Morag Pearce

Morag Pearce

Personal information
Full name	Morag Pearce
Birth name	Morag Kirkland
Place of birth	Southampton, England
Position(s)	Right-back[1]
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1971-1984	Southampton Women's F.C.
International career
1972–1984	England	41	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Morag "Maggie" Pearce (née Kirkland) is a former England women's international footballer who played as a right-back.^[2] She competed at the 1984 European Competition for Women's Football where England lost against Sweden in the final.^[3][4] She won five Women's FA Cups with Southampton during the 1970's.

Club career

Pearce won her first WFA Cup in 1973 when Southampton beat Westthorn United L.F.C. After a defeat to Fodens in 1974, Pearce celebrated a second WFA Cup victory in 1975 against Warminster and a third versus QPR in 1976. Southampton lost in the 1977 final to QPR but Pearce and her teammates got revenge with a record 8–2 win in 1978 at Wexham Park. She won her fifth and final WFA Cup at Jubilee Park, Waterlooville in 1979 when Southampton beat Lowestoft Ladies.^[5]

International career

Pearce made her England debut at 15 years old.^[6]

Pearce played in England's first ever official match on 18 November 1972 when they beat Scotland 3–2 at Ravenscraig Stadium, Greenock.^[7] In November 2022, Pearce was recognized by The Football Association as one of the England national team's legacy players, and as the 2nd women's player to be capped by England.^[8][9]

Personal life

Pearce has a sister, Heather Kirkland, who also played for Southampton and won four WFA Cups between 1976 and 1981.^[10]

Honours

Southampton

• FA Women's Cup:1972-73 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79

References

1. Lucas, Katherine (12 July 2022). "Members of England's original Lionesses 'angry and frustrated' at not being given caps by FA". inews.co.uk.
2. Williams, Jean (28 January 2022). The History of Women's Football. Pen and Sword History. ISBN 9781526785329 – via Google Books.
3. Sport, Telegraph (29 July 2022). "England Women's Euro 2022 squad: the final 23-player line-up, fixtures and more". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
4. "Euro 1984". IBWM.
5. Slegg Chris, Gregory Patricia (2021). A History of the Women's FA Cup final. thehistorypress. ISBN 9780750996594.
6. "First England team 'no longer being ignored'". BBC Sport.
7. "Players Maggie Pearce". Womens Football Archive. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
8. "ENGLAND PLAYER LEGACY AND RESULTS ARCHIVE" (Press release). The Football Association. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
9. Lacey-Hatton, Jack (18 November 2022). "Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present". Mirror. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
10. "Sisters Morag & Heather Winning FA Cup With Southampton & Representing England European Championship". Football Association.