From Lionesses Keeper to Leader: Carly Telford’s Journey

Carly Telford is a retired English footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Born on July 7, 1987, in County Durham, England, she had a distinguished 20-year career in women's football.

She began her professional journey at Sunderland in 2002, before moving to Leeds Carnegie in 2007. She joined Chelsea in 2010, where she made 23 appearances. A notable moment during her time at Chelsea was captaining the team in the 2012 FA Cup final against Birmingham City, which ended in a penalty shootout loss. After a brief spell, she returned to Chelsea in 2017, contributing to the team's success with three Women's Super League titles, two FA Cups, two League Cups, a Spring Series title, and a Community Shield. In 2022, she transferred to San Diego Wave FC in the United States, making four appearances before retiring in 2023.

Telford earned 27 caps for the England national team between 2007 and 2021. She was part of the squads for the 2007 and 2015 FIFA Women's World Cups and the 2017 UEFA Women's Euro. Her first major tournament appearance came at the 2019 World Cup. Additionally, she represented Team GB at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 2021, stepping in as a replacement for the injured Karen Bardsley.

Since retiring from professional football in 2023, Carly Telford has transitioned into a significant off-field role at Chelsea FC. She currently serves as the club’s Brand and Partnerships Player Manager, a position she began in July 2023. In this capacity, Telford collaborates closely with Chelsea’s commercial partners to enhance the club’s brand presence and foster new partnerships .