Natasha Dowie

Natasha Dowie
Dowie playing for England in 2014
Personal information
Full name Natasha Khalila Dowie[1]
Date of birth (1988-06-30) 30 June 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates[2]
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[3]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Watford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004 Watford ? (?)
2004–2006 Fulham 14 (1)
2006–2007 Charlton Athletic 17 (12)
2007–2012 Everton 25 (10)
2010 → Barnet (loan) ? (?)
2012–2015 Liverpool 67 (46)
2015 → Melbourne Victory (loan) 7 (3)
2016 Doncaster Rovers Belles 3 (1)
2016–2017 Boston Breakers 30 (10)
2016–2017 → Melbourne Victory (loan) 12 (9)
2017–2018 → Melbourne Victory (loan) 12 (6)
2018 Linköping 11 (10)
2018–2020 Melbourne Victory 24 (16)
2019 → Vålerenga (loan) 18 (11)
2020–2021 Milan 21 (12)
2021–2023 Reading 27 (7)
2023 → Liverpool (loan) 7 (2)
International career‡
2008 England U-19 4 (1)
2010–2011 England U-23 5 (2)
2009–2014 England 14 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:40, 27 May 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:55, 1 March 2018 (UTC)

Natasha Khalila Dowie (born 30 June 1988) is an English former footballer. She represented the England women's national football team at the youth level before making her senior international debut in 2009. Dowie played for the London teams Watford, Fulham and Charlton Athletic, and then spent five years with Everton before transferring to FA WSL clubs Liverpool Ladies in November 2012 and Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2016. She also spent three periods on loan with Melbourne Victory of the Australian W-League in 2015, 2016, and 2017 and played for Boston Breakers in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in 2016 and 2017.

Dowie announced her retirement from football on 21 September 2023, and is now in the role of women's ambassador for Liverpool FC.[4]

Club career

[edit]

Dowie attended Roundwood Park School and began her career with Watford Ladies. After starting the 2004–05 season with five goals in five matches for Watford, she was signed by Fulham Ladies. Dowie joined Charlton Athletic Ladies in the 2006 close season[5] and played in the FA Women's Cup final that year, with Charlton losing 4–1 to Arsenal.[6] When Charlton Athletic scrapped their women's team in the 2007 close season,[7]

Everton

[edit]
Natasha Dowie playing for Everton

Dowie joined Everton Ladies[2] in preference to several other interested clubs including Arsenal. She stated her intention to "knock Arsenal off their pedestal in women's football".[8]

While commuting from London to Liverpool,[9] Dowie was a member of Everton's League Cup winning side in her first season with the club.[10] On 3 May 2010 she scored two goals, including the 119th minute extra-time winner, to give Everton a 3–2 victory over Arsenal in the 2010 FA Women's Cup Final.

With Everton dormant ahead of the 2011 FA WSL season, Dowie played for Barnet in the 2010–11 FA Women's Premier League National Division.[11] She continued to play for Everton in European competition and netted in The Blues' UEFA Women's Champions League quarter–final defeat to FCR 2001 Duisburg.[12] Dowie then scored two goals for Everton in their first FA WSL match, including a stoppage-time equaliser, to rescue a 3–3 draw at local rivals Liverpool.[13]

Dowie (right) with the 2013 FA WSL trophy

Liverpool

[edit]

In November 2012 Dowie and Fara Williams left Everton for ambitious local rivals Liverpool, who were building a squad to challenge Arsenal's dominance of English women's football.[14]

Dowie finished the top scorer in the 2013 FA WSL with 13 goals in 14 games for champions Liverpool. She was voted the FA Players' Player of the Year and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Team of the Year.[15]

Liverpool retained their title in 2014, but were much less successful in 2015. They finished seventh of eight teams amidst an injury crisis[16] and coach Matt Beard departed for American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club Boston Breakers. Dowie agreed a two-month loan to Australian W-League club Melbourne Victory in November 2015.[17]

Doncaster Rovers

[edit]
Dowie playing for Boston Breakers in 2017

Upon her return she transferred to newly promoted Doncaster Rovers Belles.[18] Doncaster lost their four opening games and were marooned at the foot of the WSL 1 table, when Dowie left the club by "mutual consent" in the mid-season break.[19]

Boston Breakers

[edit]

On 17 July 2016, Boston Breakers announced her signing.[20] Dowie finished the 2017 season as the top goal-scorer for the Breakers with 7 goals.[21] She also wore the captain's arm band for the Breakers in matches on 23 and 30 September 2017 when Julie King was out with an injury. When Boston Breakers folded in January 2018, Dowie was not selected in the 2018 NWSL Dispersal Draft which was hastily arranged to assign displaced Breakers players to other NWSL clubs.[22]

Linköpings

[edit]
Natasha Dowie playing for Melbourne Victory

In January 2018, Dowie agreed to join Swedish Damallsvenskan champions Linköpings FC, on an initial six-month contract.[23] On 26 June, it was confirmed that Dowie would be leaving Linköpings after her 6-month contract expired, as they were unable to agree on a long-term contract.[24]

Melbourne Victory

[edit]

Dowie rejoined Melbourne Victory for a fourth time in September 2018, signing a two-year permanent deal.[25] She played 24 leagues matches and scored 16 goals during her two year period in the process helping the club to win the 2018–19 W-League Premiership. She was loaned to Vålerenga of the Toppserien in March 2019.[26]

Reading

[edit]

On 28 June 2021, Reading announced the signing of Dowie.[27]

On 31 January 2023, Reading announced that Dowie had joined Liverpool on loan for the remainder of the 2022–23 season.[28]

Dowie left Reading at the end of the 2022–23 season before announcing her retirement from the game on 21 September 2023.[29][30]

International career

[edit]

Dowie was called into an England training camp while still a year ten pupil at Roundwood Park School.[31] She has since represented England at Under-17, 19, 20 and 23 levels, playing in the FIFA Under-20's World Cup Finals in Chile in November 2008.[32] She was included in coach Hope Powell's squad for the pre-Euro 2009 friendlies against Iceland and Denmark,[33] but did not play and was left out of the final Euro 2009 squad.

She finally made her debut in a World Cup qualifier against Turkey in İzmir on 26 November 2009. Dowie was an 84th-minute substitute for Everton Ladies teammate Jody Handley.[34] Six months later she won another cap as a substitute in a 6–0 win over Malta. Dowie remained on the fringes of the squad and her next appearance was not until September 2011. She was substituted at half time in a 2–2 draw with lowly Serbia.[35]

Dowie was not selected for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, for the Great Britain squad at the 2012 London Olympics, or for UEFA Women's Euro 2013. Her exclusion from the latter tournament was controversial as she was the WSL's leading goalscorer at the time.[36]

When Hope Powell was sacked after England's Euro 2013 failure, interim coach Brent Hills immediately recalled Dowie. She came on as a substitute in England's first 2015 FIFA World Cup qualifier and scored her first national team goal in a 6–0 win over Belarus at Dean Court in Bournemouth.[37][38] Dowie's continuing good form at club level meant it was something of a surprise when she was left out of England's 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup squad. Almost two years after her last cap in September 2014, she remained keen to play for England and hoped to win a recall from Hope Powell's successor Mark Sampson.[39]

Dowie was allotted 173 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural international.[40][41]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 27 May 2023[42][43]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Melbourne Victory (loan) 2015–16 W-League 7 3 — — — — 7 3
Doncaster Belles 2016 FA WSL 3 1 1 0 0 0 — — 4 1
Boston Breakers 2016 NWSL 12 6 — — — — 12 6
2017 23 7 — — — — 23 7
Total 35 13 - - - - - - - - 35 13
Melbourne Victory (loan) 2016–17 W-League 12 9 — — — — 12 9
2017–18 12 6 — — — — 12 6
Total 24 15 - - - - - - - - 24 15
Linköpings 2018 Damallsvenskan 11 10 2 1 — 2 0 — 15 11
Melbourne Victory 2018–19 W-League 13 9 — — — — 13 9
2019–20 13 7 — — — — 13 7
Total 26 16 - - - - - - - - 26 16
Vålerenga (loan) 2019 Toppserien 18 11 3 8 — — — 21 19
A.C. Milan 2020–21 Serie A 21 12 3 2 — — 1 0 25 14
Reading 2021–22 FA Women's Super League 16 6 2 0 3 1 — — 21 7
2022–23 10 1 0 0 3 3 — — 11 4
Total 26 7 2 0 6 4 - - - - 32 11
Liverpool (loan) 2022–23 WSL 7 2 0 0 0 0 — — 7 2
Career total 178 90 11 11 6 4 2 0 1 0 198 105

International goals

[edit]
Scores and results list England's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Scored Result Competition
1 21 September 2013 Dean Court, Bournemouth, England  Belarus 5–0 6–0 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
2 26 September 2013 Fratton Park, Portsmouth, England  Turkey 8–0 8–0
3 5 April 2014 Amex Stadium, Brighton, England  Montenegro 9–0 9–0
4 8 May 2014 Greenhous Meadow, Shrewsbury, England  Ukraine 1–0 4–0
5 3–0

Coaching career

[edit]

Dowie has a Uefa B FA Football coaching qualification and has worked as a coach with Watford, the Middlesex Centre of Excellence[44] and Stevenage Borough.[8]
Dowie is soon[needs update] to begin coaching with ESAF – Elite Schools Academy of Football.[45]

Personal life

[edit]

Dowie is the daughter of Bob Dowie[8] and the niece of former Northern Ireland international footballer, Iain Dowie.[46] Her paternal grandfather was born in Belfast.[47] She was a player with Charlton Ladies whilst her uncle managed the men's side.[48] Natasha's 2010 FA Women's Cup final goals against Arsenal Ladies came two hours after Hull City, managed by uncle Iain, were relegated from the Premier League.[49] On 26 May 2016, she married former teammate Becky Easton.[50]

Honours

[edit]

Everton

Liverpool

Melbourne Victory

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/02/2012 and 29/02/2012". TheFA.com. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Natasha Dowie". Everton F.C. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  3. ^ "List of Players England" (PDF). FIFA. 19 November 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Natasha Dowie announces retirement from football - Liverpool FC". www.liverpoolfc.com. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Addicks unveil signings". theFA.com. 18 August 2006. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  6. ^ Stuart Mawhinney (7 May 2007). "Arsenal clinch quadruple". Retrieved 4 September 2009.
  7. ^ "Charlton shut down women's team". BBC Sport. 23 June 2007. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  8. ^ a b c Mark Hemmings (22 January 2010). "England and Everton football ace Natasha Dowie to visit Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield". Welwyn Hatfield Times. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  9. ^ "Everton striker Natasha Dowie happy to put the miles in". BBC Sport. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  10. ^ "Everton stun Gunners to win cup". BBC Sport. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  11. ^ "Black Cats swot Bees". She Kicks. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  12. ^ Emmanuel Hingant (17 March 2011). "Second-half Duisburg surge hits Everton". UEFA.com. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
  13. ^ Liam Chronnell (15 April 2011). "Reds boss praises battling spirit". TheFA.com. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
  14. ^ Garrity, Paul (14 November 2012). "Liverpool sign Everton's Fara Williams and Natasha Dowie". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  15. ^ Frith, Wilf (28 April 2014). "PFA's WSL team of the year". She Kicks. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  16. ^ Currie, Jo (13 October 2015). "Liverpool Ladies: Injuries 'impacted' on season, says Beard". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  17. ^ "Natasha Dowie: Liverpool striker loaned to Melbourne Victory". BBC Sport. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  18. ^ "Natasha Dowie: Doncaster Rovers Belles sign England striker". BBC Sport. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  19. ^ "Doncaster Rovers Belles: Natasha Dowie and Becky Easton leave club". BBC Sport. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  20. ^ "Breakers sign forward Natasha Dowie". Boston Breakers. 17 July 2016. Archived from the original on 29 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  21. ^ Ltd, Simplestream. "National Women's Soccer League". www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  22. ^ "Spirit trade up to take Lavelle in Dispersal Draft; McCaskill No. 2 to Sky Blue". The Equalizer. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  23. ^ Fagerlund, Frida (28 February 2018). "LFC värvar engelsk landslagsanfallare" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  24. ^ "Avslöjar: Stjärnan inte kvar i LFC". 26 June 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  25. ^ "Melbourne Victory confirm re-signing of W-League star Natasha Dowie". 27 September 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  26. ^ "Jeg elsker å score mål". 11 March 2019. Archived from the original on 13 March 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  27. ^ "Natasha Dowie swaps Milan for the Madejski". readingfc.co.uk/. Reading F.C. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  28. ^ "DOWIE COMPLETES LOAN MOVE TO LIVERPOOL". readingfc.co.uk/. Reading F.C. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  29. ^ "READING FC WOMEN PLAYERS RELEASED AS CONTRACTS EXPIRE". readingfc.co.uk/. Reading F.C. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  30. ^ "Natasha Dowie retires: Striker 'really proud' to end career at Liverpool". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  31. ^ Marc Dodd (9 January 2003). "England come calling at Roundwood Park". Watford Observer. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  32. ^ "England – Natasha Dowie". FIFA. Archived from the original on 23 November 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  33. ^ "Powell picks party for final friendlies". UEFA. 23 June 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
  34. ^ "Turkish delight for Women". the FA.com. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  35. ^ "POTY: Natasha Dowie". The Football Association. 17 December 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  36. ^ Kessel, Anna (22 August 2013). "Hope Powell's ruthless brilliance will not be missed by England's players". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  37. ^ Sheringham, Sam (21 September 2013). "England women thrash Belarus in World Cup qualifier". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  38. ^ "Dowie's Delight". The Football Association. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  39. ^ "Dowie continuing family tradition". FIFA. 9 June 2016. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  40. ^ Gerty, David (31 May 2023). "England squad named for 2023 Women's World Cup". England Football. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  41. ^ Lacey-Hatton, Jack (18 November 2022). "Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present". mirror. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  42. ^ Natasha Dowie at Soccerway
  43. ^ "Natasha Khalila Dowie". fotball.no/. NFF. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  44. ^ "Apex Multisports Coach Profile" (PDF). Apex Multisports. Retrieved 4 September 2009. [dead link]
  45. ^ "Ground breaking Garston academy gives a whole new meaning to the term soccer school". Liverpool ECHO. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  46. ^ Anna Kessel (28 February 2008). "Everton eye an upset against unbeatable Arsenal". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
  47. ^ Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan; Bull, David (2013). All the Saints: A Complete Players' Who's Who of Southampton FC. Southampton: Hagiology Publishing. p. 301. ISBN 978-0-9926-8640-6.
  48. ^ Peter Dixon (6 February 2007). "Uncle Tiger taking enormous pride in emergence of chip off old Woods block". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 8 February 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
  49. ^ "Monday football as it happened". BBC News. 3 May 2010.
  50. ^ Twitter : wedding photographs, friends evoking clearly their marriage, "Wedding" says Natasha; Instagram : best post wedding photograph
  51. ^ a b Khaleeli, Homa (4 May 2010). "Natasha Dowie: 'It's like a dream'". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  52. ^ Leighton, Tony (28 February 2008). "Everton stun Gunners to win cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  53. ^ a b c ""It tops it with Liverpool": Dowie rates Victory alongside English giants ahead of Semi-Final". W League. 9 February 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  54. ^ a b "FA hosts 15th annual Women's Awards". The Football Association. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  55. ^ Frith, Wilf (28 April 2014). "PFA's WSL Team of the Year". She Kicks. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  56. ^ "Natasha Dowie January Goal of the Month". Barclays FA WSL Twitter. 10 February 2022. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022.
  57. ^ "The winners from your Westfield W-League club's end of season awards night". W League. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  58. ^ "Natasha Dowie". Melbourne Victory. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  59. ^ a b "Doncaster Rovers Belles sign England striker Natasha Dowie from Liverpool". Sky Sports. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  60. ^ "Awards Winners". Everton F.C. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
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