Georgia Stanway has become Manchester City all-time leading goalscorer following her hat-trick in Saturday’s Women’s FA Cup fourth round thrashing of Nottingham Forest.
Stanway went into the cup tie against the National League North side one goal shy of the existing mark of 63 goals held by Nikita Parris. But the 24-year-old, who only appeared from the bench at half-time, equalled it with her first goal of the day shortly after the break.
The record-breaking 63rd goal was City’s seventh of the game, before Stanway added another late on to make it 8-0 and extend her newly claimed record to 64.
Hat-Trick hero!?#ManCity pic.twitter.com/djDH5nj1F8
— Man City Women (@ManCityWomen) January 29, 2022
Stanway was just 16 when she was recruited by City in July 2015, having been spotted playing at Blackburn. She made her debut almost straightaway and has been a mainstay virtually ever since, also going on to be a key member of the senior England setup since 2018.
The result also means that City as a club have now racked up 600 goals in total.
A City women’s team has existed since 1988, but while being affiliated it was largely a community project and run as a separate entity until a new professional team was launched at the start of 2014 following a 2012 announcement to make women’s football an official part of club operations.
Saturday’s game had additional significance because it marked a return to action for first choice goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck, who had missed the whole of the season until now with injury.
It boosts City as they battle to gain ground in the WSL in the second half of the campaign as well as continuing in the FA Cup and Continental Cup, while Roebuck will be pleased to have the opportunity to build her fitness and sharpness over the coming months ahead of Euro 2022.
Meanwhile, there were senior debuts for City youngsters Jemima Dahou and Ginny Lackey.
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