Samantha Britton
Encyclopedia
Samantha "Sammy" Britton (born 8 December 1973) is a retired English football
er, and former England
international player. An extremely versatile performer, Britton was equally at home playing in defence, midfield or attack.
Britton played for England in the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup.
She dropped out of the side after the finals, but scored on her return two years later as England beat Scotland
4-0. At the time she was playing for Cove Rangers in Scotland, but was looking for a move back to the English Premier League. She had previously played for Arsenal
.
Britton got her wish as she joined Croydon
for 1997-98, featuring in the 3-2 FA Women's Cup
final defeat to Arsenal. She moved to Doncaster Belles the following season. In summer 2000 Britton played for IBV
in Iceland
, finishing as the club's top goalscorer with 12 goals in 14 games.
During qualifying for Euro 2001
, Britton pre-empted the results of a random drugs test by admitting to smoking marajuana. She was subsequently banned for seven months by England coach Hope Powell
and missed six Everton matches while attending a voluntary rehabilitation programme. Britton was recalled to the England squad for the European Championship finals.
In March 2005 she was playing for Everton
, having re-joined from Leeds United
in January 2003.
Women's football (soccer)
Women's association football has been played for many decades, but was associated with charity games and physical exercise in the past before the breakthrough of organized women's association football came in the 1970s. Before the 1970s, football was basically seen as a men's game...
er, and former 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...
international player. An extremely versatile performer, Britton was equally at home playing in defence, midfield or attack.
Britton played for England in the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup.
She dropped out of the side after the finals, but scored on her return two years later as England beat Scotland
Scotland women's national football team
The Scotland women's national football team represents Scotland in international women's football. They have yet to qualify for the final stages of the World Cup or European Championships and are currently ranked 23rd in the world and 14th in Europe....
4-0. At the time she was playing for Cove Rangers in Scotland, but was looking for a move back to the English Premier League. She had previously played for Arsenal
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
.
Britton got her wish as she joined Croydon
Charlton Athletic L.F.C.
Charlton Athletic Women's Football Club play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division in England. Between 2000, the year it was founded from Croydon Women's F.C. and 2007, Charlton had one of the most successful women's teams in England...
for 1997-98, featuring in the 3-2 FA Women's Cup
FA Women's Cup
The Football Association Women’s Challenge Cup Competition, commonly referred to as the FA Women's Cup, is the top cup competition for women's football clubs in England – designed as an exact equivalent to the FA Cup created 99 years earlier...
final defeat to Arsenal. She moved to Doncaster Belles the following season. In summer 2000 Britton played for IBV
Íþróttabandalag Vestmannaeyja
Íþróttabandalag Vestmannaeyja is an Icelandic sports club from Vestmannaeyjar off the south coast of Iceland. It has both women and men teams competing in various sports.-Current mens squad:...
in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, finishing as the club's top goalscorer with 12 goals in 14 games.
During qualifying for Euro 2001
2001 UEFA Women's Championship qualification
The qualification for the UEFA Women's Euro 2001 was held between August 21, 1999 & November 28, 2000. The first-placed of the group stage qualified directly...
, Britton pre-empted the results of a random drugs test by admitting to smoking marajuana. She was subsequently banned for seven months by 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...
and missed six Everton matches while attending a voluntary rehabilitation programme. Britton was recalled to the England squad for the European Championship finals.
In March 2005 she was playing for Everton
Everton L.F.C.
Everton Ladies Football Club are a semi-professional women's association football team from the city of Liverpool, who compete in the FA WSL. They were runners-up to Arsenal in the 2009–10 Premier League National Division season. They have won the title once in 1998 and the FA Women's Cup on...
, having re-joined from Leeds United
Leeds United L.F.C.
Leeds United Ladies Football Club are an English women's football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. They compete in the FA Women's Premier League National Division for the 2009–10 season and are one of two Yorkshire teams in the FA Women's Premier League National Division, along with...
in January 2003.