Claire Lauren Rafferty is an English

English people

The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...

 female international footballer. She plays as a Left Back or Left Winger for Chelsea Ladies

Chelsea L.F.C.

Chelsea Ladies Football Club are a semi-professional English women's football club affiliated with Chelsea F.C.. They have competed in the top tier of women's football in England, the Premier League National Division, since 2005...

.

Club career

Rafferty became a first team regular with Millwall Lionesses

Millwall Lionesses L.F.C.

Millwall Lionesses Ladies Football Club were founded in March 1972 by Patricia Maslin and Rita Bullions. In a time when women's football was almost unheard of the group of women who made up the Lionesses were at first snubbed by Millwall FC but went on to became the first women's football team to...

 as a 14-year-old. After recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament

Anterior cruciate ligament

The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...

 (ACL) injury, she signed for Chelsea Ladies

Chelsea L.F.C.

Chelsea Ladies Football Club are a semi-professional English women's football club affiliated with Chelsea F.C.. They have competed in the top tier of women's football in England, the Premier League National Division, since 2005...

 in 2007 and became a regular on the left of midfield.

In August 2011 Rafferty suffered another ACL injury.

International career

Rafferty was involved with England

England women's national football team

The England women's national football team represents England in international women's football. The side has been quite successful of late, qualifying for three World Cups, 1995, 2007 and 2011...

 at U15 development, U17, U19, U20 and U23 level. She had been called into the U19 squad at the age of 15. Her full debut came on 25 March 2010 against Austria

Austria women's national football team

The Austria women's national football team represents Austria in international women's football.The team is made up mainly of players from the Austrian and German Women's Bundesligas. As yet the team has never qualified for any major tournament .-World Cup record:-Current squad:- External links :*...

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In June 2011 Rafferty was named in the 21–player squad for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. At the quarter final stage of the competition against France

France women's national football team

The French women's national football team represents France in international women's football. The team is directed by the French Football Federation and competes as a member of UEFA in various international football tournaments such as the FIFA Women's World Cup, UEFA Women's Euro, the Summer...

, she was substituted on for regular left back Rachel Unitt

Rachel Unitt

Rachel Elizabeth Unitt is an English football player. She currently plays as a left back for England Women and Everton Ladies.-Club career:...

 in the 81st minute, to make her World Cup debut. England coach Hope Powell

Hope Powell

Hope Patricia Powell, CBE is the coach of the England women's national football team. Powell is an ‘A’ License coach and in 2003 became the first woman to achieve the UEFA Pro Licence - the highest coaching award available.-Early life:Powell was educated at Bethany School and went on to take A...

 considered Rafferty better equipped to cope with the pace of Élodie Thomis

Élodie Thomis

Élodie Ginette Thomis is a French football player who currently plays for French club Olympique Lyonnais of the Division 1 Féminine. She plays either a winger or striker and is described as a player who possesses pace comparable to that of French men's internationals Thierry Henry and Sidney Govou...

.

When the match finished 1–1 after extra-time, Rafferty missed England's fourth penalty in the shootout

Penalty shootout

The shootout is a method of determining a winner in sports matches that would have otherwise been drawn or tied. The rules for penalty shootouts vary between sports and even different competitions; however, the usual form is similar to penalty shots in that a single player takes one shot on goal...

, sending her spot kick wide of the post. Although England were knocked out when Faye White

Faye White

Faye Deborah White, MBE is an English footballer who plays for Arsenal Ladies in the FA Women's Super League and the England women's national football team as a central defender...

also missed, Hope Powell praised Rafferty for stepping forward when other, more experienced team mates were exhibiting "cowardice."