Gemma Lawley

Gemma Lawley (born 15 September 2002) is a central defender who plays for Birmingham City Women in the FA Women's Super League. After joining the Birmingham City academy at the age of 16, Lawley was officially promoted to the first team in June 2021 having made 5 appearances in the 2020/21 FA Women's Super League .
==2020/21 ==
Lawley made her full debut on the 30th September, 2020 against Everton F.C. Women in the Women's FA Cup semi final, with Everton winning 3-0 . Her first appearance in the Women's Super League, or WSL, came against West Ham United F.C. Women on the 8th November, 2020, appearing as a substitute for the last 3 minutes of the match as Birmingham lost 2-1 . 2 weeks after her first WSL appearance, and a week after not being included in the squad for the local midlands derby against Aston Villa W.F.C., Lawley came off the bench against Arsenal W.F.C. on the 6th December, 2020 in a 3-0 loss, replacing the booked Harriet Scott (footballer) in the 60th minute . Lawley's first start came against Manchester United W.F.C. at Leigh Sports Village on the 24th January, 2021, however the side lost 2-0 and Gemma Lawley was substituted in the 65th minute . Lawley had to wait until the 17th March, 2020 to appear for the side again, being substituted on for the last 11 minutes of the sides 2-2 draw against West Ham, where Lawley was on the pitch for Ruby Mace 94' minute equaliser . Lawley made played her first full 90 minutes in the WSL in a 6-0 loss to Chelsea F.C. Women on the 4th April, 2020, with Chelsea going on to win the WSL that season . The match against Chelsea was Lawley's last appearance of the season, and Lawley finished her first full campaign with a combined 7 appearances (4 starts and 3 substitution appearances) in the WSL and F.A Cup 2020/21 season . Birmingham finished 11th in the WSL for the 2020/21 season and in July 2021, Lawley signed a two year contract ahead of the 2021/22 season . 
==2021/22==
Lawley's involvement with the first team increased significantly in her second season, with 17 appearances in the WSL as of the 2nd May, 2022 . She started and played the full 90 minutes of Birminghams opening game of the season in a 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Women at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium . Lawley was an unused substitute in Birminghams second game, and first home game, of the season, a 5-0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C. . Lawley played in the 1-1 draw against West Ham on the 10th October, 2021, with Birmingham collecting their first point of the season having lost their first 4 games, scoring only one goal and conceding eleven . After playing in the 1-0 midweek loss against Brighton on the 13th October, 2021, Lawley was dropped for the next 2 games . She came back for the match against West Ham in Women's league cup, but was substituted at half time as the side lost 4-0 . Lawley played the full 90 minutes in the sides in the 3-2 loss to Manchester City W.F.C. and the 2-2 draw to London City Lionesses, in which they lost 5-4 on Penalty shoot-out (association football) . After a three week break in fixtures from the sides 2-0 loss against Leicester City W.F.C. , the team achieved their first win and clean sheet of the season with a 2-0 shock win against then league leaders and unbeaten Arsenal on 9th January, 2022, with Lawley playing the full match . Two weeks later Lawley scored her first professional goal in a 3-2 loss to Reading F.C. Women on the 23rd January, 2022. The goal came in the 3rd minute of the game, with Lucy Quinn providing the assist from a Corner kick . Lawley started every game for Birmingham since the 2-0 loss to Leicester on 19 December 2021, with the matches played including a Shutout on the 1st April, 2022 against Everton F.C. Women|Everton as well as a 3-1 victory against Brighton on the 23rd April, 2022 . The side currently sit 12th in the WSL .
==International==
In November 2020, Lawley was called up to the England Under 19's squad .
Category:2002 births
Category:Association football central defenders