Sophie Harding (born 6 June 1999) is an Australian soccer player who plays for Western Sydney Wanderers. She has previously played for Newcastle Jets.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sophie Harding | ||
| Date of birth | 10 June 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | England | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Western Sydney Wanderers | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Harbord Seasiders United | |||
| Brookvale | |||
| Manly United | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2017 | Manly United | 42 | (8) |
| 2018–2021 | North West Sydney Koalas | 44 | (19) |
| 2020–2022 | Newcastle Jets | 25 | (2) |
| 2022– | Western Sydney Wanderers | 39 | (14) |
| International career | |||
| 2024– | Australia | 0 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 May 2024 | |||
Early life
editHarding was born in England before immigrating to Sydney, Australia at the age of six. She played youth football for Harbord Seasiders United, Brookvale, and Manly United. Harding began playing for Manly's U'13 team and progressed to the first team who she represented for three years.[1]
In addition to her career as a footballer, Harding is a disability support worker, with Harding receiving the news of her first national team callup while she was in the middle of a shift.[2]
Club career
editHarding made her National Premier Leagues NSW Women's debut for Manly United in 2015. After breaking through with Manly she joined fellow NSW NPLW side North West Sydney Koalas in 2019, Harding has scored 19 goals in 44 appearances across three seasons with NWS Koalas.[3]
Harding was signed by A-League Women club Newcastle Jets ahead of the 2020–21 season.[4] She played 11 of the Jets 12 matches and was noted for her pace.[5] The young forward scored her first goal for Newcastle in a 5–1 win over Wellington Phoenix on Matchday 2 of the 2021–22 season,[6] after re-signing for the season.[7] In September 2022, the club announced she had departed,[8] and two months later she signed a two-year contract with Western Sydney Wanderers.[9]
International career
editAs an Australian citizen born in England with Irish grandparents, Harding is eligible to represent Australia, England and the Republic of Ireland.[10]
In February 2024, Harding received her first international call up to the Australian national team for the 2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament third round against Uzbekistan.[11]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 7 March 2022
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Newcastle Jets | 2020–21 | A-League Women | 11 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 11 | 0 |
| 2021–22 | 14 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 14 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 2 | ||
References
edit- ^ "One To Watch – Sophie Harding". Manly United FC. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ^ Intili, Daniela (21 February 2024). "Sophie Harding burst out laughing when she heard she was a Matilda, but she had to keep it a secret at work". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ "Breakout 2021 NPL NSW Women's Performers". National Premier Leagues NSW Women. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ^ Newcastle Jets [@NewcastleJetsFC] (18 December 2020). "Sydney NPL products Evelyn Chronis and Sophie Harding have joined the Jets for season 2020/21" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "This lightning quick Jets forward works supporting youth: Meet Sophie Harding". Newcastle Herald. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ^ Kemp, Emma (13 December 2021). "Emily van Egmond's brief Newcastle Jets return suits both player and club". The Guardian.
Kirsty Fenton, Norwegian Marie Dølvik Markussen and Sophie Harding all celebrated maiden league goals
- ^ "Sophie Harding Extends Jets Contract". Newcastle Jets. 25 January 2022.
- ^ "Newcastle Jets confirm A-League Women's departures". Newcastle Jets. 14 September 2022.
- ^ "Harding signs two-year deal". Western Sydney Wanderers. 26 October 2022.
- ^ Pisani, Sacha (15 February 2024). "'Everything I do, I do for him': Inside the world of the Matildas' newest face made in the Liberty A-League". A-Leagues. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ "CommBank Matildas Squad Update". Matildas. Football Australia. 15 February 2024.