Karen Bardsley
Encyclopedia
Karen Louise Bardsley is an American
-born, English
international football goalkeeper. She currently plays for Linköpings FC
of the Swedish Damallsvenskan
and is a member of the England women's national football team
.
as a graphic design
major in 2002 after graduating from Ruben S. Ayala High School
. She was a student-athlete while studying and played for Cal State Fullerton Titans
women's soccer program. She was named the Big West Conference
Freshman of the Year after her first season. The following season, she played just 28 minutes before a broken leg ended her season. In 2004 she missed the first eight games, still recovering from the injury, but once back in the team made such an impact that she was named Big West Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, an honour she won again in 2005.
for the 2007 WPSL
season, then joined Pali Blues
in February 2008 in advance of the W-League
season.
She joined Sky Blue FC
of Women's Professional Soccer
as a third round pick in the 2009 WPS Draft
. She went on to appear in four games for the club in their inaugural 2009 season
in which the club won the 2009 Women's Professional Soccer Playoffs
.
In August 2011 Bardsley joined Swedish club Linköpings FC
.
, California
, Bardsley decided to represent England
through parentage. She appeared for the England U-19s in the 2003 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship
. She made her senior debut in the Algarve Cup
in March 2005, where England beat Northern Ireland
4–0. In August 2009, she was named to coach Hope Powell
's squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2009.
By the 2011 World Cup Bardsley had taken over the national team's first choice goalkeeping position from Rachel Brown
. After England's 1–1 opening group match draw with Mexico
, coach Powell reported that Bardsley was "devastated" following the concession of a long–range equaliser to Mónica Ocampo
. In England's quarter final exit to France
, Bardsley saved the first penalty in the shootout, but misses from Claire Rafferty
and Faye White
sent England home.
, California State University, Fullerton
, before being employed as an assistant coach with the University of San Diego
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born, English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
international football goalkeeper. She currently plays for Linköpings FC
Linköpings FC
Linköpings FC is an association football club from Linköping, Sweden. The club was established in 2003 when Kenty DFF women's football club decided to merge with the premier division ice hockey club Linköpings HC under the new name Linköpings FC...
of the Swedish Damallsvenskan
Damallsvenskan
The Damallsvenskan, Swedish for ladies' all-Swedish, is the highest division of women's football in Sweden. It is also referred as to the women's Allsvenskan, this term being used alone to refer to the men's division....
and is a member of the England women's national football team
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...
.
University career
Bardsley enrolled at California State University, FullertonCalifornia State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...
as a graphic design
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
major in 2002 after graduating from Ruben S. Ayala High School
Ruben S. Ayala High School
Senator Ruben S. Ayala Senior High School, often abbreviated as Ayala High School and AHS, is located in Chino Hills, California and is one of the four regular high schools in the Chino Valley Unified School District. The school was established in 1990 and named after California state senator Ruben...
. She was a student-athlete while studying and played for Cal State Fullerton Titans
Cal State Fullerton Titans
The Cal State Fullerton Titans are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Cal State Fullerton, located in Fullerton, California. The Titans are a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division I level...
women's soccer program. She was named the Big West Conference
Big West Conference
The Big West Conference is an NCAA-affiliated Division I mid-major college athletic conference. When the conference began in 1969, its name was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association . After nineteen years, in 1988, its name was changed to the Big West Conference. The conference stopped...
Freshman of the Year after her first season. The following season, she played just 28 minutes before a broken leg ended her season. In 2004 she missed the first eight games, still recovering from the injury, but once back in the team made such an impact that she was named Big West Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, an honour she won again in 2005.
Club career
On leaving university, Bardsley joined Ajax America WomenAjax America Women
Ajax America Women is an American women’s soccer team, founded in XXXX. The team is a member of the Women's Premier Soccer League, the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada...
for the 2007 WPSL
Women's Premier Soccer League
The Women's Premier Soccer League is a national women's soccer league in the United States and Puerto Rico, and is on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the W-League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
season, then joined Pali Blues
Pali Blues
Pali Blues is an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2008. The team is a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada...
in February 2008 in advance of the W-League
W-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
season.
She joined Sky Blue FC
Sky Blue FC
Sky Blue FC is an American professional soccer club based in Piscataway Township, New Jersey which participates in Women's Professional Soccer....
of Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
as a third round pick in the 2009 WPS Draft
2009 WPS Draft
The 2009 WPS College Draft took place on January 16, 2009. It was the first college draft held by Women's Professional Soccer to assign the WPS rights of college players to the American-based teams.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:...
. She went on to appear in four games for the club in their inaugural 2009 season
2009 Women's Professional Soccer season
The 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season served as the inaugural season for WPS, the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States...
in which the club won the 2009 Women's Professional Soccer Playoffs
2009 Women's Professional Soccer Playoffs
The 2009 WPS Playoffs were the postseason to Women's Professional Soccer's 2009 Season, that started on August 15 and culminated on August 22 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.-Format:...
.
In August 2011 Bardsley joined Swedish club Linköpings FC
Linköpings FC
Linköpings FC is an association football club from Linköping, Sweden. The club was established in 2003 when Kenty DFF women's football club decided to merge with the premier division ice hockey club Linköpings HC under the new name Linköpings FC...
.
International career
Despite being born in Santa MonicaSanta Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Bardsley decided to represent England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
through parentage. She appeared for the England U-19s in the 2003 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship
UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship
The UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship is a competition in women's football for European national teams of players under 19 years of age. It is also a FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup qualifying competition...
. She made her senior debut in the Algarve Cup
Algarve Cup
The Algarve Cup is a global invitational tournament for national teams in women's football . Held annually in the Algarve region of Portugal since 1994, it is one of the most prestigious women's football events, alongside the Women's World Cup and Women's Olympic Football...
in March 2005, where England beat Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland women's national football team
The Northern Ireland women's national football team represents Northern Ireland in international women's football.-World Cup record:-Current squad:Northern Ireland squad for 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers versus France on 27 and 31 March 2010...
4–0. In August 2009, she was named to 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...
's squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2009.
By the 2011 World Cup Bardsley had taken over the national team's first choice goalkeeping position from Rachel Brown
Rachel Brown
Rachel Laura Brown is an English footballer, currently playing as goalkeeper for Everton Ladies and England Women. She is also the goalkeeper on Five's Superstars and works for Everton's Community Project.-Early Life:...
. After England's 1–1 opening group match draw with Mexico
Mexico women's national football team
The Mexico women's national football team represents Mexico in international women's football competition and is controlled by the Mexican Football Federation. In the 1970s, the team gained popularity, with Mexico finishing 3rd in a unofficial Women's World Cup held in Italy...
, coach Powell reported that Bardsley was "devastated" following the concession of a long–range equaliser to Mónica Ocampo
Mónica Ocampo
Mónica Ocampo Medina is a Mexican international footballer.-Career:Ocampo played with W-League club FC Indiana from 2006 until 2009, then signed a professional contract with Atlanta Beat ahead of the 2010 WPS season....
. In England's quarter final exit to 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...
, Bardsley saved the first penalty in the shootout, but misses from Claire Rafferty
Claire Rafferty
Claire Lauren Rafferty is an English female international footballer. She plays as a Left Back or Left Winger for Chelsea Ladies.-Club career:Rafferty became a first team regular with Millwall Lionesses as a 14-year-old...
and 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...
sent England home.
Coaching career
Bardsley began coaching as a volunteer coach at her alma materAlma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...
, before being employed as an assistant coach with the University of San Diego
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
.