Jill Scott (footballer)

Jill Scott
MBE
Scott in 2014
Personal information
Full name Jill Louise Scott[1]
Date of birth (1987-02-02) 2 February 1987 (age 37)[1]
Place of birth Sunderland, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.81 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Boldon Girls
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Sunderland
2006–2013 Everton 114 (21)
2013–2022 Manchester City 111 (19)
2021 → Everton (loan) 11 (2)
2022 → Aston Villa (loan) 7 (0)
Total 243 (42)
International career
2006–2022 England 161 (27)
2012–2021 Great Britain 9 (1)
Medal record
Women's football
Representing  England
UEFA Women's Championship
Winner 2022
Runner-up 2009
FIFA Women's World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2015
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jill Louise Scott MBE (born 2 February 1987) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.[3] The FIFA technical report into the 2011 Women's World Cup described Scott as one of England's four outstanding players; "[an] energetic, ball-winning midfielder who organises the team well, works hard at both ends of the pitch and can change her team's angle of attack."[4]

At 5 feet 11 inches (1.81 m), Scott is nicknamed "Crouchy" after male international footballer Peter Crouch, who towers over his fellow players to a similar degree.[5][6] After leaving hometown club Sunderland for Everton in 2006, she contributed to the Blues' FA Women's Premier League Cup win in 2008 and FA Women's Cup victory in 2010. With Manchester City, she won the FA WSL in 2016 and is a three-time winner of the FA Women's Cup and the FA WSL Cup. On the individual level, Scott was voted 2008 FA Players' Player of the Year and 2011 FA International Player of the Year.

Following her retirement from football in 2022, Scott went on to win the twenty-second series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and was crowned "Queen of the Jungle".[7][8]

Early life[edit]

Scott grew up in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, and attended Monkwearmouth Comprehensive School.[9][10] A keen long-distance runner, Scott ran for Sunderland Harriers, winning the North of England Under-13 cross-country title and the Junior Great North Run,[11] whilst playing football for Boldon CA girls' team. At the age of 13, she had to decide between football or running, and chose to concentrate on playing football.[citation needed] Future England teammates Steph Houghton and Demi Stokes also played for Boldon;[12] as part of the "Where Greatness Is Made" campaign, plaques honouring Stokes and Scott were installed at the club in 2022.[13]

After leaving school in 2003, Scott received a BTEC National Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science at Gateshead College. She remained at the college to study for a University of Sunderland foundation degree in sports and exercise development. She also played for the college football team alongside fellow Sunderland and international teammate Carly Telford.[11] After completing her diploma, both Scott and Telford enrolled at Loughborough University to study sport.

Club career[edit]

Sunderland[edit]

Scott began her senior career with Sunderland Women.[14] In October 2005, aged only 18 years, she won the Women's Player of the Month award for September, based on her performances for both her club and country (at under-19 level).[15]

Everton[edit]

Scott joined Everton Ladies in July 2006,[16] having turned down an approach from Doncaster Rovers Belles.[17] Her first game for Everton came the following month, a 3–0 defeat against Arsenal Ladies in the FA Women's Community Shield.[18]

At the end of the 2007–08 season, she picked up the FA Tesco Players' Player of the Year award. Also nominated were Arsenal's Alex Scott and Karen Carney.[19] In April 2012, Scott was appointed as one of eight digital media ambassadors, one from each team, who wear their Twitter account name on their shirt sleeves to raise the profile of the WSL.[20] Scott decided to leave Everton at the end of the 2013 season.[21]

During her first spell at Everton, Scott won the FA Women's Premier League Cup and the FA Women's Cup, playing in both finals.

Manchester City[edit]

Scott playing for Manchester City in 2017

After leaving Everton, Scott signed a two-year deal with Manchester City.[22] This move proved a success, as she played her part in securing the Continental Cup Trophy for Manchester City in 2014.[23]

In April 2015, Scott was shown the red card and banned for three matches for headbutting Arsenal's Jade Bailey during Manchester City's 1–0 defeat.[24] In the 2017 FA Cup Final, Scott scored in a 4–1 win against Birmingham City.

In June 2020, Scott signed a new two-year contract which saw her take up a coaching role at the club.[25] At the 2020 Women's FA Community Shield on 29 August 2020, Scott was shown a red card for two bookable offences in Manchester City's scrappy 2–0 defeat by Chelsea at Wembley Stadium.[26]

Return to Everton (loan)[edit]

On 21 January 2021, Scott returned to Everton on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.[27]

Aston Villa (loan)[edit]

On 25 January 2022, Scott signed for Aston Villa on loan until the end of the season.[28]

On 23 August 2022, Scott announced her retirement from football.[29]

International career[edit]

England[edit]

Scott playing for England in 2014

At junior level, Scott played for the England Under-19s side, scoring three times in three games as England won through the first round of qualifying for the 2006 UEFA Under-19s tournament.[15] Her first call-up to the England senior squad came in May 2006, having captained the Under-19s side for the previous 18 months.[30] She made her debut for the England senior team against the Netherlands in August 2006, coming on as a late substitute for Kelly Smith in a 4–0 win.[31] She made the squad for the 2007 World Cup, coming on as a substitute in England's opening match against Japan. She went on to start the remainder of England's matches in the tournament, scoring her first international goal in the 6–1 demolition of Argentina in the group stage. England bowed out at the quarter-final stage after a 3–0 defeat against the United States.[32]

In May 2009, Scott was one of the first 17 female players to be given central contracts by The Football Association.[33] She was named in coach Hope Powell's squad for the 2009 UEFA Women's European Championships, scoring a late winner as England beat the Netherlands in the semi-final, having come on as a substitute for Jessica Clarke at the beginning of extra-time.[34]

At the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, Scott scored against New Zealand in England's 2–1 group B win. She put England ahead against France in the quarter final, but did not take a penalty in her team's 3–4 shootout defeat following a 1–1 draw.[35] In February 2019, Scott pulled out of the England squad for the SheBelieves Cup.[36]

On 23 February 2021, Scott made her 150th appearance for the England team in a game against Northern Ireland, which she would captain and play the whole 90 minutes as England would win 6–0.[37][38]

In June 2022, Scott was included in the England squad which won the UEFA Women's Euro 2022.[39][40] On 23 August 2022, Scott announced her retirement from football, a day after England and Manchester City teammate Ellen White did. Scott retired as England's second-most capped international footballer (men and women), behind Fara Williams.[41]

Scott was allotted 161 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England's inaugural international.[42][43]

Great Britain[edit]

In June 2012, Scott was named in an 18-player Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics.[44]

In 2021, Scott was announced as one of the 22-player squad for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.[45]

Post-footballing career[edit]

In November 2022, Scott won the twenty-second series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and was crowned "Queen of the Jungle",[46] becoming the first LGBTQ+ woman to win the show.[47] Scott has appeared as a pundit for several Men's and Women's matches, including England Men's Euros qualifying games against Malta and North Macedonia, and the UEFA Women's Champions League final.[48] In June 2023, she became the first female player to captain England for Soccer Aid.[49]

Personal life[edit]

In March 2020, she announced her engagement to long-term partner Shelly Unitt.[50][51] Scott sometimes works at Boxx2Boxx Coffee, a coffee shop in Northenden, Manchester, which she co-owns with Unitt.[52][53]

Scott was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to women's football.[54]

Coaching career[edit]

In September 2008, Scott was appointed as the coach of the Women's Football Academy at Gateshead College, with former Darlington manager Mick Tait taking over as coach of the Men's Academy.[55]

Career statistics[edit]

Club[edit]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[citation needed]
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sunderland 2004–05 FA WPL Northern —
2005–06 FA WPL National —
Total —
Everton 2006–07 FA WPL National —
2007–08
2008–09 —
2009–10
2011 FA WSL —
2012 —
2013 —
Total
Manchester City 2014 FA WSL 14 4 2 0 7 1 — 23 5
2015 12 1 2 1 5 0 — 19 2
2016 14 3 2 0 3 1 2 1 21 5
2017 7 3 3 1 0 0 3 0 13 4
2017–18 17 7 3 0 6 0 8 1 34 8
2018–19 16 0 1 0 4 0 1 0 22 0
2019–20 16 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 19 0
2020–21 7 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 8 1
2021–22 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Total 111 19 13 2 25 2 18 2 165 25
Everton (loan) 2020–21 FA WSL 11 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 2
Aston Villa (loan) 2021–22 FA WSL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total

International[edit]

Year England Great Britain
Apps Goals Apps Goals
2006 2 1 —
2007 11 1 —
2008 6 2 —
2009 11 1 —
2010 11 1 —
2011 11 3 —
2012 8 3 3 1
2013 14 0 —
2014 11 1 —
2015 17 2 —
2016 12 3 —
2017 12 0 —
2018 6 ? —
2019 14 3 —
2020 3 2 —
2021 ? 0 3 0
2022 4 1 —
Total 161 27 6 1
Scores and results list England or Great Britain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Scott goal.
List of international goals scored by Jill Scott[56]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
Goals for England
1 25 October 2006 Städtisches Waldstadion, Aalen, Germany  Germany 1–5 Friendly
2 17 September 2007 Chengdu Longquanyi Football Stadium, Chengdu, China  Argentina 6–1 2007 FIFA World Cup
3 8 May 2008 Darida, Minsk, Belarus  Belarus 6–1 UEFA Euro 2009 qualification
4 28 September 2008 Ďolíček, Prague, Czech Republic  Czech Republic 5–1 UEFA Euro 2009 qualification
5 6 September 2009 Ratina Stadion, Tampere, Finland  Netherlands 2–1 2009 UEFA Championship
6 24 March 2010 Larnaca, Cyprus  South Africa 1–0 2010 Cyprus Cup
7 17 May 2011 Kassam Stadium, Oxford, England  Sweden 2–0 Friendly
8 1 July 2011 Glücksgas Stadium, Dresden, Germany  New Zealand 2–1 2011 FIFA World Cup
9 9 July 2011 BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany  France 1–1 2011 FIFA World Cup
10 21 June 2012 Ob Jezeru, Velenje, Slovenia  Slovenia 4–0 UEFA Euro 2013 qualification
11
12 19 September 2012 Bescot Stadium, Walsall, England  Croatia 3–0 UEFA Euro 2013 qualification
13 20 October 2012 Stade Sébastien Charléty, Paris, France  France 2–2 Friendly
14 5 April 2014 Falmer Stadium, Brighton and Hove, England  Montenegro 9–0 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
15 21 September 2015 A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia  Estonia 8–0 UEFA Euro 2017 qualification
16 29 November 2015 Ashton Gate, Bristol, England  Bosnia and Herzegovina 1–0 UEFA Euro 2017 qualification
17 8 April 2016 New York Stadium, Rotherham, England  Belgium 1–1 UEFA Euro 2017 qualification
18 7 June 2016 Sports Center of FA of Serbia, Stara Pazova, Serbia  Serbia 7–0 UEFA Euro 2017 qualification
19 15 September 2016 Meadow Lane, Nottingham, England  Estonia 5–0 UEFA Euro 2017 qualification
20 1 March 2018 Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, United States  France 4–1 2018 SheBelieves Cup
21 18 June 2018 Sapsan Arena, Moscow, Russia  Russia 3–1 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
22
23 31 August 2018 Rodney Parade, Newport, Wales  Wales 3–0 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
24 25 May 2019 Bescot Stadium, Walsall, England  Denmark 2–0 Friendly
25 27 June 2019 Stade Océane, Le Havre, France  Norway 3–0 2019 FIFA World Cup
26 30 November 2021 Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster, England  Latvia 20–0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
27 30 June 2022 Letzigrund Stadium, Zürich, Switzerland  Switzerland 4–0 Euro 2022 Warm-up match
Goals for Great Britain
1 28 July 2012 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff  Cameroon 3–0 2012 Olympic Games

Honours[edit]

Everton

Manchester City

England

See also: Collective honours for the England women's national football team

Individual

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015: List of players: England" (PDF). FIFA. 6 July 2015. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  2. ^ England Women's player profile: Jill Scott
  3. ^ "Jill Scott: England profile". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Technical Report and Statistics" (PDF). FIFA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  5. ^ Magowan, Alistair (8 July 2011). "Women's World Cup: England lifted by joker Jill Scott". BBC News. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  6. ^ Moore, Glenn (10 September 2009). "The girls done good – now for the final test". The Independent. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  7. ^ "Matt Hancock finishes third in I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! as Jill Scott is crowned queen". Sky News. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  8. ^ "I'm a Celebrity 2022 announces its winner". The Independent. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Women's World Cup 2019: Mapping England's Lionesses squad". BBC Sport. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  10. ^ "Durham County Schools FA - Past Players (S)". DurhamCountySchoolsFA. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  11. ^ a b "Sunderland star makes the full England squad". Sunderland University. 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  12. ^ Goodwin, Nicole (9 January 2023). "Jill Scott returns to Boldon Girls club to visit aspiring Lionesses in BBC show". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  13. ^ "England's Euro 2022 winners honoured with gold plaques at local football clubs". 90min. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  14. ^ "'She's so unselfish': history beckons for Jill Scott with 150th England cap | Suzanne Wrack". The Guardian. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Scotty gets top player award". Fair Game. 3 October 2005. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  16. ^ "Everton sign Scott". Fair Game. 31 July 2009. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  17. ^ "Belles miss Scott but chase Wright". Fair Game. 14 July 2006. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  18. ^ "Arsenal win community shield". Fair Game. 3 August 2006. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  19. ^ "Winners revealed". TheFA.com. 23 May 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  20. ^ "Women's Super League launches Twitter kit initiative to raise profile". BBC Sport. 4 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  21. ^ "Scott Leaves Blues". everton.fawsl.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  22. ^ "Jill Scott: England midfielder joins Manchester City". BBC Sport. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  23. ^ "Jill Scott: Official Manchester City FC profile". Manchester City FC. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  24. ^ Currie, Jo (20 April 2015). "Jill Scott: Manchester City Women player banned for headbutt". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  25. ^ "Jill Scott: England midfielder signs new Manchester City contract as player-coach". BBC Sport. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  26. ^ "Chelsea beat Man City in women's Community Shield despite Kerr misses". The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  27. ^ "ENGLAND GREAT SCOTT SEALS EVERTON WOMEN RETURN". Everton F.C. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  28. ^ "Jill Scott joins Aston Villa Women". Aston Villa Football Club. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  29. ^ Christenson, Marcus (23 August 2022). "'No sad faces!' England's Euro 2022 winner Jill Scott retires from football". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  30. ^ "After 13-goal romp Hope warns against complacency". Give Me Football. 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  31. ^ "England Women 4–0 Holland Women 0". BBC Sport. 31 August 2006. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  32. ^ Tony Leighton (24 September 2007). "World Cup was a great experience – Scott". The Sunderland Echo. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  33. ^ "England Women awarded contracts". BBC Sport. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  34. ^ "England Ladies 2–1 Holland Ladies". BBC Sport. 6 September 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  35. ^ "England 1-1 France (France win 4-3 on pens)". BBC Sport.
  36. ^ "Jill Scott: Manchester City midfielder pulls out of England squad for SheBelieves Cup". BBC Sport. 24 February 2019.
  37. ^ Fisher, Bethany (24 February 2021). "Jill Scott: A journey to 150 caps for the Lionesses". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  38. ^ Lea, Connie (23 February 2021). "New era begins for England with 6-0 victory over N. Ireland". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  39. ^ Davies, Callum (15 June 2022). "England Women's final squad named for EURO 2022". England Football.com. The FA. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  40. ^ England Squad. UEFA. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  41. ^ "England's Euro 2022 winner Jill Scott announces retirement from football". the Guardian. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  42. ^ "England squad named for World Cup". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  43. ^ Lacey-Hatton, Jack (18 November 2022). "Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present". mirror. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  44. ^ "Team GB women's squad for London 2012 announced". BBC Sport. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  45. ^ "Jill SCOTT". Olympics.com. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  46. ^ Stichbury, Tom (1 November 2022). "England Lioness Jill Scott set to head into I'm A Celebrity jungle". Metro. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  47. ^ Robledo, Jordan (29 November 2022). "Jill Scott makes LGBTQ+ history after winning I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here". Gay Times. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  48. ^ Joyce, Paul (20 June 2023). "Jill Scott: I'll get stick but I want to make female punditry the norm". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  49. ^ Lacey-Hatton, Jack (7 March 2023). "Soccer Aid stars unveiled as Lionesses hero Jill Scott returns to lead England". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  50. ^ Turner, Alicia (18 March 2020). "England and Manchester City star Jill Scott announces engagement". NewsChain. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  51. ^ Griffiths, Sophie (20 March 2020). "Marriage Story: The best of lez/bi love". Diva. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  52. ^ Hudson, Molly (29 May 2021). "Jill Scott: My age was no concern but something had to change to get me to the Tokyo Olympics". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  53. ^ "Shelly Anne UNITT personal appointments". Companies House. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  54. ^ "No. 62866". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 2019. p. N22.
  55. ^ "Jill Scott's academy appointment". Fair Game. 10 September 2008. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  56. ^ Karsdorp, Dirk (2018). The England Women's FC 1972 – 2018: The Lionesses – A Statistical Record. Soccer Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-86223-391-1.
  57. ^ "Match for third place - Match report" (PDF). FIFA. 4 July 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  58. ^ Sanders, Emma (31 July 2022). "England 2–1 Germany". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  59. ^ "UEFA Women's EURO 2009 - Final". UEFA. 10 September 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  60. ^ Leighton, Tony (12 March 2009). "England women win Cyprus Cup". The Guardian.
  61. ^ Leighton, Tony (13 March 2013). "Rachel Yankey volley earns England women their second Cyprus Cup title". The Guardian.
  62. ^ Lavery, Glenn (11 March 2015). "England 1–0 Canada: Cyprus Cup final match report". The Football Association.
  63. ^ "England 3-1 Germany". BBC Sport. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  64. ^ "Lionesses and Sarina Wiegman given Freedom of the City of London after Euros win". ITV News. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  65. ^ "Steph Houghton, Gary Bennett and Jill Scott given freedom of Sunderland". BBC News. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  66. ^ "JILL SCOTT INDUCTED INTO NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM HALL OF FAME". National Football Museum. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  67. ^ "Rachel Daly and Erling Haaland win PFA player of the year awards". The Guardian. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.

Further reading[edit]

  • 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
  • Clarke, Gemma (2019), Soccerwomen: The Icons, Rebels, Stars, and Trailblazers Who Transformed the Beautiful Game, ISBN 9781568589206
  • Dunn, Carrie (2019), Pride of the Lionesses: The Changing Face of Women's Football in England, Pitch Publishing (Brighton) Limited, ISBN 9781785315411
  • Dunn, Carrie (2016), The Roar of the Lionesses: Women's Football in England, Pitch Publishing Limited, ISBN 9781785311512
  • Grainey, Timothy (2012), Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women's Soccer, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0803240368
  • Smith, Kelly (2012), Footballer: My Story, Transworld, ISBN 9781446488591
  • Stay, Shane (2019), The Women's World Cup 2019 Book: Everything You Need to Know About the Soccer World Cup, Books on Demand, ISBN 1782551921
  • Theivam, Kieran and Jeff Kassouf (2019), The Making of the Women's World Cup: Defining stories from a sport’s coming of age, Little, ISBN 1472143310

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jill Scott (association football player).
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Danny Miller (Winner)
Jacqueline Jossa (Queen of the Jungle)
 I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
Winner & Queen of the Jungle
2022 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jill_Scott_(footballer)&oldid=1217763818"