Sophie Walton

Sophie Walton
	Sophie Walton playing for Notts County in July 2015
Personal information
Full name	Sophie Katrina Walton
Date of birth	7 November 1989 (age 34)
Place of birth	Leeds, England
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
	Sherburn White Rose
	Leeds United
Senior career*
Years	Team
2005–2010	Leeds United
2011–2015	Notts County
2017–2018	Doncaster Rovers Belles
2018–2019	Guiseley Vixens
2019–2020	Nottingham Forest
2020–2022	Sheffield United
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Sophie Katrina Walton (born 7 November 1989) is an English retired footballer who played as a midfielder. She played for Leeds United, Notts County, Doncaster Rovers Belles, and Sheffield United. She represented England at youth level.

Club career

Walton grew up in Sherburn-in-Elmet and played football for Sherburn White Rose before joining Leeds United under-12s at the age of nine.^[1] In September 2005, she made her Premier League debut for Leeds in a 2–0 defeat at Charlton Athletic.^[2]

On 11 February 2010 Walton started a 3–1 Premier League Cup final win over Everton, to help Leeds win their first major silverware, following defeats in the FA Women's Cup finals of 2006 and 2008, as well as the Premier League Cup final in 2007.^[3]

When Leeds failed to gain entry to the new FA WSL, Walton reportedly signed for local rivals Doncaster Rovers Belles.^[4] But when the inaugural 2011 FA WSL season started, Walton instead lined up for Lincoln Ladies. She remained with the club after their relocation to Notts County for the 2014 FA WSL season, and played in the 2015 FA Women's Cup Final, a 1–0 defeat by Chelsea at Wembley Stadium.

Walton left Notts County on the expiry of her contract and sat out the 2016 season due to pregnancy and childbirth. She agreed to join FA WSL 2 club Doncaster Rovers Belles in January 2017.^[5] Doncaster Rovers Belles won the WSL 2 league title but renounced their place in the new FA Women's Championship, sparking a player exodus which saw Walton join Guiseley Vixens in July 2018.^[6]

She retired in April 2022.^[7]

International career

Walton represented England at Under-15, Under-17, Under-19 and Under-23 level, as well as at the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Chile.

Personal life

Her older brother Simon Walton is also a footballer, who began his own career at Leeds United.

In August 2016 Walton gave birth to a son Alfie-J, with her footballer partner Jake Cassidy.^[8] She graduated from Leeds Beckett University with a business management degree and founded a modelling agency at the age of 23, which she later put on hold to focus on football.^[9]

Both Sophie and Simon Walton studied at Boston Spa Academy during their time as Leeds United Academy scholars.^[10]^[11]

References

^ "It's A Walton Family Affair". Leeds United F.C. 1 December 2004. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
^ "Ladies: Another Walton Makes Debut". Leeds United F.C. 4 September 2005. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
^ Leighton, Tony (11 February 2010). "Leeds Carnegie lift first major trophy with defeat of Everton". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
^ "Belles sign Sophie". Women's Soccer Scene. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
^ "Signing: Belles swoop for Walton". Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
^ "Vixens secure Walton signing". Guiseley A.F.C. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
^ FC, Sheffield United. "Sophie Walton Retires". Sheffield United FC.
^ Church, Daniel (22 August 2016). "Germany Women's Olympic gold, England's West End trip and Sophie Walton's baby delight". Shoot (football magazine). Retrieved 12 November 2017.
^ Simmons, Peter; Croucher, Ben (31 October 2017). ""I love playing football, but I have other aspirations I want to achieve."". Switch The Play. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
^ "Combine football with studies". LeedsUnited.com. Leeds United. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
^ Hay, Phil (5 November 2019). "Threatening to set fire to Clattenburg's car, a debut for Leeds at 16 and learning not to be 'an angry guy' – meet coach Simon Walton". The Athletic. Retrieved 30 June 2020.

External links

Sophie Walton – FIFA competition record (archived)
Sophie Walton at Soccerway
Doncaster Rovers Belles player profile
Leeds United Ladies player profile
Sophie Walton on Twitter

[1] "It's A Walton Family Affair". Leeds United F.C. 1 December 2004. Retrieved 12 November 2017.

[2] "Ladies: Another Walton Makes Debut". Leeds United F.C. 4 September 2005. Retrieved 12 November 2017.

[3] Leighton, Tony (11 February 2010). "Leeds Carnegie lift first major trophy with defeat of Everton". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 November 2017.

[4] "Belles sign Sophie". Women's Soccer Scene. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2017.

[5] "Signing: Belles swoop for Walton". Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2017.

[6] "Vixens secure Walton signing". Guiseley A.F.C. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.

[7] FC, Sheffield United. "Sophie Walton Retires". Sheffield United FC.

[8] Church, Daniel (22 August 2016). "Germany Women's Olympic gold, England's West End trip and Sophie Walton's baby delight". Shoot (football magazine). Retrieved 12 November 2017.

[9] Simmons, Peter; Croucher, Ben (31 October 2017). ""I love playing football, but I have other aspirations I want to achieve."". Switch The Play. Retrieved 12 November 2017.

[10] "Combine football with studies". LeedsUnited.com. Leeds United. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2020.

[11] Hay, Phil (5 November 2019). "Threatening to set fire to Clattenburg's car, a debut for Leeds at 16 and learning not to be 'an angry guy' – meet coach Simon Walton". The Athletic. Retrieved 30 June 2020.

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