After joining Chelsea Ladies at the age of 12, Casey Stoney MBE moved to Arsenal Ladies in 1999, before joining Charlton Athletic Ladies in 2002. During the successful first season, Casey’s leadership qualities were instantly recognised and capitalised on as she captained Charlton to their first FA Women’s Cup final. Internationally, Casey was an integral part of the England team’s which reached the UEFA Women’s Euro 2009 final and the quarter finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2007 and 2011.
Casey continued to aid teams success, resulting in her being responsible for the Charlton Ladies victory in the FA Women’s Premier League Cup in 2004, the FA Women’s Cup and to a 2–1 victory over Arsenal Ladies in the 2006 Premier League Cup. Despite her dedication to the team, Charlton Athletic disbanded the entire women’s team following the relegation of the men’s team in 2007; unsurprisingly, Casey was incredibly frustrated, stating “I’m disgusted with the club – the men get relegated and we get punished”. Casey utilises this experience through her public speaking to address the discrimination against female footballers.
Impressively, during the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup in China, Casey Stoney was one of four England players to play every minute of every match, earning her the Nationwide International Player of the Year award for the 2007–08 season, ahead of fellow football speaker, Alex Scott. Later in her career, Casey was appointed as the new England captain saying “It’s an absolute honour, the biggest privilege I’ve ever been given”. Owing to her immense skill as a player, Stoney became the first female member of the Professional Footballers’ Association’s management committee and has played in three consecutive World Cup campaigns.
Named 50th on The Independent newspaper’s Pink List of influential lesbian and gay people in the UK, Casey advocates for LGBT+ and women’s equality through her powerful position within football. With a host of anecdotes to share from her incredibly successful career, Casey is an engaging football speaker who always leaves an incredibly positive impression on her guests.
