Katie Chapman

Millwall

Chapman joined Millwall Lionesses as a ten-year-old, and made her first team debut at 14 in the 1996–97 season. That season, she helped the Lionesses win an FA Women's Cup and Premier League Cup double. Lou Waller, who scored Millwall's winning goal in the FA Women's Cup final victory over Wembley, had been Chapman's coach in the club's youth teams. In the 1998–99 season, Chapman was named Young Player of the Year in the first ever FA Women's Football Awards.

Fulham

In June 2000, Chapman signed a contract with newly professional Fulham to become one of the first full-time professional female players in England. It was reported that Chapman was one of the most highly paid players in the team, on an annual salary of about £20,000. In her first season with the Cottagers, Chapman won the South West Combination Women's Football League, the third level of women's football, and was again named FA Young Player of the Year. She also played in Fulham's 1–0 FA Women's Cup final defeat to Arsenal. In the 2001–02 season, Chapman helped Fulham win the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division and promotion to the top flight. She also scored two goals in the 7–1 Premier League Cup final win over Birmingham City, after which Fulham's manager Gaute Haugenes claimed Chapman was good enough to play in any national side in the world. Chapman then scored the winning goal in the 2–1 FA Women's Cup final victory over Doncaster Belles, a volley from 20 yards. In…

As a 16-year-old, Chapman was called into the England U–18 team, and captained her country at that level. Chapman made her senior debut for England at 17, during the 2001 UEFA Women's Championship qualification tournament, replacing Samantha Britton after 73 minutes of a 1–0 win over Switzerland in Bristol on 13 May 2000. Chapman's first senior start came in an 8–0 reverse to Norway in June 2000. Despite the heavy defeat she was praised for her performance by national coach Hope Powell. England qualified for the final tournament with Chapman named Player of the Match in the away leg of the play-off win over Ukraine. At UEFA Women's Euro 2001, Chapman played in all three of England's games and was praised for her performances by UEFA and the victorious German coach Tina Theune-Meyer.

In March 2002, Chapman headed her first goal for England in a 4–1 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification win in the Netherlands. She was named FA International Player of the Year for 2002. Without Chapman – pregnant with her first child – England eventually failed to reach the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup after a play-off defeat to France. Despite a hand injury, Chapman also played every minute of all three games for England at UEFA Women's Euro 2005, now featuring in midfield as she did at club level. Her initial appearances for the national team had come in central defence. At the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, Chapman started three matches, missing the group game against Argentina after…

Scores and results list England's goal tally first.

Chapman has three children with former husband Mark Wilkinson, a construction worker she met while he coached at Millwall Lionesses. In the 2002–03 season, Chapman sat out Fulham's treble winning season while pregnant with her first child, but returned in August 2003 and played in the FA Women's Community Shield win over Doncaster Belles. In January 2008, Chapman announced she was pregnant with her second child, and as a result played no further part in Arsenal's 2007–08 season. Chapman returned to Arsenal for the 2008–09 season and assisted in their 5–1 victory over Nottingham Forest, in Carlton, on 18 September. She divorced Wilkinson in 2016. Chapman is a lifelong supporter of Millwall, and has trained as a beautician. She has a twin, Sophie, who she played alongside at Millwall Lionesses.