Helen Bleazard (born 14 August 1990) is a former English–born footballer who played for the Welsh national team and Yeovil Town. She previously played in the FA WSL for Bristol Academy and Chelsea Ladies. Bleazard usually plays as a wide midfielder or forward and switched allegiance to Wales after playing for England at youth level.
![]() Helen Bleazard playing for Wales in September 2015 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Helen Bleazard[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1990-08-14) 14 August 1990 (age 31) | ||
Place of birth | Yeovil, England | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
1999–2004 | Yeovil Town | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2004–2005 | Yeovil Town | ||
2005–2007 | Bristol City W.F.C. | ||
2007–2008 | Bristol Academy | ||
2008–2010 | Keynsham Town | ||
2010 | Yeovil Town | 6 | (0) |
2011 | Bristol Academy | 23 | (9) |
2012–2013 | Chelsea Ladies | 33 | (8) |
2013–2017 | Yeovil Town | 75 | (13) |
2018– | Plymouth Argyle | 44 | (20) |
National team | |||
2011–2015 | Wales | 43 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:45, 28 Apr 2020 (UTC) |
After joining local side Yeovil Town at the age of nine, Bleazard eventually moved on to FA Women's Premier League club Bristol City at the end of season 2004–05.[2]
Bleazard signed a contract with FA WSL club Bristol Academy in February 2011.[citation needed] She helped the club qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time, by scoring in a 3–0 FA Women's Cup semi–final win over Liverpool Ladies at Haig Avenue.[3] At the FA Women's Cup final at the Ricoh Arena in May 2011 Bleazard struck the crossbar with a free kick, but Bristol were beaten 2–0 by Arsenal.[4]
In February 2012 Bleazard signed for Bristol's WSL rivals Chelsea Ladies.[5] She played for her new club in the 2012 FA Women's Cup Final, but they lost to Birmingham City on penalties after a 2–2 draw. After two seasons with Chelsea, Bleazard agreed a deal to return to Yeovil, whose application to the new second level of an enlarged WSL has been successful. Yeovil's chairman was enthused by the transfer, describing Bleazard as: "the best female player the town of Yeovil has ever produced."[6]
Bleazard represented England at Under–17 level,[7] and was called into the Under–20 squad during the 2008–09 season.[8] She was also selected for the England college team while attending Yeovil College.[9]
Bleazard later switched her footballing allegiance to Wales and was named on the standby list for their March 2011 Algarve Cup campaign.[10] Bristol Academy teammates Jessica Fishlock and Alex Culvin joked that Bleazard's eligibility for the Welsh national team arose from "her Nan's Sister's Brother's Aunty."[11]
Bleazard won her first senior cap for Wales playing on the left–wing in a 2–0 friendly defeat to New Zealand, played in Savièse on 15 June 2011.[12]
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