Laura Coombs (footballer)

Laura Coombs (born 29 January 1991) is an English footballer who plays for Manchester City. She previously played for Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal. Coombs made her debut for the senior England women's national football team in October 2015. A hard-working defensive midfielder, Coombs is described by former teammate Gilly Flaherty as "a real grafter and she'll put in the work that some people don't want to do."[1]

Laura Coombs
Coombs in 2017
Personal information
Full name Laura Coombs
Date of birth (1991-01-29) 29 January 1991
Place of birth Gravesend, England
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Manchester City
Number 7
Youth career
Charlton Athletic
Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2011 Arsenal
2010 → Nottingham Forest (loan)
2011 → Los Angeles Strikers (loan) 8 (1)
2011–2017 Chelsea 52 (1)
2012–2013 → Barnet (loan)
2013 → Los Angeles Strikers (loan)
2016 → Liverpool (loan) 13 (1)
2017–2019 Liverpool 44 (4)
2019– Manchester City 4 (0)
National team‡
2009–2010 England U19 12 (3)
2012–2014 England U23 6 (1)
2015– England 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:10, 18 June 2020 (UTC+1)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13:50, 10 June 2017 (UTC+1)

Club career

Coombs began playing football aged seven or eight, when she joined a team run by her best friend's father.[2] She progressed to Arsenal's youth academy and began playing in the first team at 16. In September 2009 Coombs made her UEFA Women's Champions League debut in Arsenal's 9–0 win over PAOK Thessaloniki.[3] In summer 2011 Coombs played for American W-League team Los Angeles Strikers, scoring one goal in eight appearances.[4]

During the mid-season break of the inaugural 2011 FA WSL season, Coombs transferred to Chelsea. Chelsea reached the FA Women's Cup final for the first time in 2012, but were eventually beaten by Birmingham City in a penalty shootout after twice taking the lead in a 2–2 draw.[5] In the 2013 mid-season break, Coombs had another stint with LA Strikers.[4] At the 2013 International Women's Club Championship Coombs scored in Chelsea's 3–2 semi-final win over Sydney FC in Okayama, Japan.[6]

In 2015 Chelsea won their first ever major trophy, in the 2015 FA Women's Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. They then beat Sunderland 4–0 in October 2015 to secure the FA WSL title and a League and Cup "double".[7] Teammates noted an improvement in Coombs' strength and power that season, a result of the team's transition from part-time to full-time training.[1]

Coombs announced a season-long loan move to FA WSL rivals Liverpool on 22 December 2015, the same day as Chelsea signed Karen Carney from Birmingham City.[8]

International career

In July 2009 Coombs featured as England under-19 won the 2009 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in Belarus, with a 2–0 final win over Sweden. In 2010 England reached the final of the 2010 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in Macedonia, where they lost their title to France. Coombs had been ruled out by injury before the semi-final.[9]

National coach Mark Sampson gave Coombs her first senior call up in October 2015.[10] She won her first England cap on 23 October 2015, as a substitute in England's 2–1 defeat by China in Yongchuan.[11]

Personal life

Coombs graduated from the University of Hertfordshire with a degree in HR and business. Outside of football, she is employed as a HR manager.[12]

Honours

Club

Manchester City

References
  1. Flaherty, Gilly (2 April 2015). "Chelsea Ladies One by One". Chelsea L.F.C. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  2. West, Gina (27 August 2015). "Laura Coombs: It was such an historic day for women's football in England and for Chelsea Ladies". Women's Soccer United. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  3. "Laura Coombs". UEFA. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  4. "Strikers Alums Return for Playoff Push". United Soccer Leagues. 9 July 2013. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  5. Nisbet, John (27 May 2012). "Shoot-out has unhappy ending for Chelsea Ladies". The Independent. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  6. Bond, Steve (4 December 2013). "Laura Coombs and Eni Aluko drive Chelsea to tough victory over Sydney". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  7. Garry, Tom (4 October 2015). "WSL 1: Chelsea Ladies 4-0 Sunderland Ladies". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  8. "Laura Coombs: Liverpool Ladies sign Chelsea midfielder on loan". BBC Sport. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  9. "Coombs blow hits England hopes". UEFA. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  10. Lavery, Glenn (21 October 2015). "Laura Coombs determined to grab her England chance in China". The Football Association. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  11. "England women beaten by China despite Eniola Aluko goal". BBC Sport. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  12. "Laura Coombs". Currency UK. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
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