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Kirsty Pealling (born 14 April 1975) is a former footballer who spent her entire club career with Arsenal Ladies. She also represented England at full international level.

Club career

Pealling attended Haggerston School and was spotted by Arsenal Ladies manager Vic Akers during a five-a-side tournament when she was 13. At the time of her retirement in 2006, Pealling was the club's longest serving player, the record appearance holder and had won the most trophies. She won domestic trebles with Arsenal in 1993 and 2001.

Pealling worked as a sports development officer for Camden Council and since 2004 has coached at Hampstead FC.

When Jayne Ludlow retired in July 2013, the legendary Welsh midfielder paid tribute to "unsung hero" Pealling in an interview with the Arsenal website: "I should really thank Kirsty because when I was scoring 30 goals a season, it was mostly because of her crosses from the right wing."

Pealling is featured in the "Remember Who You Are" artwork added to the Emirates in 2023.

International career

Eighteen-year-old Pealling made her England debut in a 3–0 Euro 1995 qualifying win in Belgium in November 1993. She also featured in the eventual semi-final defeat to Germany. However, Pealling and Joanne Broadhurst were controversially dropped from the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup squad, with manager Ted Copeland saying "They are not international footballers at this level."

After a long spell out of international football, Pealling returned as a substitute against Denmark in August 2001. In May 2004 she played the first half of a 1–0 friendly win over Iceland at London Road, Peterborough.

She was allotted 99 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural international.

Honours

Arsenal

• FA Women's Premier League: 1992–93, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06
• FA Cup: 1992–93, 1994–95, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2005–06
• FA Women's National League Cup: 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2004–5
• FA Women's Community Shield: 2000, 2001, 2005
• London County FA Women's Cup: 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2003–04

References

1. Nick Oliver (December 2003). "Hackney Marshes to Highbury". N16online. Archived from the original on 11 April 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
2. "Review of the 2005/06 Season" (PDF). Arsenal Holdings Plc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
3. ^ Sarah Garrett (August 2008). "Sporting Heroes" (PDF). G3 Magazine. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
4. ^ "England women Fixtures and Results, 2004/05". Cresswell Wanderers FC. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
5. "Kirsty Pealling". Hampstead FC. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
6. Brumsack, Nik (11 July 2013). "'I've enjoyed every single minute'". Arsenal.com. Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
7. "Take a closer look at our eight stadium artworks". Arsenal. 22 May 2023. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
8. Mike Rowbottom (6 June 1995). "Women boldly go where no men have been of late". The Independent. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
9. "International Matches (Women) 2004". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
10. "England squad named for World Cup". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
11. Lacey-Hatton, Jack (18 November 2022). "Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present". mirror. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
12. "Women's Honours". Arsenal. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.

• 1975 births
• Living people
• Footballers from the London Borough of Hackney
• English women's footballers
• Arsenal W.F.C. players
• England women's international footballers
• FA Women's National League players
• Women's association football fullbacks