Canberra United can today confirm the signings of newcomers Patricia Charalambous, Emma Stanbury, Ashlie Crofts and Rebekah Horsey for the 2019/20 Westfield W-League season.
Charalambous joins the club for her third Westfield W-League campaign, having spent the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons with Perth Glory.
The 25-year-old has also enjoyed two stints in Cyprus, where she played for prestigious Apollon Ladies FC and featured in the European Champions League.
But after playing overseas last season, Charalambous admits she is looking forward to returning to the Westfield W-League and working with Canberra United Head Coach Heather Garriock.
“It was a no brainer when Heather called and asked me to play for Canberra United this season,” Charalambous said.
“Canberra have always been at the top of the Westfield W-League, they play great football, they fight until the final whistle and I wanted to be a part of that history.”
Charalambous will be joined in green by former Newcastle Jet Emma Stanbury, who enjoyed a strong 2019 season with the NWS Koalas of the NPL NSW Women’s.
Stanbury is no stranger to playing under Garriock, having won the NPL NSW Women’s treble in 2016 with Sydney University, where Garriock was coach.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Ashlie Crofts arrives in Canberra for her debut season in the Westfield W-League.
The speedy striker spent the 2019 winter season with NPL NSW Women’s side Blacktown Spartans, and finished third in the competition’s Golden Boot standings with 16 goals.
Rebekah Horsey is another Westfield W-League debutant, who recently played for Lions FC in the NPLW Queensland and was a part of the club’s Premiership and Championship winning side in 2019.
Garriock says each of the four players will bring something unique to her squad this season.
“Patricia is a very versatile player, she can play anywhere on the field and is very technical on the ball,” Garriock said.
“I’ve been lucky enough to coach Emma before and she is just a livewire in midfield who brings great energy to the squad.
“Ash joins us from the Blacktown Spartans and is a prolific goal scorer, while Rebekah is a cool, calm holding midfielder and I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do at a Westfield W-League level.”
If you want to #GoGreen with our new signings, Season 12 memberships and tickets are now on sale on the Canberra United website. Be sure to purchase yours in time for our Round One clash with Perth Glory at McKellar Park on Sunday, 17th November.
Canberra United Squad |
Goalkeepers: Shamiran KHAMIS, Annalee GROVE
Defenders: Taren KING, Nikola ORGILL (c), Jessie RASSCHAERT, Patricia CHARALAMBOUS
Midfielders: Karly ROESTBAKKEN, Olivia PRICE, Laura HUGHES, Emma STANBURY, Rebekah HORSEY
Forwards: Elise THORSNES, Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNG, Leena KHAMIS, Katie STENGEL, Simone CHARLEY, Ashlie CROFTS
