Jo Fletcher
Personal information
Full name Josephine Julia Fletcher[1]
Date of birth (1980-12-31) 31 December 1980 (age 43)
Place of birth Chester, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Watford
Youth career
Tranmere Rovers Ladies
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2000 Kentucky Wildcats
2001–2002 Oregon State Beavers 39 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 Everton Ladies
1998–1999 Liverpool Ladies
2002–2003 Tranmere Rovers Ladies 22 (1)
2003–2004 Doncaster Rovers Belles
2004–2006 Birmingham City Ladies
2006–2007 Charlton Athletic Ladies
2009 Lincoln Ladies 1 (0)
2017– Watford Ladies
International career‡
2005 England 9 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11:13, 15 September 2009 (UTC)

Josephine Julia Fletcher (born 31 December 1980) is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Watford.[2] She played at full international level for England. She hails from Malpas, Cheshire and attended Bishop Heber High School.

Club career

Fletcher joined Tranmere Rovers Ladies as an under–18 player.[3] In summer 1998 she left FA Women's Premier League champions Everton for local rivals Liverpool.

Fletcher spent the US 2001 and 2002 seasons playing for Oregon State in the Pac-10 league, playing 39 times[4] In January 2003 she was selected as available to be drafted at the 2003 Women's United Soccer Association player draft.[5]

On returning to England, she re-joined Tranmere Rovers Ladies,[6] where she was coached by Tranmere Rovers' keeper John Achterberg.[7] She moved on to Doncaster Rovers Belles,[8] leaving them to join Birmingham City in June 2004.[9] She left City on joining the Army in 2005, but returned after initial training in October 2005.[10]

In the 2006 close season, Fletcher joined Charlton Athletic Ladies.[11]

But she later made a single appearance for OOH Lincoln Ladies in October 2009, deputising for Kay Hawke who was suspended.[12]

Fletcher signed for Watford in March 2017.[2]

International career

Fletcher played at junior level for England[4] and made her senior debut in February 2005, against Italy.[13] She played eight further games for England, the last being against Denmark in June the same year, having been included in the Euro 2005 Squad.[14] She played in place of the injured Rachel Brown at the start of the tournament, but was replaced by Brown on her return from injury.[15] Her international career effectively ended when she joined an Army Officer Training Scheme,[10] although she was later selected for a training squad.[16]

Fletcher was allotted 158 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England's inaugural international.[17][18]

Personal life

Fletcher, a Sheffield Wednesday fan,[3] majored in Biology at Oregon State University, having transferred from the University of Kentucky,[19] both times on football scholarships.[4] She returned to the UK after graduating and briefly worked for a pharmaceutical company before joining the Royal Military Academy where she marched in Prince Harry's commissioning parade.[4] In 2005, she graduated with an MSc in Exercise Science and Nutrition from the University of Chester.[20] Her mentor while at Chester was Wendy Owen who had played in England's first national women's football team.[3]

References

  1. ^ "International Alumni Newsletter" (PDF). Oregon State University. Fall 2005. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Jo Fletcher Signs". watford.fawsl.com. Watford Ladies FC. 17 March 2017. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "Jo has sights on Euro glory". Wirral News. 1 June 2005. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d "Where are they now? – Jo Fletcher". OSU Beavers. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  5. ^ "Fletcher One of Roughly 80 Players Eligible For WUSA draft". PAC-10. 29 January 2003. Retrieved 15 September 2009.[dead link]
  6. ^ "Preview:Bristol City Ladies v Blues Ladies". Birmingham City. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  7. ^ "John Achterberg – Academy for keepers". Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  8. ^ "Jodie to follow the Oregon trail". Women's Football News Archive. 20 May 2004. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  9. ^ "England star Amanda joins the Blues". Women's Football News Archive. 17 June 2004. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  10. ^ a b "Fletcher's Blues lift". Sports Argus. October 2005. Retrieved 15 September 2009.[dead link]
  11. ^ "Charlton come unstuck against Toffees". Charlton Athletic F.C. 20 August 2006. Archived from the original on 11 July 2007. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  12. ^ "Rod left frustrated after Lady Imps draw". Lincolnshire Echo. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  13. ^ "England turn on style to crush Italy". Women's Football News Archive. 18 February 2005. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  14. ^ "England squad guide". BBC Sport. 3 June 2005. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  15. ^ Chris Blackhurst (10 June 2005). "Jo is axed!". Chester Chronicle. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  16. ^ "Hope whisks her girls away to train in Spain!". Give Me Football. 4 January 2006. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  17. ^ "England squad named for World Cup". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  18. ^ Lacey-Hatton, Jack (18 November 2022). "Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present". mirror. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  19. ^ "Women's Soccer Hosts L.A. Schools". OSU Beavers. 24 October 2001. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  20. ^ "Alumni Stories". University of Chester Alumni Association. Archived from the original on 1 January 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
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