Girls on the Ball

Manchester City and England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley has called time on her 20-year spell between the sticks and will retire from professional football at the end of the season. Bardsley, who stands as the Lionesses most capped goalkeeper with 82 appearances, also represented Team GB in the Olympics in 2012 and has won eight domestic trophies with City since joining in 2013. The 37-year-old will remain as one of the most important figures of women’s football, not only for her career on the pitch, but for her dedication to the sport off of it. Bardsley hopes to develop a goalkeeping mentoring programme in the future. “I'm really excited about the next steps and what's to come in the future. I'm just looking forward to giving back to the football community” the shot-stopper commented.