Jill Scott (footballer)


Jill Louise Scott is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester City and the England national team. The FIFA technical report into the 2011 Women's World Cup described Scott as one of England's four outstanding players; " energetic, ball-winning midfielder who organises the team well, works hard at both ends of the pitch and can change her team's angle of attack."
At tall, Scott is nicknamed "Crouchy" after male international footballer Peter Crouch. Since leaving home town club Sunderland for Everton in 2006, she contributed to the Blues' FA Women's Premier League Cup win in 2008 and FA Women's Cup victory in 2010. On the individual level Scott was voted 2008 FA Players' Player of the Year and 2011 FA International Player of the Year.

Early life

Scott grew up in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear and attended Monkwearmouth Comprehensive School. A keen long distance runner, Scott ran for Sunderland Harriers, winning the North of England Under-13 cross-country title and the Junior Great North Run, whilst playing football for Boldon Girls. At age 13, she had to decide between football or running, and chose to concentrate on playing football.
After leaving school in 2003, Scott did a BTEC National Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science at Gateshead College. She remained at the College to study for a University of Sunderland foundation degree in sports and exercise development. She also played for the college football team alongside fellow Sunderland and international team mate Carly Telford. After completing her diploma, both Scott and Telford enrolled at Loughborough University to study sport.

Club career

Sunderland

Scott began her senior career with Sunderland Women. In October 2005, aged only 18 years, she won the Women's Player of the Month award for September, based on her performances for both her and club and also her country.

Everton

Scott joined Everton Ladies in July 2006, having turned down an approach from Doncaster Rovers Belles. Her first game for Everton came the following month, a 3–0 defeat against Arsenal Ladies in the FA Women's Community Shield.
At the end of the 2007–08 season she picked up the FA Tesco Players' Player of the Year award. Also nominated were Arsenal's Alex Scott and Karen Carney. In April 2012 Scott was appointed as one of eight digital media ambassadors, one from each team, who wear their Twitter account name on their shirt sleeves to raise the profile of the WSL. Scott decided to leave Everton at the end of the 2013 season.

Manchester City

After leaving Everton, Scott signed a two-year deal with Manchester City. This move proved a success, as she played her part in securing the Continental Cup Trophy for Manchester City in 2014.
In April 2015, Scott was shown the red card and banned for three matches for headbutting Arsenal's Jade Bailey during Manchester City's 1–0 defeat.

International career

At junior level, Scott played for the England Under-19s side, scoring three times in three games as England won through the first round of qualifying for the 2006 UEFA Under-19s tournament. Her first call-up to the England senior squad came in May 2006, having captained the Under-19s side for the previous 18 months. She made her debut for the England senior team against the Netherlands in August 2006, coming on as a late substitute for Kelly Smith in a 4–0 win. She made the squad for the 2007 World Cup, coming on as a substitute in England's opening match against Japan. She went on to start the remainder of England's matches in the tournament, scoring her first international goal in the 6–1 demolition of Argentina in the group stage. England bowed out at the quarter-final stage after a 3–0 defeat against the United States.
In May 2009, Scott was one of the first 17 female players to be given central contracts by The Football Association. She was named in coach Hope Powell's squad for the 2009 UEFA Women's European Championships, scoring a late winner as England beat the Netherlands in the semi-final, having come on as a substitute for Jessica Clarke at the beginning of extra-time.
At the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, Scott scored against New Zealand in England's 2–1 group B win. She put the English ahead against France in the quarter final, but did not take a penalty in England's 3-4 shootout defeat following a 1–1 draw.
In February 2019, Scott pulled out of the England squad for the SheBelieves Cup.
Scott was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to women's football.

Personal life

Scott identifies as lesbian. In March 2020, she announced her engagement to long-term partner Shelley Unitt.

Career statistics

Club

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentResultCompetitionScored
125 October 2006Städtisches Waldstadion, Aalen1–5Friendly1
217 September 2007Chengdu Longquanyi Football Stadium, Chengdu6–12007 FIFA World Cup1
38 May 2008Darida, Minsk6–1UEFA Euro 2009 Qual.1
428 September 2008Ďolíček, Prague5–1UEFA Euro 2009 Qual.1
56 September 2009Ratina Stadion, Tampere2–12009 UEFA Championship1
624 March 2010Larnaca1–02010 Cyprus Cup1
717 May 2011Kassam Stadium, Oxford2–0Friendly1
81 July 2011Glücksgas Stadium, Dresden2–12011 FIFA World Cup1
99 July 2011BayArena, Leverkusen1–12011 FIFA World Cup1
1121 June 2012Ob Jezeru, Velenje4–0UEFA Euro 2013 Qual.2
1219 September 2012Bescot Stadium, Walsall3–0UEFA Euro 2013 Qual.1
1320 October 2012Stade Sébastien Charléty, Paris2–2Friendly1
145 April 2014Falmer Stadium, Brighton and Hove9–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup Qual.1
1521 September 2015A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn8–0UEFA Euro 2017 Qual.1
1629 November 2015Ashton Gate, Bristol1–0UEFA Euro 2017 Qual.1
178 April 2016New York Stadium, Rotherham1–1UEFA Euro 2017 Qual.1
187 June 2016Sports Center of FA of Serbia, Stara Pazova7–0UEFA Euro 2017 Qual.1
1915 September 2016Meadow Lane, Nottingham5–0UEFA Euro 2017 Qual.1
201 March 2018Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, United States4–12018 SheBelieves Cup1
2218 June 2018Sapsan Arena, Moscow3–12019 FIFA Women's World Cup Qual.2
2331 August 2018Rodney Parade, Newport3–02019 FIFA Women's World Cup Qual.1
2425 May 2019Bescot Stadium, Walsall2–0Friendly1
2527 June 2019Stade Océane, Le Havre, France3–02019 FIFA World Cup1

Great Britain Olympic

In June 2012 Scott was named in an 18–player Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics.

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentResultCompetitionScored
128 July 2012Millennium Stadium, Cardiff3–02012 Olympic Games1

Coaching career

In September 2008, Scott was appointed as the coach of the Women's Football Academy at Gateshead College, with former Darlington manager Mick Tait taking over as coach of the Men's Academy.

Honours

England