26 Facts About Lucy Staniforth

Lucy Elizabeth Staniforth was born on 2 October 1992 in York to Sandra and Gordon Staniforth.

Lucy Staniforth 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.

Lucy Staniforth is openly lesbian and married her wife, Laura, in December 2022.

Lucy Staniforth started every game in her first season at the club, netting three times.

Lucy Staniforth helped her side reach fourth place in the league.

In December 2012, it was announced that Lucy Staniforth would be joining Bristol Academy, against whom she had scored twice in the preceding 2012 FA WSL season.

Lucy Staniforth scored her first goal for the club in the home fixture against Doncaster Rovers Belles, with a 22-yard drive.

In February 2014, Lucy Staniforth joined reigning FA WSL champions Liverpool for a reported five-figure fee.

Lucy Staniforth sustained an injury during pre-season, this time to the anterior cruciate ligament in her other leg, which put her out of action for the entirety of the 2014 season.

In January 2016, Lucy Staniforth left Liverpool and returned to Sunderland on a two-year contract.

At the beginning of the 2017 season, Lucy Staniforth was awarded penalty-taking responsibilities for her club.

In both the fifth and sixth round of the Women's FA Cup, against Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively, Lucy Staniforth scored from the penalty spot.

Lucy Staniforth then scored on two further occasions in the league, from the spot against her old club Bristol City and directly from a corner against Yeovil Town with the outside of her foot.

On 9 July 2020, Lucy Staniforth signed a two-year deal with Manchester United.

On 9 January 2023, Lucy Staniforth signed for fellow WSL team Aston Villa on a free transfer following the termination of her Manchester United contract.

Lucy Staniforth joined the rapidly-improving team after having struggled for playing time at Manchester United, and moved into a deeper midfield role, being key in Aston Villa reaching fifth in the league behind the big four.

Lucy Staniforth 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 Lucy Staniforth competed at the 2009 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in Belarus, which England won.

In 2010 Lucy 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 Lucy Staniforth played in two of England's games at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Germany.

Lucy Staniforth subsequently joined the ranks of the U-23s, making her debut against Norway in February 2012.

Lucy 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.

Lucy Staniforth 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.

On 8 May 2019, Lucy Staniforth was called up to the England 23-player squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.

Lucy Staniforth was the 208th player to represent the England women's team, with this given as her legacy number by FA to honour the teams' 50th anniversary.

Lucy Staniforth was included in England's 28-player preliminary squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2022, but was not selected for the final squad.