Justine Lorton

Justine Lorton
Personal information
Full name Justine Joanna Lorton
Date of birth (1974-03-11) 11 March 1974 (age 50)
Place of birth Paddington, England
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Keynsham Town LFC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1996 Wembley Ladies
1996–1998 Millwall Lionesses
1998–1999 Arsenal Ladies
1999–2001 Stjarnan
2001–2003 Charlton Athletic
2003–2005 Arsenal Ladies
2005–2006 Fulham Ladies
2006–2009 Bristol Academy
2009–2011 Portsmouth Ladies
2011–2014 Yeovil Town
2014– Keynsham Town
International career
1997–1999 England 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Justine Joanna Lorton (born 11 March 1974) is an English footballer, and former England international player. A deep–lying forward player, Lorton enjoyed two spells at Arsenal Ladies as well as playing in Iceland and Sweden.

Club career

Lorton emerged from the Wembley Ladies team managed by John Jones, at the same time as Kelly Smith. Alongside several other promising youngsters, Lorton and Smith won the FA Women's Premier League Cup with Wembley in 1995–96.

The following season, Lorton moved to Millwall Lionesses and won both the 1996–97 Premier League Cup and FA Women's Cup, beating old team Wembley in the final of the latter competition. Louise Waller headed the winning goal from Lorton's corner, in front of 3,015 supporters at Upton Park.[1]

Lorton moved to Arsenal in 1998. In the 1999 FA Women's Cup final against Southampton Saints, Lorton created both goals in Arsenal's 2–0 win.[2] From 1999 until 2001 Lorton enjoyed three short but productive spells in Icelandic football with Stjarnan, scoring eight goals in a total of 24 appearances.[3] She also played for a Swedish club before returning to England.[4] After joining Charlton Athletic, in March 2003 Lorton hit a late winner from the penalty spot to defeat Arsenal in the FA Women's Cup semi–final and take Charlton into their first final.[5] This was despite "shaking like a leaf" due to nerves.[6] However, Lorton was then on the losing side as The Addicks were soundly beaten by professional Fulham in the final.[7] She finished as Charlton's top goalscorer in the competition with four goals.[4]

In 2003–04 Lorton was back with Arsenal and was a 90th-minute substitute as The Gunners recaptured the FA Women's Cup, beating Charlton 3–0 in the final at Loftus Road.[8] On her second debut for Arsenal Lorton scored in a 9–2 win over Tranmere Rovers.[9] Lorton also featured from the bench during Arsenal's run to the 2004–05 UEFA Women's Cup semi–final.[10]

After a season with Fulham in 2005–06, Lorton signed for Bristol Academy in summer 2006.[11] In November 2006 she scored in a 5–1 win over Fulham which took Bristol Academy to the top of the FA Women's Premier League table for the first time in the club's history.[12] She signed for Portsmouth in 2009[13] and scored in Pompey's shock Premier League Cup win over Sunderland in January 2011.[14]

She has played at Yeovil Town and now dons the green and white colours of Keynsham Town.[15]

International career

As a Millwall Lionesses player, Lorton made her senior England debut as substitute for Sue Smith in a 4–0 friendly win over Scotland at Almondvale Stadium on 23 August 1997.[16] She then replaced Gillian Coultard during a February 1998 3–2 friendly defeat in France[16] and made a third appearance in Hope Powell's first match in charge, a 1–0 home friendly defeat to Sweden in July 1998.[16]

Lorton made one competitive appearance during England's unsuccessful Women's World Cup 1999 qualifying attempt, against Romania.[16] In 1999 she featured against Italy in a 4–1 friendly defeat and won a sixth cap as a 53rd-minute substitute for Angela Banks in a 1–0 victory over Denmark.[17]

Lorton continued to be selected in the National squad ahead of UEFA Women's Euro 2001,[18] but was not included in the final squad.

Lorton was allotted 128 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural international.[19][20]

Personal life

In July 2013 Lorton married Yeovil teammate Jade Radburn.[21] In late 2016 Lorton filed for divorce.

References

  1. ^ Mike Rowbottom (5 May 1997). "Football: Lionesses bring pride to Millwall". The Independent. London. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  2. ^ "Football: Arsenal are inspired by Spacey". The Independent. London. 4 May 1999. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  3. ^ "Félagsmaður – Justine Lorton" (in Icelandic). KSI.is. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Justine Lorton". BBC. 26 April 2003. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  5. ^ Matt Wright (22 March 2003). "Charlton 1 Arsenal 0". Charlton Athletic FC. Archived from the original on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  6. ^ Anjana Gadgil (24 April 2003). "Women's football". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  7. ^ "Fulham Ladies bag Cup". BBC. 5 May 2003. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  8. ^ Paula Cocozza (4 May 2004). "Arsenal enjoy Fleeting moment". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  9. ^ Tony Leighton (17 August 2003). "Opening day goal feast". BBC. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  10. ^ Sébastien Duret (30 October 2005). "UEFA Club Championship (Women) 2004/05 – Details Knock-Out Phase". RSSSF. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  11. ^ "ALL CHANGE FOR GAS GIRLS". Bristol Rovers FC. 31 July 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  12. ^ Tony Leighton (12 November 2006). "Gunners book Uefa Cup final spot". BBC. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  13. ^ "Player Profile – Justine Lorton". Portsmouth FC Ladies. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  14. ^ Tony Leighton (23 January 2011). "Portsmouth stun Sunderland in cup". BBC. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  15. ^ "FA Women's National League on X".
  16. ^ a b c d "Women's match data 1996 – 1999". EnglandFC.com. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  17. ^ "1999/2000 UEFA RESULTS AND ROSTERS". Womens Soccer World. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  18. ^ Tony Leighton (21 March 2001). "New faces feature in England squad". BBC. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  19. ^ "England squad named for World Cup". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  20. ^ Lacey-Hatton, Jack (18 November 2022). "Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present". mirror. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  21. ^ "Shirt problem delights the Glovers". Yeovil Town Ladies. 17 July 2013. Archived from the original on 27 August 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2013. Last Friday Glovers stars Justine Lorton and Jade Radburn tied the knot and both will now be known as Lorton-Radburn. Naturally the Club were delighted about that fantastic news, but the Glovers now have the challenge of fitting the longest surname in the club on the shirt backs, plus both players have the same first name initial!{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)