Leandra Faye Little (born 8 November 1984) is an English former professional footballer who most recently played as a defender for Sheffield United of the FA Women's Championship.[4] A former PE teacher, she is the education lead at the Liverpool F.C. Women's Academy and an education welfare officer for The Football Association.
 Leandra Little in September 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leandra Faye Little[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 8 November 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Torbay, England[2] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Torquay Ladies[3] | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007–2011 | Lincoln Ladies | ||
| 2012–2018 | Doncaster Rovers Belles | 59 | (6) |
| 2018–2019 | Liverpool | 11 | (0) |
| 2019–2021 | Sheffield United | 29 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:36, 29 May 2021 (UTC) | |||
Basketball
editPrior to her football career, Little represented the England women's national basketball team[5] and played for the City of Sheffield Hatters from 2003 to 2007.[6] Disappointed to be left off the longlist for the Great Britain women's national basketball team at the 2012 London Olympics, Little decided to play football instead.[7]
Football
editIn 2007 Little joined Lincoln Ladies, becoming an important defender in the team which consistently challenged for promotion from the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division. When Lincoln were accepted into the FA WSL, Little performed well in the inaugural 2011 season, being named Manager's Player of the Year.[8]
In December 2011, Little transferred to Lincoln's FA WSL rivals Doncaster Rovers Belles. In six years with the South Yorkshire outfit, she rose to captain status and grew to love the club: "They hold a dear place in my heart".[9] Although Little helped Doncaster win the 2017–18 FA WSL 2 title, the impecunious fallen giants were refused a WSL license for the following season and consigned to the FA Women's National League.
References
edit- ^ "Player Profile". FIBA. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
- ^ a b Mooney, Dan (30 April 2010). "Interview: Leandra the all-rounder". She Kicks. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
- ^ "Tots must learn lesson after defeat at Bude". Torquay Herald Express. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Leandra Little: Liverpool Ladies sign former Doncaster Rovers Belles captain". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
- ^ "England women edge out Iceland". BBC Sport. 30 December 2004. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
- ^ "Leandra Little basketball profile". EuroBasket. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
- ^ Westby, Nick (19 December 2020). "It's all about education for Sheffield United Women's Leandra Little". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ "Leandra joins Belles". Women's Soccer Scene. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ "Little channelling nostalgia as Blades plot route to top flight". The Football Association. 5 April 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
External links
edit- Doncaster Rovers Belles player profile
- Leandra Little on Twitter
- Leandra Little at Soccerway
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