Kerys Harrop

{{short description|English footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Kerys Harrop

| image = Kerys Harrop.jpg

| image_size = 150px

| caption = Harrop at 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup

| fullname = Kerys Julia Harrop

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|12|3|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Wordsley, England,

| height = {{height|m=1.75}}

| position = Defender

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Hasbury Rangers{{cite news |title=England's calling |url=https://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/sport/3843398.englands-calling/ |access-date=24 September 2022 |publisher=Stourbridge News |date=16 November 2008}}

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Birmingham City

| years1 = 2011–2020

| clubs1 = Birmingham City

| caps1 = 135

| goals1 = 13

| years2 = 2020–2023

| clubs2 = Tottenham Hotspur

| caps2 = 48

| goals2 = 2

| nationalyears1 = 2009

| nationalteam1 = England U19

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| nationalyears2 = 2010

| nationalteam2 = England U20

| nationalcaps2 = 3

| nationalgoals2 = 1

| nationalyears3 =

| nationalteam3 =

| nationalcaps3 =

| nationalgoals3 =

| pcupdate = 24 August 2023

| ntupdate = 18:05, 25 July 2019 (UTC)

| totalcaps = 183

| totalgoals = 15

}}

Kerys Julia Harrop (born 3 December 1990){{cite web |url= https://uk.soccerway.com/players/kerys-harrop/17432/ |title= K. Harrop |website= Soccerway |access-date= 5 January 2022}}{{cite web |url= https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/teams/women/players/kerys-harrop/ |title= Kerys Harrop |website= tottenhamhotspur.com |access-date= 5 January 2022}} is a former English footballer who played central defender/wing back.

Harrop had been involved with the England national team at Under 19 and Under 23 level and was part of the Under 19 squad who won the European Championships in Belarus in 2009. She was also a member of the Great Britain team who won a gold medal in Kazan in the 2013 World University Games. With Birmingham City Ladies, she helped them win the FA Cup in 2012{{cite news

|url=https://womenscompetitions.thefa.com/en/Article/Birmingham-Chelsea-Throwback-110420

|title=FA Cup Final throwback: Birmingham topple Chelsea in 2012 thriller

|publisher=The FA

|access-date=9 May 2022}} and helped them progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2014.

On 2 April 2023, she broke the Women's Super League's all-time record for appearances by chalking up her 178th game in the competition.{{cite web|title=Kerys Harrop proud of WSL all-time appearance record|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-65257021|publisher=BBC|accessdate=24 August 2023|date=13 April 2023}}

On 24 August 2023, Harrop announced her retirement from professional football.{{cite web|title=Blues legend Kerys Harrop announces retirement|url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/womens/blues-legend-kerys-harrop-announces-retirement|publisher=Birmingham City FC|accessdate=24 August 2023|date=24 August 2023}}

In addition to her footballing achievements, Harrop has obtained a first class Honours degree from Loughborough University in Sport Science and a master's degree from the Sports Business Institute Barcelona, and PGCE Teaching Degree from the University of Wolverhampton.

Harrop holds both British and American citizenship.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21834156|title=BBC Sport - Kerys Harrop earns first England call-up for Canada friendly|work=BBC Sport |accessdate=2014-03-09}}{{cite web|title='You have to beat the best,' insists Blues defender|url=http://www.thefa.com/news/fawsl/2015/sep/kerys-harrop-previews-birmingham-v-chelsea-continental-cup-120915|publisher=England FA|accessdate=20 May 2016|date=12 September 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Carpenter|first1=Steve|title=Kerys Harrop seals fifth consecutive win for Birmingham City Ladies|url=http://solihullobserver.co.uk/sport/kerys-harrop-seals-fifth-consecutive-win-for-birmingham-city-ladies-6999/|publisher=Solihull Observer|accessdate=20 May 2016|date=28 September 2015}}