Katie Holtham

Katie Ann Holtham (born 9 April 1986) is an English footballer who last played as a midfielder for Australian W-League club Perth Glory. Holtham's manager at former club Leeds Carnegie, Rick Passmoor, described her as: "strong, athletic and a good box to box midfield player."[2]

Katie Holtham
Holtham playing for Notts County Ladies in 2014
Personal information
Full name Katie Ann Holtham
Date of birth (1986-04-09) 9 April 1986
Place of birth Nottingham, England
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Position(s) Centre back / Defensive midfielder
Youth career
West Bridgford Colts
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2004 Lincoln City Ladies
2004–2006 Bristol Rovers Women
2006–2007 Charlton Athletic Ladies
2007–2010 Leeds Carnegie Ladies
2010 Buffalo Flash[1] 7 (3)
2011–2012 Doncaster Rovers Belles 26 (1)
2011–2012 → Perth Glory (loan) 9 (1)
2013 Chelsea Ladies 13 (0)
2014 Notts County 8 (0)
2014–2015 Adelaide United 12 (0)
2015–2016 Perth Glory 10 (0)
National team‡
2005 England U19
2008 England U23
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 October 2016
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 January 2014

Club career

Holtham attended West Bridgford School and was said to have shone in football from an early age. She started playing her club football with West Bridgford Colts (Nottingham) alongside English cricketer and Women's Ashes winner Jenny Gunn.[3] She also played for Notts County's Centre of Excellence,[4] but due to age restrictions had to stop playing in 'mixed teams'. To overcome this problem her dad set up West Bridgford Colts Girls.[3]

Holtham advanced to playing for Lincoln City in the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division, then signed for Bristol Rovers in 2004.[5] After becoming captain of the 'Gas Girls' Holtham signed for Charlton Athletic in 2006.[6]

In her first season Charlton were beaten 4–1 by quadruple-winning Arsenal in the final of the FA Women's Cup. This was despite Holtham opening the scoring after two minutes, before a record crowd of 24,529 at the City Ground in her home town of Nottingham.[7]

Holtham at Doncaster in August 2011

Holtham joined Leeds Carnegie that summer when Charlton Athletic FC scrapped their women's team after being relegated from the FA Premier League.[2] In her first season at Leeds Carnegie she returned to Nottingham for the FA Women's Cup final,[8] but again lost out 4–1 to Arsenal.[9] She scored in a 3–1 Premier League Cup final win over Everton on 11 February 2010, to help Leeds Carnegie win their first major silverware.[10]

With Leeds Carnegie's future uncertain, Holtham departed to play the 2010 summer season with professional W-League club Buffalo Flash.[11] She scored three goals in seven matches as the Flash stayed unbeaten and won the league.[1]

In November 2010 Holtham signed for Doncaster Rovers Belles ahead of their inaugural FA WSL campaign.[12] She was awarded the club captaincy and finished the WSL season playing as a central defender.[13] In October 2011 Holtham moved to Australian W-League outfit Perth Glory.[14] She captured the club Players' Player of the Year award after making nine appearances for Perth, in central defence and then in midfield.[15]

Holtham returned to captain The Belles in the 2012 FA WSL, but rejected a contract extension at the end of the season.[16] A transfer to Chelsea Ladies was announced in January 2013.[17] A year later Holtham moved again, returning to Nottingham to sign for Notts County, who were managed by her former Leeds boss Rick Passmoor.[18]

Holtham joined Adelaide United in September 2014 for the 2014 season.[19][20]

International career

Holtham represented England at U17, U19, U21 and U23 level. She captained the U19s to the European Championship finals in Hungary in 2005.[6] She has also been named in the senior squad on multiple occasions, without playing in any games.[6]

Personal life

Holtham attended the National Player Development Centre at Loughborough University, studying sports science.[6] In 2014, she was employed as a physiotherapist in the Nottingham Forest F.C. Under-21s Squad and Academy.[21]

References
  1. "2010 Statistics". USLsoccer.com. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  2. "Holtham joins Leeds". The FA.com. 25 July 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  3. "Exclusive: Sporting connections". FemaleSoccer.net. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  4. "One month to go". The FA.com. 8 April 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  5. "Bristol Rovers Women". FemaleSoccer.net. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  6. "Addicks unveil signings". The FA.com. 18 August 2006. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  7. Caroline Cheese (7 May 2007). "Arsenal Ladies 4–1 Charlton Women". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  8. Stuart Mawhinney (4 May 2008). "Holtham back home again". TheFA.com. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  9. Stuart Ornstein (5 May 2008). "FA Cup win secures Arsenal double". BBC. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  10. Tony Leighton (11 February 2010). "Leeds Carnegie lift first major trophy with defeat of Everton". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  11. "Katie Holtham". Buffalo Flash. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  12. David Brenchley (11 November 2010). "New Donny signing returns to Yorkshire in a flash". Givemefootball.com. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  13. Steve Hossack (28 August 2011). "Belles out to end Women's Super League campaign on a winning note". The Star. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  14. "Skipper Goes Down Under". Doncaster Rovers Belles. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  15. Chris Correia (24 January 2012). "Oxtoby named Perth's best". Football Australia. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  16. "Holtham on the Move". Doncaster Rovers Belles. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  17. "Chelsea Ladies sign Holtham". Chelsea F.C. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  18. "Three more join Notts County". She Kicks. 30 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  19. "United for Lady Reds". Football Federation Australia. 10 September 2014.
  20. "Westfield W-League Round 1 Ins-and-Outs". Football Federation Australia. 12 September 2014.
  21. Grainey, Tim (16 October 2014). "Women's football review: Katie Holtham on Notts County, Adelaide Reds and Nottingham Forest". Tribal Football. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Vicky Exley		 Doncaster Rovers Belles captain
2011–2012		 Succeeded by
Leandra Little
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