Through the years – SK’s Steph Houghton MBE tribute

Our latest issue of the magazine included a tribute to Steph Houghton MBE. Here it is for you to enjoy in online, extended form!

(Words by @chris_brookes) Since the announcement on 27^th March that Steph Houghton MBE will retire at the end of this season, the tributes have flooded in for the long-time former Lionesses captain and Manchester City Women’s most successful player.

The centre-back was at the heart of those England teams that made giant strides towards the platform upon which they stand today. Playing at five major competitions with England, plus two Olympic tournaments with Team GB, her farewell also means one of the last WSL originals exiting the stage.

It might not figure at the top of her career achievements (it’s an outrage!), but Steph has also featured often in She Kicks through the years, gracing multiple covers. Back before making her name as an elite defender, the Sunderland youngster was a striker (and a teammate of SK’s own North East legend, Jen O’Neill!).

In her summer as an Olympic goal machine, it was Steph who stepped up with the match-winning moment for GB against Brazil at London 2012, with 70,584 in the crowd and millions more watching on, when women’s football at Wembley was every bit a novelty. The sport has long since emerged from the shadows, and Steph Houghton sits alongside the greatest of those to have brought it this far.

Here’s to the 121 international caps and 13 goals, the ambassadorial efforts off the pitch, the free-kicks and saving challenges, that bronze medal in Edmonton in 2015, and the three WSL titles among 16 domestic trophies (and just maybe…one more?).