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Sophie Harding

Personal information
Full name	Sophie Harding
Date of birth	(1999-06-10) 10 June 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	England
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Western Sydney Wanderers
Number	9
Youth career
	Harbord Seasiders United
	Brookvale
	Manly United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2017	Manly United	42	(8)
2018–2021	North West Sydney Koalas	44	(19)
2020–2022	Newcastle Jets	25	(2)
2022–	Western Sydney Wanderers	45	(15)
International career
2024–	Australia	0	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 December 2024

Sophie Harding (born 6 June 1999) is an Australian soccer player who plays for Western Sydney Wanderers. She has previously played for Newcastle Jets.

Early life

Harding was born in England before immigrating to Sydney, Australia at the age of six. She played youth football for Harbord Seasiders United, Brookvale, and Manly United. Harding began playing for Manly's U'13 team and progressed to the first team who she represented for three years.

In addition to her career as a footballer, Harding is a disability support worker, with Harding receiving the news of her first national team callup while she was in the middle of a shift.

Club career

Harding made her National Premier Leagues NSW Women's debut for Manly United in 2015. After breaking through with Manly she joined fellow NSW NPLW side North West Sydney Koalas in 2019, Harding has scored 19 goals in 44 appearances across three seasons with NWS Koalas.

Harding was signed by A-League Women club Newcastle Jets ahead of the 2020–21 season. She played 11 of the Jets 12 matches and was noted for her pace. The young forward scored her first goal for Newcastle in a 5–1 win over Wellington Phoenix on Matchday 2 of the 2021–22 season, after re-signing for the season. In September 2022, the club announced she had departed, and two months later she signed a two-year contract with Western Sydney Wanderers.

International career

As an Australian citizen born in England with Irish grandparents, Harding is eligible to represent Australia, England and the Republic of Ireland.

In February 2024, Harding received her first international call up to the Australian national team for the 2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament third round against Uzbekistan.

Career statistics

As of match played 7 March 2022

References

1. "One To Watch – Sophie Harding". Manly United FC. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
2. Intili, Daniela (21 February 2024). "Sophie Harding burst out laughing when she heard she was a Matilda, but she had to keep it a secret at work". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
3. "Breakout 2021 NPL NSW Women's Performers". National Premier Leagues NSW Women. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
4. Newcastle Jets (18 December 2020). "Sydney NPL products Evelyn Chronis and Sophie Harding have joined the Jets for season 2020/21" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
5. "This lightning quick Jets forward works supporting youth: Meet Sophie Harding". Newcastle Herald. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
6. Kemp, Emma (13 December 2021). "Emily van Egmond's brief Newcastle Jets return suits both player and club". The Guardian. Kirsty Fenton, Norwegian Marie Dølvik Markussen and Sophie Harding all celebrated maiden league goals
7. "Sophie Harding Extends Jets Contract". Newcastle Jets. 25 January 2022.
8. "Newcastle Jets confirm A-League Women's departures". Newcastle Jets. 14 September 2022.
9. "Harding signs two-year deal". Western Sydney Wanderers. 26 October 2022.
10. Pisani, Sacha (15 February 2024). "'Everything I do, I do for him': Inside the world of the Matildas' newest face made in the Liberty A-League". A-Leagues. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
11. "CommBank Matildas Squad Update". Matildas. Football Australia. 15 February 2024.

• 1999 births
• Newcastle Jets FC (women) players
• Western Sydney Wanderers FC (women) players
• Manly United FC players
• Living people
• Australian women's soccer players
• English women's footballers
• English emigrants to Australia
• Soccer players from Sydney
• 21st-century English sportswomen