Ciara Watling
{{Short description|Northern Irish footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ciara Watling
| image = File:Ciara Watling (50234776141) (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Watling playing for Charlton in 2020
| full_name = Ciara Alice Watling
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|8|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Sidcup, England
| height = 1.68 m
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Millwall Lionesses
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 =
| youthyears2 = 2007–2010
| youthclubs2 = Charlton Athletic
| years1 = 2010–2012
| clubs1 = Charlton Athletic
| caps1 = 20
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2012–2016
| clubs2 = Millwall Lionesses
| caps2 = 93
| goals2 = 22
| years3 = 2016–2020
| clubs3 = Crystal Palace
| caps3 = 37
| goals3 = 8
| years4 = 2020–2021
| clubs4 = Charlton Athletic
| caps4 = 15
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2021–2023
| clubs5 = Southampton
| caps5 = 10
| goals5 = 6
| nationalyears1 = 2015–
| nationalteam1 = Northern Ireland
| nationalcaps1 = 37
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| medaltemplates =
| club-update = 09:52, 14 October 2021 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 18:19, 23 February 2021 (UTC)
}}
Ciara Alice Watling (née Sherwood; born 18 August 1992) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Millwall Lionesses.{{cite web|title=Ciara Sherwood – First Team|url=http://www.crystalpalaceladiesfc.co.uk/teams/114347/player/ciara-sherwood-1803973|website=crystalpalaceladiesfc.co.uk|publisher=Crystal Palace Ladies FC|accessdate=12 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318183737/http://www.crystalpalaceladiesfc.co.uk/teams/114347/player/ciara-sherwood-1803973|archive-date=18 March 2018|url-status=dead}} Ciara signed for Millwall Lionesses on 25 January 2024.
Club career
Watling joined Charlton Athletic at the age of 15 after a successful trial following recommendation from Keith Boanas, where she was awarded Player of the Season for the academy in her first season.{{cite web|author1=Conor de Smith|title=Interview: Millwall Lionesses' Ciara Sherwood on the first team, captaincy and women's football|url=https://www.vavel.com/en/football/477207-interview-millwall-lionesses-ciara-sherwood.html|website=vavel.com|accessdate=12 January 2017|date=18 April 2015}}
After a season with Charlton's first team, Watling went on loan to Millwall Lionesses before moving permanently. During the 2013–14 season, Watling captained the Millwall Lionesses Development Squad.{{cite web|title=Ciara Sherwood Player Profile, Millwall Lionesses|url=http://millwall.fawsl.com/playerProfile/ciara_sherwood.html|website=millwall.fawsl.com|accessdate=12 January 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922131934/http://millwall.fawsl.com/playerProfile/ciara_sherwood.html|archivedate=22 September 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Watling made her debut for the first team as a substitute against London Bees in the FA WSL Cup in May 2014. She made her first start two months later against Watford.
During the 2016 FA WSL mid-season transfer window, Watling left Millwall Lionesses by mutual agreement before signing for Crystal Palace for the 2016–17 season.{{cite web|title=Transfer Talk|url=http://www.shekicks.net/news/view/13431|website=shekicks.net|accessdate=12 January 2017|date=5 August 2016}}{{cite web|title=Goss and Sherwood Join Palace Ladies|url=http://theeaglesbeak.com/2016/07/03/goss-sherwood-join-palace-ladies/|website=theeaglesbeak.com|accessdate=12 January 2017}} Watling moved back to Charlton on January 15, 2020.{{cite web | title=Northern Ireland international Ciara Watling joins Charlton Athletic | website=belfasttelegraph | date=2020-01-15 | url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/northern-ireland-international-ciara-watling-joins-charlton-athletic-38865274.html | access-date=2021-01-15}}
After her first full season with Charlton, Watling signed for Southampton in the FA Women's National League that summer. Following their successful promotion push in the 2021–22 season, she will play the 2022–23 season in the FA Women's Championship. At the end of the 2022–23 season, Watling left the club after agreeing to terminate her contract.{{Cite web |last=Wyatt |first=Mark |date=16 May 2023 |title=Southampton FC Women confirm 2023/24 squad list with experienced players leaving and 15 retained |url=https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/football-news/southampton-women-squad-retained-leaving-8443764 |access-date=16 August 2023 |website=Hampshire Live}}
International career
Personal life
Watling is married to Harry Watling, formerly assistant manager of Glasgow Rangers,{{cite web | last=Betz | first=Adam | title=Watling to coach Hartford Athletic | website=Journal Inquirer | date=2020-01-12 | url=https://www.journalinquirer.com/sports/watling-to-coach-hartford-athletic/article_32c8f114-55fd-11eb-91fb-c772f525e146.html | access-date=2021-01-15}} who has coached and managed in four different leagues and in three countries during his time in senior football. She is a cousin of EastEnders actresses Jacqueline Jossa and Megan Jossa.{{cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a854754/eastenders-jacqueline-jossa-one-thing-sacrifice-while-on-the-show/|title=Former EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa reveals the one thing she had to sacrifice while on the show|date=14 April 2018|website=digistalspy.com|accessdate=26 March 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://fulltime.thefa.com/statsForPlayer.html?personID=663384576 FAWNL stats]
- [https://cafcwomen.co.uk/first-team/ Charlton Athletic bio]
- {{soccerway|ciara-sherwood/340329}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watling, Ciara}}
Category:FA Women's National League players
Category:Women's Super League players
Category:Charlton Athletic W.F.C. players
Category:Millwall Lionesses L.F.C. players
Category:Northern Ireland women's international footballers
Category:Women's association football midfielders
Category:Women's association footballers from Northern Ireland
Category:21st-century sportswomen from Northern Ireland
Category:Crystal Palace F.C. (Women) players
Category:Southampton F.C. Women players
Category:English women's footballers
Category:English people of Northern Ireland descent
Category:21st-century English sportswomen
{{NorthernIreland-women-footy-bio-stub}}