Cherelle Khassal

Cherelle Khassal
Khassal (left) playing for Crystal Palace in 2019
Personal information
Full name Cherelle Merelle Nadia Khassal
Date of birth (1991-01-09) 9 January 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth England
Position(s) Winger / Forward
Youth career
Portsmouth
2006–2010 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010 Benfica
2010 Santa Clarita Blue Heat
2011 and 2012 Los Angeles Strikers
2012–2014 Wexford Youths 51 (27)
2012–2014 Brighton & Hove Albion Women 10 (5)
2014 Portsmouth 2 (0)
2014–2016 Lewes 18 (4)
2016–2019 Chichester City 45 (29)
2019–2021 Crystal Palace 29 (6)
2021–2022 Portsmouth 31 (27)
2022–2023 Dorking Wanderers 19 (27)
2024– AFC Wimbledon 0 (0)
International career‡
2012–2016 Republic of Ireland 27 (11)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 March 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 March 2024

Cherelle Khassal (born 9 January 1991) is an Irish international footballer who plays for AFC Wimbledon of the English FA Women's National League. She made her debut for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team in May 2012.

Club career

Khassal playing against Fulham Foundation Ladies

As a youngster Khassal travelled from Cowes on the Isle of Wight to train with Portsmouth when she was attending Cowes High School. She was scouted by Arsenal and joined The Gunners on a four-year academy contract in 2006.[1] During the spring of 2010 Khassal was attached to Irish club Benfica.[2] After moving to attend Capilano University, she played in the North American USL W-League with Santa Clarita Blue Heat and Los Angeles Strikers. She was nominated for W-League Rookie of the Season in 2010.[3]

She then moved back to Ireland and made a favorable impact at Wexford Youths during the 2011–12 Women's National League season.[4] She went on to clubs Brighton and Hove Albion, Portsmouth and Lewes.[5][6] Khassal then joined up with Chichester Ladies in the summer of 2016.

After a successful first season with Chichester, they gained promotion for the first time in their history to the Womens Premier (South). Cherelle formed a deadly partnership with Charlie Wilson-Blakley and between them 30 goals were scored.

Her second season also saw a very good goals return of 18 in all competitions despite injury's plaguing her for most of the year. The team achieved a solid mid-table finish despite being tipped to go back down. A successful FA cup run saw 'Chi' reach the Quarter final stages against Liverpool. The game was played at Oakland's park (Chichester) and saw a record attendance of just over 600 people. The Reds ran out 3–0 winners on the day but Chichester showed a lot of courage and could have gone 1–0 within the first few minutes.

Return to Portsmouth

On 21 July 2021, Khassal signed for Portsmouth.[7] Khassal finished the season with 27 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions, including 15 goals in 20 appearances in the league.[8]

In June 2022 Khassal left Portsmouth and joined Dorking Wanderers. She won the London & South East Regional Division 1 North title with them in the 2022/23 season. Khassal was the 2nd highest goal scorer in the Division that season with 27 goals.

She joined AFC Wimbledon for the 2024-25 season, and notably scored the opening goal in the club's 5-0 defeat of Milton Keynes Dons.

International career

Khassal played for the Republic of Ireland Under-19 team in their 2010 UEFA Women's U-19 Championship Second qualifying round mini-tournament in Sweden.[2]

In May 2012 national coach Susan Ronan gave Khassal a debut senior cap in a 1–0 friendly defeat by Switzerland at Stadion Niedermatten.[9] She also appeared in Ireland's next match, a 1–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2013 qualifying defeat by Wales in Cork.

References

  1. ^ "Cherelle Gunning for Soccer Stardom". Isle of Wight County Press. 15 June 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Ronan readies her squad for U19 Elite qualifiers". Football Association of Ireland. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  3. ^ French, Scott (29 July 2010). "Pali, Santa Clarita players up for awards". ESPN. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  4. ^ Farrell, Niall (13 April 2012). "Khassal enjoying life in the WNL". ExtraTime.ie. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  5. ^ "Pompey Ladies sign international". Portsmouth FC Ladies.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Rookettes pull off a transfer coup". Wordpress.com.
  7. ^ "Pompey Women Sign Cherelle Khassal". Portsmouth FC. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Cherelle Khassal Player Stats". The Football Association. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Swiss test gives valuable experience". Football Association of Ireland. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2016.