Women's Football: Katie Chapman returns to Arsenal Ladies

Published: 11 November, 2010
by SARAH MARSH

AFTER just one season playing in America with the Chicago Red Stars, Katie Chapman delighted Arsenal fans by returning home and re-signing for the club. 

The 28-year-old mother of two has 82 international caps to her name, and lists playing for England in the finals of the European Championships last summer as one of her “greatest achievements.” 

Speaking about her rise to the top of the game, Katie said that none of her family were particularly interested in football. 

She was scouted by her PE teacher when she competed “with the boys” at school in Bermondsey, which led to her joining local side Millwall Lionesses. 

The tough-tackling midfielder admits she left the Gunners earlier this year to further her career.

“I had won everything at Arsenal and although I loved it there, the club and the players, I felt I needed a new challenge,” she recalls.

But her brief spell in the States ended when her husband found it difficult to find work. Thinking about her family, who she describes as “incredibly supportive”, the England star headed home. 

Katie says she has “no regrets” about her time in America, and insists “coming back to Arsenal was easy, it is a great club and they were always going to welcome me back.” 

The women’s game is about to take a dramatic turn as the FA follows in America’s footsteps by introducing full-time professionalism for players in 2011. 

Asked whether a Super League would encourage more girls to play the game, Katie said: “The change is probably the way women’s football should progress and it should not be done to make girls play, they should play for the love of the game.” 

However, she believes advances in the sport are still slow and that the launch of the new league has delayed the beginning of the season for Arsenal Ladies. “It is tough at the moment because we aren’t playing that many games,” she says. 

In the long-term, Chapman (pictured on the back page with fellow England star Rachel Yankey) seems positive that having returned to the Gunners she’ll be there for a while. 

“I love Arsenal, they have always looked after me and my family. I said I’d never go anywhere else. I enjoy football and that is the main thing.”

Her immediate future is preparing for Arsenal’s home leg in the European Champions League against Rayo Vallecano today (Thursday). After suffering a 2-0 defeat in Spain, Laura Harvey’s side have it all to do as they bid to reach the last eight in the competition. 

Chapman is confident, however, that the team can turn it around. 

“Rayo Vallecano are coming to our ground and we seem to perform well at Boreham Wood. We believe we can pull it back and go for a win,” she says.

• Fans are being urged to go along to Boreham Wood FC and support Arsenal Ladies on Thursday. Kick-off is at 1pm, and tickets cost £3 for adults and £1.50 concessions