London calling: Lorrie Fair joins Chelsea Ladies
February 7, 2008 by jane
Filed under Int'l Soccer, Profiles, Soccer
LONDON Feb. 7, 2008 – One of the leading female soccer players in the world has joined Chelsea Ladies.
Former United States international Lorrie Fair, the youngest member of the U.S. World Cup-winning team in 1999, arrived in London at the end of January to start her Chelsea career.
The 29-year-old from Northern California made 123 appearances for the U.S. during a star-studded career as a versatile midfielder or defender, the high point being victory over China in the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final. Most recently, Fair continued her soccer career playing on a U.S. semi-professional men’s team.
Fair, who will become Chelsea’s first U.S. recruit, said: “I had the opportunity to come to England and play for Chelsea, which was too good to turn down. It is an honor to play for such a great club.
When not on team duty, she will be helping Chelsea’s Football in the Community program particularly encouraging more girls and women to take up the game to improve health, fitness and to tackle childhood obesity.
Chelsea Ladies manager Shaun Gore said: “Lorrie is a great player and an icon in the U.S. No doubt she will generate a huge amount of exposure for the women’s game in this country. Someone of her stature can become a role model for many young aspiring female players in the UK and to help more women and girls participate in sport generally.”
After her first two weeks playing for Chelsea Ladies, hear from Lorrie in an exclusive web chat on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 1:00 pm EST/10:00 am PST at http://www.chelseafc.com. Lorrie will share her international adventures, what she’s doing on and off the field, and what she hopes to accomplish as the first American to play in the Women’s Premier League.
