Laura Bassett

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Laura Bassett

| image = Arsenal LFC v Kelly Smith All-Stars XI (175) (cropped).jpg

| image_size = 250

| caption = Bassett in 2017

| fullname = Laura Bassett{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/FWWC/2015/pdf/FWWC_2015_SquadLists.pdf |title=FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015: List of players: England |publisher=FIFA|page=10 |date=6 July 2015 |access-date=1 June 2019}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|8|2|df=y}}

| birth_place = Nuneaton, England{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/Womens-seniors/news/2009/englandspain_qa|title=Behind the scenes|publisher=TheFA.com|date=4 October 2008|access-date=23 August 2010}}

| height = 1.65 m

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 = 1993–1997

| youthclubs1 = Bedworth Girls

| years1 = 1997–2000

| clubs1 = Coventry City Ladies

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 2000–2008

| clubs2 = Birmingham City Ladies

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 2006

| clubs3 = → New York Magic (loan)

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 = 2008–2009

| clubs4 = Arsenal Ladies

| caps4 = 17

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2009–2010

| clubs5 = Leeds United Ladies

| caps5 = 16

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2010–2013

| clubs6 = Birmingham City Ladies

| caps6 = 39

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2014

| clubs7 = Chelsea Ladies

| caps7 = 13

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2015–2017

| clubs8 = Notts County

| caps8 = 29

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2017–2018

| clubs9 = Canberra United

| caps9 = 12

| goals9 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 2003–2017

| nationalteam1 = England

| nationalcaps1 = 63

| nationalgoals1 = 2

| pcupdate = 21 February 2018{{cite web|url=http://full-time.thefa.com/DisplayStatsForPlayer.do?id=1366490|publisher=The FA|access-date=12 June 2017|title=Laura Bassett}}{{cite web|url=http://us.women.soccerway.com/players/laura-bassett/24688/|publisher=Soccer Way|access-date=12 June 2017|title=Laura Bassett}}

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country|{{fbw|ENG}}}}

}}

Laura Bassett (born 2 August 1983) is an English former football defender who represented England internationally. She played for FA WSL club Notts County, Birmingham City (two separate spells), Arsenal, Leeds Carnegie, Chelsea, and Australian W-League club Canberra United.

Bassett acquired over 60 caps for the national team between 2003 and 2017, being part of the squad at UEFA Women's Euro 2009, the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, UEFA Women's Euro 2013, the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and UEFA Women's Euro 2017.

Club career

Bassett grew up in Bulkington and joined Bedworth girls as a nine-year-old. At 14 she joined Coventry City and played in the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division while still a pupil at North Warwickshire and Hinckley College.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Meet+England%27s+new+centre-half+-+Laura+Bassett%3B+football.-a062189244|title=Meet England's new centre-half – Laura Bassett; football|work=Coventry Evening Telegraph|date=18 May 2000|author=Michelle Wilson|access-date=23 August 2010}} She then moved to Birmingham City and became captain,{{Cite web|url=http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/coventry-warwickshire-sport/other-sport/2008/03/18/laura-works-hard-plays-hard-92746-20639673/|title=Laura works hard, plays hard!|work=Coventry Evening Telegraph|date=18 March 2008|access-date=23 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313092539/http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/coventry-warwickshire-sport/other-sport/2008/03/18/laura-works-hard-plays-hard-92746-20639673/|archive-date=13 March 2012}} while on a scholarship at the FA Player Development Centre at Loughborough University. She spent summer 2006 playing in the W-League with New York Magic.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/womens-under-23s/News/2006/Nordic_squad_for_Norway|title=Nordic squad for Norway|publisher=TheFA.com|date=22 June 2006|access-date=23 August 2010}}

Bassett left Birmingham for Arsenal in 2008.{{Cite web |date=24 December 2008 |title=Contenders: Bassett |url=https://www.thefa.com/England/womens-seniors/News/2009/WomPoty_2008_Bassett |access-date=23 August 2010 |publisher=TheFA.com |archive-date=15 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515002849/https://www.thefa.com/England/womens-seniors/News/2009/WomPoty_2008_Bassett |url-status=bot: unknown }} She signed for Leeds Carnegie in October 2009{{Cite web|url=http://www.leedsunitedladies.com/2009/sunderland-v-leeds.html|title=Leeds second after frantic finale|publisher=Leeds United Ladies|date=28 October 2009|access-date=23 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823115517/http://www.leedsunitedladies.com/2009/sunderland-v-leeds.html|archive-date=23 August 2010}} and helped the Yorkshire club win the Premier League Cup in February 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/feb/11/leeds-carnegie-everton|title=Leeds Carnegie lift first major trophy with defeat of Everton|work=The Guardian|date=11 February 2010|author=Tony Leighton|access-date=23 August 2010}}

After Leeds' funding and FA WSL bid collapsed, Bassett spent a period without a club.{{Cite web|url=http://www.womenssoccerscene.co.uk/womens-football-news-2010-2011/100806-03-womens-football-news.htm|title=England prepare for Austria|publisher=Women's Soccer Scene|date=6 August 2010|access-date=23 August 2010|archive-date=16 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516121138/http://womenssoccerscene.co.uk/womens-football-news-2010-2011/100806-03-womens-football-news.htm|url-status=dead}} In October 2010 it was revealed that she had re-signed for Birmingham City.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/womens-seniors/News/2010/PeaceCupSquad|title=Hope names Peace Cup squad|publisher=TheFA.com|date=4 October 2010|access-date=4 October 2010}} In April 2012 Bassett 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17608531|title=Women's Super League launches Twitter kit initiative to raise profile|work=BBC Sport|access-date=10 April 2012|date=4 April 2012}} At the end of the 2013 season, club captain Bassett rejected Birmingham's offer of a new contract and joined Chelsea.{{cite news|title=Laura Bassett quits Birmingham to sign for Chelsea Ladies|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25123287|access-date=14 February 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=27 November 2013}}

With Bassett Chelsea finished as runners-up in the 2014 FA WSL, but she signed a three-year contract with Notts County ahead of the 2015 campaign.{{cite news|title=Notts County Ladies: Laura Bassett & Alex Greenwood join|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30699756|access-date=14 February 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=6 January 2015}}

Following Notts County's folding in April 2017,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39667392|title=Notts County Ladies: WSL 1 club fold on eve of Spring Series season|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 April 2017}} Bassett became a free agent. She joined Australian club Canberra United for the 2017–18 Australian W-League season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41328556|title=Laura Bassett: England defender joins Canberra United|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 September 2017}}

Bassett sat out the 2018–19 season to give birth to her daughter Saede. On 3 June 2019 she announced her retirement.{{cite web|url=https://article.wn.com/view/2019/06/03/England_Lionesses_Laura_Bassett_announces_retirement/|title=England Lionesses: Laura Bassett announces retirement|publisher=wn.com|date=3 June 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48494894|title=England Lionesses: Laura Bassett announces retirement|date=3 June 2019|publisher=BBC}}

Bassett was part of the BBC's commentary team for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/laura-bassett-ready-to-put-2015-world-cup-own-goal-behind-her-xjp8d9k5s|title=Laura Bassett ready to put 2015 World Cup own goal behind her|first=Rebecca|last=Myers|date=9 June 2019|newspaper=The Times|access-date=29 June 2019|url-access=subscription }}

International career

Bassett represented England at youth level, including at the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship. When she made her senior debut against Italy in February 2003,{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/womens-seniors/News/2003/41109|title=Young England beaten by Italy|publisher=TheFA.com|access-date=23 August 2010|date=25 February 2003}} she became the first Birmingham City Ladies player to play for England at full international level.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bclfc.com/index.php?cat=HIS&id=2|title=Club History|publisher=Birmingham City L.F.C.|access-date=13 August 2009|archive-date=21 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821125434/http://www.bclfc.com/index.php?cat=HIS&id=2|url-status=dead}}

In May 2009, Bassett was one of the first 17 female players to be given central contracts by The Football Association.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/women/8050189.stm|title=England Women awarded contracts|work=BBC Sport|date=14 May 2009|access-date=29 July 2009}} She made her FIFA Women's World Cup debut in July 2011, replacing Ellen White for the final minute of England's 2–0 group B win over Japan.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14038052.stm|title=Women's World Cup: England 2–0 Japan|work=BBC Sport|date=5 July 2011|author=Jonathan Stevenson|access-date=10 July 2011}}

Bassett scored a last-minute equaliser in England's opening UEFA Women's Euro 2013 match against Spain, but Karen Bardsley's injury time own goal gave the Spanish a 3–2 win.{{cite news|last1=Magowan|first1=Alistair|title=England 2 3 Spain|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23193028|access-date=14 February 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=12 July 2013|location=Linkoping, Sweden}}

Under new coach Mark Sampson, Bassett started England's first game at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, a 1–0 defeat by France. She sustained a black eye after being elbowed in the face by Camille Abily, but the French player controversially escaped any punishment.{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Louise|title=Elbow incident leaves England's Laura Bassett bruised but unbowed|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/11/england-womens-world-cup-bassett-bruise|access-date=14 June 2015|work=The Guardian|date=11 June 2015|location=Moncton}} During added time in the semi-final match against Japan, Bassett lobbed the ball into England's goal while trying to clear it to prevent Japan from taking an open shot, resulting in a 2–1 defeat.{{cite web|last1=Callaghan|first1=Shane|title=Result: Last-gasp Laura Bassett own goal denies battling England|url=http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/england-women/womens-world-cup-2015/result/result-last-gasp-bassett-own-goal-denies-england_231430.html|website=Sports Mole|date=2 July 2015 |access-date=2 July 2015}}

She captained England for their UEFA Women's Euro 2017 first phase match against Portugal,{{cite web|last1=Lavery|first1=Glenn|title=Portugal 1 England 2|url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2017/jul/27/uefa-womens-euro-2017-group-d-portugal-england-match-report-270717|website=The FA|access-date=29 January 2021}} her last appearance for England.

She was allotted 146 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural international.{{cite press release |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/england/womens-senior-team/Legacy?tab=Players |title=ENGLAND PLAYER LEGACY AND RESULTS ARCHIVE |date=18 November 2022 |access-date=22 January 2025 |publisher=The Football Association}}{{Cite web |last=Lacey-Hatton |first=Jack |date=2022-11-18 |title=Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/lionesses-introduce-legacy-numbers-players-28529161 |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=mirror |language=en}}

=International goals=

:Scores and results list England's goal tally first.

class="wikitable"

! Goal !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition

12 July 2013

Arena Linköping, Linköping, Sweden

2–2

2–3

Euro 2013

21 August 2014

Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff

align=left| 4–0

2015 FIFA World Cup qualification

Personal life

Bassett is in a long-term relationship with Manchester United Women manager Marc Skinner, having met while both coaching for Birmingham's U-14s team.{{Cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/laura-bassett-without-club-doesnt-want-play-partner/|title=Laura Bassett is without a club but she doesn't want to play for her partner|last=Moore|first=Glenn|date=2017-06-06|website=inews.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-01-19}} Their daughter, Saede, was born in December 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/laurabassett6/status/1070584733724274689|title=Laura Bassett tweets birth announcement|last=Bassett|first=Laura|website=Twitter}} Their second child was born in March 2024.{{cite web |last1=Rowe-Willcocks |first1=Helen |title=Healy: Every game is dangerous in the WSL |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/man-utd-women-assistant-coach-charlotte-healy-ready-for-bristol-city-challenge-in-wsl-on-17-march |website=Manchester United F.C. |access-date=24 May 2024 |date=15 March 2024}}

Honours

Birmingham City

FA Women's Cup: 2011–12{{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}}

England

UEFA Women's Championship runner-up: 2009{{cite web |title=UEFA Women's EURO 2009 - Final |url=https://www.uefa.com/womenseuro/match/2001423--england-vs-germany/ |publisher=UEFA |access-date=7 July 2019 |date=10 September 2009}}
FIFA Women's World Cup third place: 2015{{Cite web |url=http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/66/09/64/eng_51_0704_ger-eng_fulltime.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706175120/http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/66/09/64/eng_51_0704_ger-eng_fulltime.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 July 2015 |date=4 July 2015 |title=Match for third place - Match report |publisher=FIFA|access-date=7 July 2019}}
Cyprus Cup: 2013, 2015{{cite news |last1=Leighton |first1=Tony |date=13 March 2013 |title=Rachel Yankey volley earns England women their second Cyprus Cup title |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/mar/13/rachel-yankey-england-canada-cyprus-cup}}{{cite web |last1=Lavery |first1=Glenn |date=11 March 2015 |title=England 1-0 Canada: Cyprus Cup final match report |url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2015/mar/11/cyprus-cup-final-canada-larnaca-match-report |publisher=The Football Association}}

References

External links

{{FIFA player}}
[http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players/B/Laura-Bassett Laura Bassett] at the FA website
[http://www.nclfc.co.uk/playerProfile/laura_bassett.html Notts County player profile]

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Category:1983 births

Category:Living people

Category:Arsenal W.F.C. players

Category:Birmingham City W.F.C. players

Category:Canberra United FC players