Former England and Chelsea goalkeeper Carly Telford has announced her retirement from professional football after an impressive 20-year playing career.
Telford started out at Sunderland in her native North East and has also represented Leeds, Perth Glory and Notts County. However, the 35-year-old is probably best known for her displays between the sticks for Chelsea, having won three WSL titles, two FA Cups and two League Cups during two spells at Kingsmeadow.
Telford also impressed on the international stage, earning 27 caps for England and representing Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. In 2022, she left Chelsea for National Women’s Soccer League side San Diego Wave, making four appearances for the American outift before announcing her retirement.
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“After 20 years of playing the beautiful game it’s time for me to hang up the old boots and gloves,” Telford wrote in a statement on Wednesday.
“I was six when I started kicking a ball around with my friends in the back garden. So, what was this little girl’s dream all those years ago? Probably to be able to keep playing football with her mates for as long as she could.
“After thinking these past few weeks and months I’m pretty sure I’ve spent the last 20 years doing exactly that. I feel so lucky and blessed to have been able to do this for so many years.”
Thank you football pic.twitter.com/XJU9TJLJmP
— Carly Telford (@carlytelford1)
After making her England debut in 2007, Telford was called upon to represent the Lionesses against Japan in the group stages of the 2019 Women’s World Cup. Four years on from her major tournament debut, with another World Cup on the horizon, Telford used Wednesday's announcement to pay tribute to the people who have helped the women's game to thrive both on and off the pitch.
“I’m old enough to remember just a few parents watching our games, people just stopping by whilst walking their dogs to watch a women’s game,” she wrote.
“I’m also old enough to remember the fans that started becoming the regulars, home or away, domestically, or internationally.
“For those that have stuck by the game and to those that are new to it. The big stadiums, packed out crowds and electric buzz is what you all deserve. Thank you for supporting me, my team-mates and believing in the future of women’s football.”
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