Lucy Staniforth

Sunderland

Youth, 2006–07

Upon moving to Alnwick, Staniforth was too old to continue playing with boys, and her parents were unaware of other opportunities in the area. They were advised to speak with Diane Bronze, a neighbour and advocate for girls' football; Diane suggested Staniforth join Blyth Town's girls' side with her daughter, Lucy Bronze, which she did in about 2004. Blyth Town was impressively organised and gave many opportunities to the girls' team at the time, including sending them on a pre-season tour of the United States. While in high school, Bronze, a year older than Staniforth, joined Sunderland; despite being a fan of rivals Newcastle United and only fourteen, Staniforth also joined the club, saying that she mostly copied whatever Bronze did.

First senior stint, 2008–10

From the moment they joined Sunderland, the teenagers were aiming for the first team, which Staniforth began playing for at the age of sixteen. During her early formative years at the club, Staniforth played with players she described as "pivotal in paving the way towards England becoming a top side"; as well as Bronze, Nobbs, and Stokes, this included Jill Scott, Steph Houghton and Carly Telford. In her first season in senior football, she was instrumental in helping Sunderland win the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division and reach the 2009 FA Women's Cup final, where they were beaten 2–1 by Arsenal. The following season, Staniforth figured…

Youth

She featured for England in their fourth-place finish at the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand, scoring an excellent goal against Japan in the quarter final. In July 2009 Staniforth competed at the 2009 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in Belarus, which England won. In her time with the U-19s, she scored twice. In 2010 Staniforth helped England reach the final of the 2010 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in FYR Macedonia, where they lost their title to France. Later that summer Staniforth played in two of England's games at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Germany. Staniforth subsequently joined the ranks of the U-23s, making her debut against Norway in February 2012. Staniforth scored an impressive 25-yard drive in the first game of the Under-23 Four Nations La Manga Tournament, helping her team beat Sweden 2–0. In 2012 she was described by former England coach Mark Sampson as "one of the best young players in Europe".

Senior

Staniforth earned her first call up to the senior England squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying match against Russia at Sapsan Arena in Moscow on 8 June 2018. She gained her first cap on 4 September 2018 in a 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying match against Kazakhstan, scoring on her debut in the 66th minute. Staniforth scored the opening goal in the ultimate game of the 2019 SheBelieves Cup, helping the Lionesses beat Japan 3–0 and win the international tournament for the first…

Club

As of 5 October 2024

International

As of match played 6 June 2019. England score listed first, score column indicates score after each Staniforth goal.

Lucy Elizabeth Staniforth was born on 2 October 1992 in York to Sandra and Gordon Staniforth. She had a footballing family: her father was an attacker who played for York City and Hull City, his hometown club, as well as a host of other clubs, and her brother, Thomas, older by twelve years, was a defender for Sheffield Wednesday's reserve and youth sides. Despite this, she credits a primary school PE teacher who was particularly encouraging of the girls to try football for getting her into the sport; she played for her school team and the Copmanthorpe boys' team in York. Thomas died suddenly at the age of 20 in 2001, prompting the family to move to Alnwick in Northumberland shortly afterwards. Staniforth joined the local school on the same day as future teammate Lucy Bronze, with their houses backing onto each others'. They quickly became friends and played for club and school together; Bronze's mother was a teacher at the local high school, with Staniforth and Bronze allowed to play for the Sixth Form team even when in middle school. The pair attended the Duchess's Community High School together, continuing to play in the team there, with Staniforth later remarking that it was funny how they were so small playing with older students and that "the other schools must have thought [they] were in sixth form for about six years". During her career, Staniforth has worn the number 37, Thomas' squad number with Sheffield Wednesday. She played a match with Lincoln Ladies on the…