Natasha Leanne "Tash" Knapman (born 22 August 1991) is an English female footballer who plays for Plymouth Argyle.
Club career
Knapman was spotted by Totnes & Dartington SC reserve team manager Keith Hawkins when she was playing for Sainsbury's Torquay store in an in-house friendly against the Newton Abbot store's team. Whilst playing for the reserve team, she was scouted by Plymouth Argyle and Newquay, who gave seven-day notices of approach in October 2009. She had scored 49 goals for the reserves the previous season, and had already added a further 9 to her tally before the notices were given.[2] In September 2009, Knapman was called up to the Devon's Senior Women's squad.[3]
Knapman joined Plymouth Argyle in October 2009,[4] making her debut on 22 November 2009 in a 5–1 FA Women's Cup win over Swindon Supermarine. She scored twice on her debut.[5][6] During her stay at the club, Knapman was the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division top goalscorer in 2012 with 14 league goals.[7]
Knapman joined Exeter City in 2012.[8] She made her debut on 25 October 2012 against Oxford United, scoring a late equaliser.[9] Knapman scored City's third goal in a 4–3 win in the 2013 Devon County Cup final against her former club Plymouth Argyle.[10] Knapman's final game for the Grecians saw her score twice in a 4–2 win over Torquay United in the 2015 Devon County Cup final.[11]
Knapman joined Yeovil Town ahead of the 2015 WSL 2 season. She made her debut in a 4–2 home defeat to Reading. Knapman had put Yeovil back on level terms at 1–1, but Fran Kirby went on to score all 4 of Reading's goals.[12]
Personal life
While at primary school, she captained the boys' team, as well as playing for another local boys' team. However, after it became difficult to get a girls' team together in secondary school, she gave up football at 14 and became a black belt in Taekwondo, going on to become selected by Australia.[8]
Knapman works as an activity instructor. She supports Tottenham Hotspur.[13]
Honours
- Playing for Plymouth Argyle in the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division: Top Goalscorer, 2012 (14 league goals)[7]
- Playing for Exeter City in the Devon County Cup: 2013,[10] 2015[11]
References
- ^ "KNAPMAN NATASHA". Herald Express. 23 August 2012. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ "Clubs are queuing up to sign free-scoring Tash Knapman". Herald Express. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ "Dawlish forced to pull out of league". Herald Express. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ "Plymouth Ladies 2–2 Cullompton". BBC Sport. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ "Swindon Supermarine Ladies 1–5 Plymouth Argyle LFC". Plymouth Argyle Ladies. 22 November 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ "Swindon 1–5 Plymouth Ladies". BBC Sport. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ a b "Celebrating the women's game". The Football Association. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ a b "Trust Sponsorship of Exeter City Ladies FC". Exeter City Supporters' Trust. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ "Late leveller for new girl Tash". Express & Echo. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ a b "Exeter City Ladies win thriller". Devon County Football Association. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ a b "Exeter City Ladies beat Torquay United Ladies 4–2 to win SWH Ltd Devon Women's Senior Cup". Exeter City. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ "Fran Kirby nets four for Reading as Royals win at Yeovil". The Football Association. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ "Tash: "I'm excited to play at SJP!"". Exeter City. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
External links
- Natasha Knapman at the Yeovil Town Ladies website
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