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Louise Waller

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Louise Waller
Personal information
Date of birth (1969-07-30) 30 July 1969 (age 55)
Place of birth Lewisham, England
Height 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Millwall Lionesses
1988–1989 HJK Helsinki
International career
1989–1997 England
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Louise "Lou" Waller (born 30 July 1969)[2] is an English former international women's football defender. She was a member of the England squad for the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup Finals.[2] In a long association with Millwall Lionesses, Waller served the club as a player, coach, development officer, secretary and chairperson.[3]

Club career

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In 1995, Waller was playing for Millwall Lionesses.[4] She won both the 1996–97 FA Women's Premier League Cup and Women's FA Cup with Millwall. In the final of the latter competition, Waller headed the winning goal from Justine Lorton's corner, in front of 3,015 supporters at Upton Park.[5]

Waller was also part of Millwall's 1991 FA Cup winning team, one of two senior players to remain with the club when most players left in the aftermath of the victory.[1] Many young players who emerged at Millwall in the following years, including Katie Chapman, had been coached by Waller in the club's youth teams.[5]

In 1993 Waller had been heavily involved in the creation of the country's first girls' Centre of Excellence at Millwall.[3] She had joined the club as a 12-year-old and by February 1997 had made over 400 appearances for the Lionesses.[6] When the club was promoted back to the top division in 2009, Waller—by now the chairperson—claimed they were "back where we belong".[3]

Waller spent two summers playing in the Finnish Naisten SM-sarja for HJK Helsinki in 1988 and 1989. Lionesses manager Alan Wooler also played in Finland and arranged the move through his contacts. For her second season in Helsinki, Waller was joined by England teammate Marieanne Spacey.[7]

International career

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Waller was a member of the England squad for the 1995 Women's World Cup. Her only appearance came as a late substitute for Tina Mapes in the final game, a 3–0 quarter final defeat against Germany.[8]

Having joined the squad in 1989, Waller made over 30 appearances for England.[6] Her final cap came in a 4–0 friendly defeat to Norway in June 1997.[9] During qualification for UEFA Women's Euro 1993, Waller was sent off for handball as England crashed 3–0 to Italy at Millmoor, losing the tie 6–2 on aggregate and missing out on the four-team final tournament.[10]

She was allotted 79 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England's inaugural international.[11][12]

References

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  1. ^ a b Pete Davies (27 March 1997). "Lionesses aim to keep pride intact". The Independent. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
  2. ^ a b "England:Louise Waller". FIFA. Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
  3. ^ a b c Tony Leighton (13 April 2009). "Millwall Lionesses set for Premier League return". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  4. ^ "England". FIFA. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
  5. ^ a b Mike Rowbottom (5 May 1997). "Football: Lionesses bring pride to Millwall". The Independent. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  6. ^ a b "England v Germany Friendly International". Official Match Programme: 7. 27 February 1997. Has over 30 caps for England and made over 400 appearances for Millwall since joining as a twelve-year-old. Missed most of last season due to injury, but now back to full fitness.
  7. ^ White 2001, p. 38
  8. ^ "Germany – England 3:0". FIFA. 13 June 1995. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
  9. ^ "Women's match data 1996 – 1999". EnglandFC.com. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  10. ^ Stan Levenson (8 November 1992). "Europe woe; Women's Football.(Sport)". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  11. ^ "England squad named for World Cup". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  12. ^ Lacey-Hatton, Jack (18 November 2022). "Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present". mirror. Retrieved 19 June 2023.

Bibliography

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  • White, Nick (2001). Sun, Sea and Sexy Football: The Life and Times of British Footballers Abroad. London, England: Invextus. ISBN 0954161009.
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Louise Waller – FIFA competition record (archived)

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