Kellie-Ann Leyland

Kellie-Ann Leyland (born 5 November 1986 in St Helens, Merseyside) is an English-born Northern Irish footballer. She currently plays for Curzon Ashton Ladies and Northern Ireland as a central defender.

Kellie Leyland
Personal information
Full name Kellie-Ann Leyland
Date of birth (1986-11-05) 5 November 1986
Place of birth St Helens, Merseyside, England
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Position(s) Centre-back
Club information
Current team
 Curzon Ashton Ladies
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2008 Hartford Hawks
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008 Northland Raiders
2009 Ottawa Fury Women
2009– Curzon Ashton Ladies
National team
2005– Northern Ireland
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 December 2007

Club career

Early career

Leyland represented Newton-le-Willows High School and Merseyside Girls U16s. She played for Huyton, Sefton and Garswood Saints at club level and also attended the Centres of Excellence at Liverpool, Burnley, Everton and Tranmere Rovers.

She took A-Levels at the national women's football academy in Durham from 2003–2005, then departed to America on a scholarship.

Senior career

Leyland played for the Hartford Hawks for four seasons while attending the University of Hartford. She played for Northern Irish club Northland Raiders to maintain fitness during the winter.[1]

Leyland signed for W-League club Ottawa Fury Women in 2009.[2]

For 2009–10, Leyland joined Curzon Ashton Ladies in the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division. Her appearances were curtailed by a serious knee injury.

International career

Leyland played for England U-17s as a 15-year-old.[3] But in 2003 she switched allegiance to Northern Ireland[4] and captained their U-19s.

She went on to be a full Northern Ireland international, making her debut in a 3–1 defeat to Sweden on 5 March 2005.[5]

Personal life

Leyland's mother, Jenny Leyland, was awarded an MBE for services to grassroots football in January 2011. Leyland senior is a youth football coach in Cheshire and also Runcorn Linnets' physiotherapist.[6]

References
  1. "Wylie names squad to face England". IrishFA.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  2. "Kellie-Ann Leyland". OttawaFury.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  3. "MERSEYSIDE YOUTH GAMES: LEYLAND NETS BIG CALL-UP". Liverpool Echo. 15 July 2002.
  4. David Lawrenson (28 August 2003). "Leyland called up for European championships". This is Cheshire.
  5. "Kelly Leyland Defender". IrishFA.com. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  6. Mike Critchley (6 January 2011). "Football-crazy Jenny draws Palace away". St Helens Star. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
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