Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Katie Chapman has been unveiled as the final 2022 inductee into the Barclays Women's Super League Hall of Fame.
Fellow Chelsea stars Karen Carney MBE and Eni Aluko were also inducted on Thursday, meaning that seven players have now been bestowed with the honour since the Hall of Fame was launched last year. Chapman’s achievements are almost unmatched, having played an integral role in central midfield for each team she represented during her career.
During her seven years in the league, she won four Barclays WSL titles, four Vitality Women’s FA Cups (ten in total across her career) and three FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cups. The midfield maestro began her career at Millwall in 1996, making her debut as a 14-year-old, before spells at Fulham, Charlton Athletic and Arsenal.
A stint in America followed, before she returned to begin her Barclays WSL career back with the Gunners. There, she won two league and cup trebles as the North London club dominated the early years of the semi-professional era of the game, winning the Barclays WSL, Vitality Women’s FA Cup and FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup.
In 2014, she moved to Chelsea, where she finished her career with another two league titles in 2015 and 2018, and two Vitality Women’s FA Cups – the second being her last match as a professional in 2018. Chapman announced her retirement following the Vitality Women’s FA Cup triumph, but has remained a prominent figure in the women's game, working as a pundit for BBC Sport’s coverage of the Barclays WSL.
Her induction was confirmed by the Barclays WSL Hall of Fame selection panel, which features prominent former players, coaches and an official from the women’s game, as well as journalists and members of FA staff.
Vic Akers, former Arsenal Head Coach, and member of the Barclays Women’s Super League Hall of Fame selection panel said: “I’m so pleased that Katie Chapman has been unveiled as the third inductee to the Barclays WSL Hall of Fame for 2022.
“I had the pleasure of working with her when she was at Arsenal and I truly believe she is one of our most underrated players. She could dominate a midfield and her leadership on and off the field was something to admire.
"Watching her as a player was an absolute pleasure and the influence she had on the players around her was remarkable. I’m over the moon that Katie has been recognised for her impact on the women’s game and inducted into the Barclays Women’s Super League Hall of Fame.”
All three inductees for this year have now been announced and more information on those recognised and the Barclays WSL Hall of Fame can be accessed here.
You can see extended interviews with each inductee on tonight’s Sky Sports’ ‘ Inside the WSL’ show on Sky Sports Football at 6.30pm. The 2023 class will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this time next year.
