham too professional for battling Belles". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  6. "Squad info 2002-2003". Sheffield Wednesday Ladies. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  7. "Louise hopeful of good season with City". Women's Soccer Scene. 6 August 2004. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  8. "Garside hits back with hat-trick". Telegraph and Argus. 25 August 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  9. "City climb table as a win and results go their way". Bradford City Women's FC. 3 April 2011. Archived from the original on 5 September 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2011. Melanie Garside-Wight whose passion for the team and club is hard to match and to say she has played the mass majority of her games as an out and out striker at every level of the game she has now adapted her skills into an excellent goalkeeper which has given the outfield players bags of confident.
  10. "Women's match data 1996 - 1999". EnglandFC.com. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  11. Colin Aldis (24 April 1998). "England v Italy, International Friendly". WomenSoccer.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  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.
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