Grace Joana Ella Jale (born 10 April 1999) is an association football midfielder who plays for Perth Glory and the New Zealand women's national football team. She has previously played for Wellington Phoenix and Canberra United.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Grace Joana Ella Jale[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 10 April 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Perth Glory | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 6 | (0) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2022 | Wellington Phoenix | 12 | (6) |
| 2022–2023 | Canberra United | 17 | (3) |
| 2023– | Perth Glory | 14 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2016 | New Zealand U-17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2016 | New Zealand U-20 | 6 | (0) |
| 2018– | New Zealand | 27 | (9) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 February 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 February 2024 | |||
Early life edit
Born and raised in Auckland to a Fijian father and New Zealand mother, Jale started playing football (soccer) at age 7.[2][3] She attended Mt Albert Grammar School where she helped the team to a national First XI championship. She also played for the Eastern Suburbs premier women's team.[4] During her first year playing for the Bay Olympic Club Team, she was named Player of the Year and was awarded a Variety Gold Heart Scholarship.[4]
Club career edit
In August 2018, Jale was offered a contract with Czech first-division club AC Sparta Praha,[5] but opted to attend and play for Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in the United States.[6]
On 19 October 2021 Jale signed with the newly formed Wellington Phoenix team to play in their inaugural season of the 2021–22 A-League Women league.[7]
In July 2022, following a successful season with Wellington Phoenix, Jale joined for Australian A-League Women club Canberra United on a two-year contract.[8]
In August 2023, Jale was signed by A-League Women club Perth Glory.[9]
International career edit
Jale made her debut for the senior national team and scored her first international goal during a match against Tonga at the 2018 OFC Women's Nations Cup.[2] She previously represented New Zealand on the under-17 and under-20 national teams.[2] She competed at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Jordan and 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea.
2023 FIFA Women's World Cup edit
In June 2023, Jale was selected as part of the 23 player Football Ferns squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, which was co-hosted in Australia and New Zealand. She played two matches in the group stage.[10]
International goals edit
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 19 November 2018 | Stade Numa-Daly Magenta, Nouméa, New Caledonia |  Tonga |
11–0 | 11–0 | 2018 OFC Women's Nations Cup |
| 2. | 22 November 2018 |  Cook Islands |
6–0 | 6–0 | ||
| 3. | 7 February 2024 | FFS Football Stadium, Apia, Samoa | Tonga |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2024 OFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament |
| 4. | 3–0 | |||||
| 5. | 16 February 2024 |  Fiji |
3–0 | 7–1 | ||
| 6. | 6–0 | |||||
| 7. | 7–0 | |||||
| 8. | 19 February 2024 |  Solomon Islands |
4–0 | 11–1 | ||
| 9. | 8–1 |
References edit
- ^ "List of Players - 2018 FIFA Women's U20 World Cup" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
- ^ a b c "Grace Jale relishing senior debut tournament". WN.com. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Football Fern's Grace Jale looking for more game time in Noumea". OFC Football. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ a b "Exams first for schoolgirl star". New Zealand Herald. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Grace Jale offered European football contract". Mount Albert Grammar School. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Da Luz Welcomes Seven on Signing Day". Wake Forest University. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Wellington Phoenix women sign New Zealand midfielders Chloe Knott and Grace Jale". Stuff. 18 October 2021.
- ^ "Jale, Burrows and Taranto sign for United". Canberra United. 15 July 2022.
- ^ Morgan, Gareth (15 August 2023). "Glory land Women's World Cup striker". Perth Glory.
- ^ "Grace Jale National Team Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
External links edit
- Grace Jale at Soccerway