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Clare Polkinghorne

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Clare Polkinghorne
Polkinghorne playing for Australia at the 2017 Algarve Cup
Personal information
Full name Clare Elizabeth Polkinghorne
Date of birth (1989-02-01) 1 February 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Kristianstads DFF
Number 4
Youth career
Wynnum Wolves
Capalaba Bulldogs
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003 Brisbane Toro
2004 Queensland Lions
2004–2008 Queensland Academy of Sport
2008–2021 Brisbane Roar 139 (17)
2014INAC Kobe Leonessa (loan)
2015 Portland Thorns 9 (0)
2018–2019 Houston Dash 18 (0)
2020 Avaldsnes IL 15 (1)
2021–2023 Vittsjö GIK 56 (7)
2024– Kristianstads DFF 8 (0)
International career
2006–2007 Australia U-20 14 (0)
2006– Australia 167 (16)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 3 June 2024

Clare Elizabeth Polkinghorne (born 1 February 1989) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Swedish Damallsvenskan club Kristianstads DFF and the Australia national team. She became Australia's most capped player in February 2023. On 2 October 2024 she announced her retirement from international football, effective in December, but will continues her club career at Kristianstad.

Early life and education

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Clare Elizabeth Polkinghorne was born in Brisbane, Queensland, on 1 February 1989.[1]

Club Career

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INAC Kobe Leonessa

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For the 2014 season, Polkinghorne was loaned to INAC Kobe Leonessa in Japan.[2]

Portland Thorns

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Polkinghorne signed for Portland Thorns in the National Women's Soccer League after the 2015 World Cup.[3] Portland Thorns waived Polkinghorne in February 2016.[4]

Brisbane Roar

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On 7 January 2017, Polkinghorne become the first player to play 100 club games in the W-League, all of which have been played for Brisbane Roar.[5] In December 2020, Polkinghorne re-signed with Brisbane Roar after spending the off-season at Avaldsnes.[6]

Houston Dash (2018–2019)

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On 7 June 2018, Polkinghorne signed with the Houston Dash.[7]

Vittsjö GIK (2021–2023)

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Polkinghorne signed for Swedish Damallsvenskan club Vittsjö GIK on 19 March 2021.[8]

Kristianstads DFF (2024–)

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On 25 December 2023, Polkinghorne joined Kristianstads DFF for the 2024 Damallsvenskan season.[9]

International career

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Polkinghorne first represented the Australia national team in 2006 and has played more than 160 matches, scoring 16 goals. She played in both the 2007 World Cup[10][11] and 2011 World Cup and was an unused squad member during the 2015 World Cup.

Polkinghorne was selected for the Australian Matildas football team which qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Matildas advanced to the quarter-finals with one victory and a draw in the group play. In the quarter-finals they beat Great Britain 4-3 after extra time. However, they lost 1–0 to Sweden in the semi-final and were then beaten 4–3 in the bronze medal playoff by USA.[12]

In February 2023, Polkinghorne became the most capped Matilda ever with her 152nd appearance, after surpassing the previous record set by Cheryl Salisbury. She scored a goal against the Czech Republic in the game.[13]

On 4 June 2024, Polkinghorne was named in the Matildas team which qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics, her third Olympic games selection.[14]

Retirement

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Polkinghorne announced her retirement from international football on 2 October 2024, effective in December, after the Matildas play Brazil in her hometown of Brisbane. She will continue her club career at Kristianstads, at the same time working towards attaining a coaching licence.[15]

As of October 2024 she had earned 167 caps for the Matildas, more than any other player.[16]

Career statistics

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International goals

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Goal
Date Location Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 5 March 2008 Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast, Australia  New Zealand 5350.03005

4–2

5650.06005

4–2

Friendly
2. 2 June 2008 Thống Nhất Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam  Japan 5350.03005

1–3

5650.06005

1–3

2008 AFC Women's Asian Cup
3. 16 June 2013 Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia  New Zealand 5350.03005

1–0

5650.06005

1–1

Friendly
4. 10 February 2015 Bill McKinlay Park, Auckland, New Zealand  North Korea 5350.03005

1–0

5650.06005

2–1

Friendly
5 11 March 2015 Paralimni Stadium, Paralimni, Cyprus  Czech Republic 5–2 6–2 2015 Cyprus Cup
6. 2 March 2016 Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan  Vietnam 5350.03005

9–0

5650.06005

9–0

2016 Olympics qualifying
7. 9 August 2016 Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil  Zimbabwe 5350.03005

2–0

5650.06005

6–1

2016 Summer Olympics
8. 28 February 2018 Albufeira Municipal Stadium, Albufeira, Portugal  Norway 5350.03005

1–1

5650.06005

4–3

2018 Algarve Cup
9. 9 October 2018 Craven Cottage, London, England  England 5350.03005

1–1

5650.06005

1–1

Friendly
10. 6 March 2020 McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia  Vietnam 5350.03005

4–0

5650.06005

5–0

2020 Olympics qualifying
11. 10 June 2021 CASA Arena, Horsens, Denmark  Denmark 5350.03005

2–3

5650.06005

2–3

Friendly
12. 23 October 2021 CommBank Stadium, Sydney, Australia  Brazil 5350.03005

1–0

5650.06005

3–1

Friendly
13. 26 October 2021 CommBank Stadium, Sydney, Australia  Brazil 5350.03005

1–0

5650.06005

2–2

Friendly
14. 8 October 2022 Kingsmeadow, London, United Kingdom  South Africa 5350.03005

3–0

5650.06005

4–1

Friendly
15. 16 February 2023 Industree Group Stadium, Gosford, Australia  Czech Republic 5350.03005

4–0

5650.06005

4–0

2023 Cup of Nations
16. 19 February 2023 CommBank Stadium, Sydney, Australia  Spain 5350.03005

2–0

5650.06005

3–2

2023 Cup of Nations

Honours

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Queensland Sting

Brisbane Roar

Australia

Individual

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Clare Polkinghorne signs with INAC Kobe". The Women's Game. 18 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Thorns FC sign defender Clare Polkinghorne". National Women's Soccer League. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Thorns FC acquire defender Katherine Reynolds from Washington Spirit in exchange for defender Alyssa Kleiner". Portland Timbers. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Polks first to reach century". Football Federation Australia. 9 January 2017. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Clare Polkinghorne signs on for 13th Westfield W-League campaign". Brisbane Roar. 14 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Houston Dash sign DF Clare Polkinghorne". 7 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Swedish switch for Westfield Matilda Clare Polkinghorne". Matildas. Football Australia. 19 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Clare Polkinghorne moves to Kristianstads DFF in Sweden". Matildas. Football Australia. 25 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Player profile – Clare Polkinghorne". Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  11. ^ "FIFA Player Statistics – Clare Polkinghorne". FIFA. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  12. ^ "Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2021". The Roar. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  13. ^ "Clare Polkinghorne Leads Matildas to Paris 2024". Wynnum Today. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  14. ^ "History making Matildas team selected for Paris Olympics". Matildas. Football Australia. 4 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Matildas veteran Clare Polkinghorne announces retirement after career spanning almost two decades". ABC News (Australia) . 2 October 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Polkinghorne to retire from Matildas duty". FIFA. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  17. ^ Esamie, Thomas. "Women's National Soccer League Playoffs". Retrieved 21 September 2020.
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Sporting positions
Preceded by
None
Brisbane Roar captain
2008–present
Incumbent
Preceded by Australia captain
2013–2019
Served alongside: Kate Gill (2014)
Succeeded by