Jenna Fife

Jenna Josephine Fife (born 1 December 1995) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Rangers W.F.C. in the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL) and for the Scotland national team.

Jenna Fife
Personal information
Full name Jenna Josephine Fife[1]
Date of birth (1995-12-01) 1 December 1995
Height 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Rangers
Number 1
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012 Murieston United (0)
2013–2019 Hibernian (0)
2014 → Hutchison Vale (loan) (0)
2019– Rangers (0)
National team‡
2012 Scotland U17 1 (0)
2014 Scotland U19 1 (0)
2018– Scotland 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13:00, 10 March 2018 (UTC)

Fife's career began at Murieston United, and she joined Hibernian in 2013. She was loaned to Hutchison Vale in 2014 before returning to Hibernian that year. In the 2015–2016 year, Fife was selected for a scholarship administered by the University of Stirling, for study at Edinburgh College.

Internationally, Fife represented Scotland at under-17 and under-19 levels. She made her full international debut in 2018.

Early life and education

Jenna Fife was born on 1 December 1995 in Scotland.[2][3] Prior to her entry into football, Fife maintained an interest in the sport of tennis.[4] Fife first started playing football at eight years of age during her early schooling years.[5] From her first outing with the sport she greatly enjoyed the game.[5] Fife initially began in football in outfield;[5] later she focused her experiences in football as a goalkeeper.[2][3]

Early inspiration for Fife in her football career included player Craig Gordon.[5] More contemporary motivational players for her included Premier League members Kasper Schmeichel and David De Gea.[5] Among female players, Fife said she admired United States goalkeeper Hope Solo.[5]

In the 2015–16 year, Fife was selected by the scholarship Winning Students administered by the University of Stirling, for study at Edinburgh College.[4]

Club career

Murieston United

Fife started her career at Murieston United.[6][7] She helped beat Hibernian as part of Murieston United in a July 2010 game as part of the South East Region Girls Under-15 League Cup final.[8]

Hibernian

Fife subsequently joined Hibernian in January 2013.[9][10] Fife was the only player from Murieston signed to Hibernian that year and one of three players picked that had not previously belonged to the Hibernian reserve squad.[10] In April 2013, Fife assisted Hibernian to a win over Hamilton Academical[11] The night before the game the team was surprised to learn their goalkeeper Shannon Lynn had decided to join another team.[11] This development allowed Fife to serve in that capacity for the game.[11] The Scotsman reported: "As a result, Jenna Fife made her first start of the season for the Easter Road girls. Her terrific debut included a first-half penalty save."[11]

In the beginning of 2014 she had a short loan spell at Hutchison Vale, but was recalled to Hibernian in late April of that year.[12][13]

Fife was rivaled in skill by Glasgow City players in a May 2015 game; BBC Sport noted of a significant play during the 3–3 tie game: "Erin Cuthbert laid the ball into the path of Hayley Lauder who instinctively fired an exquisite shot beyond Hibs goalkeeper Jenna Fife."[14] After a 4–0 win against Aberdeen in May 2015, Chris Roberts of Hibernian reflected in an interview published in Edinburgh Evening News: "Aberdeen made full use of the high winds during the first half to put us under pressure. They came at us, went on the attack and although Jenna [Fife] was never really troubled, we were under a fair amount of pressure."[15]

In June 2015, Hibernian faced Glasgow City in the Scottish Women's Premier League Cup with Fife in goal, but were defeated 2–1.[16][17] Edinburgh Evening News wrote of the game: "Hibs would take a narrow lead into the interval although they had to survive a scare when goalkeeper Jenna Fife failed to take Hayley Lauder’s corner kick cleanly and Nicola Docherty stabbed the ball toward goal before Arnot headed off the line."[16] The Herald described Fife's style of football play in the game: "City finally started to show why they have dominated Scottish women's football in the last 15 minutes of the half, but although the otherwise impressive Jenna Fife spilled a corner, the Hibs defence retained their composure to hold out for half time."[17] Stornoway Gazette noted Fife had saved a shot against her in a June 2015 game versus Glasgow City[18] She was bested by Glasgow City players in a June 2015 game, with The Scotsman reporting: "Nicky Docherty sent in a low free-kick with Kerry Montgomery getting the touch which beat Jenna Fife."[19]

In August 2015, her two saves earned Hibernian a 3–3 draw against rivals Glasgow City[20] BBC Sport noted of the game: "It should have been 2–1 when Hayley Lauder slipped through Julie Fleeting, however her first touch was poor and goalkeeper Jenna Fife saved at her feet."[21] The Herald reported: "The high-level entertainment continued with Fife making a good smothering save from Fleeting before Hibs went ahead with a well-worked goal."[22] The newspaper continued to note of Fife's total two saves in the game: "Fife made two great saves just before the hour from O'Sullivan and Lauren McMurchie, but she was then beaten by Docherty's curling shot from the left."[22]

Hibernian lost to Glasgow City in October 2015 with the final score of 2–0.[23] The Herald wrote of the game's slow development: "A tentative game finally found a goal after 57 minutes. Denise O'Sullivan's fine through ball left Lauder clear in the box, and although the Scotland player didn't hit her shot well, it was enough to beat goalkeeper Jenna Fife."[23]

In November 2015, Hiberian faced Glasgow City in the Scottish Women's Premier League Cup but was defeated 3–0 by Glasgow City[24][25] Weather was a serious factor in the game, with The Scotsman noting: "So much so that an early clearance from Hibs goalkeeper Jenna Fife was caught by the wind and almost blown back into her net it was so powerful at times."[25] The Scotsman wrote of Fife's performance during the game: "it was Glasgow City that appeared the more likely to score with former Rangers midfielder Erin Cuthbert desperately unlucky not to notch a goal as she was denied firstly by the crossbar and then a stunning save from Fife."[25]

Rangers

Fife signed a two-year contract with Rangers in December 2019.[26]

International career

Fife represented Scotland at the under-17 and under-19 level.[4] She commented the highlight of her career as a player: "The first time I ever played for Scotland against Sweden at U17 level".[4] In the under-19 group, Fife was one of five players representing Scotland from Hibernian.[27]

In July 2015, she was called into camp for the senior national team.[28] She was one of nine players from Hibernian selected for the Scotland Women's A squad in its August 2015 training camp.[29] Fife said her career goal was to play in football as a representative of her native Scotland in a major competition against another country.[4]

Scotland manager Shelley Kerr included Fife in the full international squad for the first time in October 2017.[30] She made her international debut in January 2018 during Scotland's winter training camp in Spain, appearing as a substitute in friendly matches against Norway and Russia.

References
  1. "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019™ List of Players - Scotland" (PDF). FIFA. 27 May 2019. p. 19. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  2. J. Fife, Soccerway, 2016, retrieved 6 April 2016
  3. "Jenna Fife", UEFA.com, 2016, retrieved 6 April 2016
  4. "Football – Jenna Fife", www.winningstudents-scotland.ac.uk, retrieved 6 April 2016
  5. Smith, Christopher (30 March 2016), Spotlight on Hibs Ladies' stopper Jenna Fife..., Football Nation, retrieved 6 April 2016
  6. McCarry, Bob (13 October 2012). "Determined Murieston make it consecutive national finals". Youth Football Scotland. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  7. "Jenna Fife". Pitch Hero. 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  8. "Murieston hang on as Hibees fall just short". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  9. "Jenna Fife". Hibernian Girls & Ladies FC. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  10. Kirk, Willie (8 July 2013). "Women's football weekly: Willie Kirk on Hibernian's first half of the season". Scotzine: The Alternative Scottish Football Website. www.scotzine.com. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  11. Payne, Richard (23 April 2013). "Susan Fairlie good prospect for Scots call-up". The Scotsman. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  12. "Hibs' keeper Shannon Lynn joins Swedish side Vittsjö GIK". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  13. Payne, Richard (26 April 2014). "Hutchison Vale in safe hands with Ashley Watson". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  14. "Glasgow City 3–3 Hibernian: Top of table clash lives up to billing". BBC Sport. BBC. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  15. Payne, Richard (12 May 2015). "Hibs Ladies face Glasgow in Cup Final". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  16. Payne, Richard (4 June 2015). "Hibees denied historic cup win by Glasgow". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  17. "Women's League Cup final: Glasgow City 2 Hibs Ladies 1". The Herald. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  18. Semple, Graham (5 June 2015). "Smiles all round as City take their League Cup back home". Stornoway Gazette. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  19. Campbell, Alan (3 June 2015). "SWP League Cup final: Glasgow City 2–1 Hibs Ladies". The Scotsman. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  20. "Abigail Harrison hat-trick earns draw for Hibernian". Sky Sports. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  21. Southwick, Andrew (16 August 2015). "SWPL: Glasgow City 3–3 Hibernian". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  22. Campbell, Alan (16 August 2015). "Draw with Hibs puts Glasgow City ninth successive SWPL title celebrations on hold". The Herald. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  23. Campbell, Alan (4 October 2015). "Hibs 0 Glasgow City 2: Title all but secured for Booth's side". The Herald. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  24. "Scottish Women's Cup final: Glasgow City 3–0 Hibernian". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 November 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  25. Payne, Richard (9 November 2015). "Hibs boss: My girls gave everything in Cup Final". The Scotsman. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  26. "Jenna Fife: Scotland goalkeeper leaves Hibernian to join Rangers". BBC Sport. BBC. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  27. Hislop, John (18 July 2014), "Hibs' star Lizzie Arnot looking forward to Netherlands game", The Edinburgh Reporter, theedinburghreporter.co.uk, retrieved 6 April 2016
  28. "Anna names 21-player squad for August Training Camp" (Press release). Scottish Football Association. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  29. Hislop, John (28 July 2015), "Nine Hibs' players in Scotland Women's A squad for August Training Camp", The Edinburgh Reporter, theedinburghreporter.co.uk, retrieved 6 April 2016
  30. "Beattie and Mitchell return for double-header". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
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