Sheffield’s Lionesses

These players from Sheffield have represented England:

FA

Joanne Broadhurst playing for England - Joanne Broadhurst playing for England
Joanne Broadhurst playing for England (Image: Courtesy of Joanne Broadhurst)
Joanne Broadhurst 

 

Joanne Broadhurst was born in Sheffield in 1967. She began playing as a schoolgirl for Sheffield Ladies, a team which later became Sheffield Wednesday. She played for Doncaster Belles from 1987 to 1995, winning many honours including 5 FA Cups and 2 FA Premier League titles.

She then joined Arsenal and later played for Croydon, helping them win the League and Cup double in 2000. She later won another FA Cup with Charlton Athletic before moving to Rotherham United.

A midfielder, Joanne made her England debut aged 16 and made 40 England appearances up to 1998.

Unlike today’s England internationals, women could not play professionally at that time, and Joanne combined her football career with jobs including forklift truck driver and leisure centre attendant.

In 2023 she is still involved in football, working as a scout for Southampton Women FC and coaching a girls' team.

Here's an interview with Joanne filmed after our Stoppage Time Cup match at the U-Mix Centre, Sheffield in July 2023. 

 

Millie Bright

Millie Bright and Leah Williamson after the Euros final - Millie Bright and Leah Williamson after winning the Euros final, Wembley. July 2022.
Millie Bright (left) and Leah Williamson celebrating winning the 2022 Women's Euros (Image: FA)
Millie Bright was born in Chesterfield in 1993 and grew up in Killamarsh on the outskirts of Sheffield. Throughout her childhood she suffered serious breathing conditions including asthma and pneumonia. She started playing football aged 9, for Killamarsh Dynamos. She then joined Sheffield United’s Centre of Excellence before signing for Doncaster Rovers Belles aged 16. She joined Chelsea in 2015 and has since helped them win the FA Women’s Super League 4 times, the FA Cup 3 times and reach the final of the 2021 UEFA Champions League.

Millie has become a rock in England’s defence, with over 60 England caps so far, and has captained England on several occasions. 

She was England’s vice-captain when they won the 2022 Euros and captained England to the 2023 World Cup final.

 

Ellie Roebuck

England goalkeeper and Sheffield United fan Ellie Roebuck, born in 1999, is from Beighton in Sheffield. Ellie started her football career playing with boys for Beighton Magpies from the age of 6 to 11, before signing for Sheffield United Girls’ Centre of Excellence where she stayed until she was 15.

Ellie Roebuck (right) with Alex Greenwood - Ellie Roebuck (right) with Alex Greenwood celebrating winning the Women's Euros 2022.
Ellie Roebuck (right) with Alex Greenwood celebrating winning the 2022 Women's Euros (Image: FA)
From there she joined Women’s Super League side Manchester City and has now played over 100 games for them, her honours including winning the 2022 FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup.

Ellie represented Great Britain in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021) and was in the England squads that won the 2022 Euros and reached the 2023 World Cup final.

Here's an interview with Ellie filmed for the Stoppage Time project in May 2022. 

 

Esme Morgan

Esme Morgan was born in Sheffield in 2000. She played with boys for Ecclesall Rangers from the age of four to under-16 level.

A lifelong Manchester City fan due to having Mancunian parents, she joined Manchester City at under-15 level and turned professional with them in 2019.

Esme Morgan - Esme Morgan
Esme Morgan (Image: FA)
The defender made her England debut in October 2022 and was in the England squad for the 2023 World Cup finals.

 

 

 

 

 

Stoppage Time : Sheffield women’s football herstory