KELLY SMITH-LADIES' DIEGO

Kelly Smith OBE (awarded in 2008) has announced her retirement from Ladies' football at the age of 38. Probably our most well known lady footballer, she began her footballing career at Garston Boys Club in Watford in the early 1990s. She was top scorer and then was not allowed to play because an opposition parent complained about a female playing in male football. Her dad ran Pinner Ladies so she joined up with them until her debut in senior football with Wembley Ladies in 1994. Kelly then joined Arsenal Ladies and gained her first England cap in 1995.

It was her time in America that raised her profile, having described English Women's football as a "joke"  (back then). She went from further education in England at West Herts College to Seton Hall University a Roman Catholic College in New Jersey. During her time at Seton she set all kinds of records with Seton Hall Pirates and actually had her No 6 shirt "retired" when she graduated in 1999. In three years she scored 76 goals, being named "Big East Offensive Player of the Year" twice.

After college she joined New Jersey Lady Stallions (confused???) and in 2001 went to Philadelphia Charge where she suffered the first of many injuries, this time to her ACL. She recovered and transferred to New Jersey Wildcats where she then broke her leg.

This bad luck led to depression and drink dependency, so she returned home to Arsenal in 2005. The Sporting Chance Clinic helped her recover and in 2006-7 Kelly scored 30 goals in 34 games for the Arsenal ladies in what was their Quadruple Winning Year.

She did however miss both legs of the 2006-7 UEFA Cup Final having been sent off and suspended in the semis for "giving the opposition fans the finger"!

Kelly returned to the USA east coast playing for Boston Breakers, though more injuries hit her form and she eventually found comfort at Arsenal again in 2012.

In November 1995 she made her debut for England at just 17 years old. Prior to that she could not play in the 1995 World Cup because she was sitting her GCSE exams! There were also times when college in the USA would not allow her time off to play for her country. Between 1995-2014 Kelly played 117 internationals coring 46 goals (a national record) and 4 for GB in 2012 Olympics. She retired fom international duties in February 2015, having once been described by England coach Hope Powell as the women's equivalent to Diego Maradona, a player with a unique talent.