Melissa Fletcher (born 28 January 1992) is a former professional footballer who played as a forward for the Wales national team and FA WSL club Reading.[1][2][3][4] She joined Reading as a youth player, graduating to the first team at the age of 16. She spent a further ten years with the club before retiring from playing in 2018 due to injury.
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:25, 6 February 2016 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:25, 6 February 2016 (UTC)
Fletcher began playing football for a local boys team, Bracknell Cavaliers. At age eight, she also joined the youth academy at Reading, playing simultaneously for the two sides before being forced to leave the Cavaliers at 12 years old due to age restrictions on boys and girls mixed teams. She was promoted to the Reading first team squad at the age of 16.[6]
She helped the side win promotion to the FA Women's Super League in 2016 and made twelve appearances in their first season in the top flight. In January 2017, Fletcher signed her first fully professional contract with the club.[7] Fletcher retired from football in July 2018 after undergoing two operations on an ankle injury, stating that her ankle was "not fit to continue."[8]
Fletcher is also a qualified accountant and previously worked part-time for Ernst & Young alongside her footballing career.[7]
References
^"Reading women: Melissa Fletcher and Harriet Scott sign new deals". BBC Sport. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
^"Wales Women's Senior Squad Announced". Football Association of Wales. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
^"Superb Ward hat trick seals first win for Wales Women in European campaign". Pembrokeshire Sport. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
^Stone, Dayne (26 November 2015). "Ward hat-trick boosts Wales". Pembrokeshire Herald. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
^Perrin, Isabella (29 November 2018). "Bracknell students scoop top prizes from Melissa Fletcher at Garth Hill College's 'Celebration of Success' evening". Bracknell News. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
^Coleman, Tom (5 April 2018). "The women at the heart of an incredible Welsh football tale unfolding right now – and the fascinating stories behind them". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
^ abCanning, Tom (23 January 2017). "Melissa Fletcher turns 'pro' with new Reading Women FC deal". footballinbracknell.co.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
^"Melissa Fletcher: Wales & Reading forward announces retirement". BBC Sport. 7 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
^"Austria 3 - 0 Wales". UEFA. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melissa Fletcher.
melissa, fletcher, born, january, 1992, former, professional, footballer, played, forward, wales, national, team, club, reading, joined, reading, youth, player, graduating, first, team, spent, further, years, with, club, before, retiring, from, playing, 2018, . Melissa Fletcher born 28 January 1992 is a former professional footballer who played as a forward for the Wales national team and FA WSL club Reading 1 2 3 4 She joined Reading as a youth player graduating to the first team at the age of 16 She spent a further ten years with the club before retiring from playing in 2018 due to injury Melissa FletcherFletcher playing for Wales in 2015Personal informationFull nameMelissa FletcherDate of birth 1992 01 28 28 January 1992 age 30 Place of birthEnglandPosition s ForwardYouth career2000 2008ReadingSenior career YearsTeamApps Gls 2008 2018Reading21 5 International career 2015 2018Wales6 0 Club domestic league appearances and goals correct as of 15 25 6 February 2016 UTC National team caps and goals correct as of 15 25 6 February 2016 UTC Contents 1 Early life 2 Club career 3 International career 4 Personal life 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditFletcher grew up in Bracknell and attended Garth Hill College for seven years 5 Club career EditFletcher began playing football for a local boys team Bracknell Cavaliers At age eight she also joined the youth academy at Reading playing simultaneously for the two sides before being forced to leave the Cavaliers at 12 years old due to age restrictions on boys and girls mixed teams She was promoted to the Reading first team squad at the age of 16 6 She helped the side win promotion to the FA Women s Super League in 2016 and made twelve appearances in their first season in the top flight In January 2017 Fletcher signed her first fully professional contract with the club 7 Fletcher retired from football in July 2018 after undergoing two operations on an ankle injury stating that her ankle was not fit to continue 8 International career EditAlthough born in England Fletcher represents Wales at international level She was selected for Wales first UEFA Women s Euro 2017 qualifying match in Austria and started the 3 0 defeat in Sankt Polten 9 Personal life EditFletcher is also a qualified accountant and previously worked part time for Ernst amp Young alongside her footballing career 7 References Edit Reading women Melissa Fletcher and Harriet Scott sign new deals BBC Sport 13 January 2016 Retrieved 7 February 2016 Wales Women s Senior Squad Announced Football Association of Wales 19 February 2015 Retrieved 7 February 2016 Superb Ward hat trick seals first win for Wales Women in European campaign Pembrokeshire Sport Retrieved 7 February 2016 Stone Dayne 26 November 2015 Ward hat trick boosts Wales Pembrokeshire Herald Retrieved 7 February 2016 Perrin Isabella 29 November 2018 Bracknell students scoop top prizes from Melissa Fletcher at Garth Hill College s Celebration of Success evening Bracknell News Retrieved 8 July 2019 Coleman Tom 5 April 2018 The women at the heart of an incredible Welsh football tale unfolding right now and the fascinating stories behind them WalesOnline Media Wales Retrieved 7 July 2019 a b Canning Tom 23 January 2017 Melissa Fletcher turns pro with new Reading Women FC deal footballinbracknell co uk Retrieved 8 July 2019 Melissa Fletcher Wales amp Reading forward announces retirement BBC Sport 7 July 2018 Retrieved 8 July 2019 Austria 3 0 Wales UEFA 22 September 2015 Retrieved 24 September 2015 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melissa Fletcher Melissa Fletcher UEFA competition record archive Reading player profile Melissa Fletcher at Soccerway Melissa Fletcher on Twitter Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Melissa Fletcher amp oldid 1094532296, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
