Esme Lancaster

**Last statistical update: 22:03, 23 January 2024 (UTC)**

**Esme Lancaster-Joe** is a footballer who plays for **Hashtag United** (women).

## Career

### Pre-HTU

Youth
Lancaster started playing football at the age of 7, going on to play for Focus Ferrers at around the age of 13. In 2007, the defender was signed by Arsenal.

Tyler Junior College
Lancaster featured for the football team whilst attending Tyler Junior College in the United States. She debuted on 2 September 2012 during a 6–1 victory against Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, which preceded her first goal arriving on 12 September in a 11–0 win over Northeast Texas Community College. Lancaster opened October with an assist (for Tori Rodriguez) at Paris Junior College on 2 October, prior to concluding the month with a goal at home to the same opponents on 16 October and another strike against Northeast Texas Community College on 26 October; also grabbing an assist (for Kat VanMeter) in the latter. Overall, she notched 22 games, 3 goals and 2 assists.

In the 2013 season, Lancaster amassed 20 appearances and claimed 1 assist; which occurred on 18 October for Lindsey Jones during a three-goal triumph over Western Texas College.

University of Northwestern Ohio
Between 2014 and 2016, Lancaster attended the American University of Northwestern Ohio and featured for their team in football.

West Ham United
Ahead of 2017–18, Lancaster had returned to England and joined Premier League - Premier Division, Southern Division side West Ham United. Across January and March, the defender was selected on the substitute's bench for a league fixture with Cardiff City, an Isthmian League Cup semi-final with Whyteleafe and a National League Plate semi-final with Hull City - though wasn't subbed on at any point. Across the campaign, Lancaster made 20 appearances and scored 3 goals for their development team; debuting on 17 September during an 11–0 victory at Queens Park Rangers, scoring against Lewes Development (2–2 on 1 October), AFC Wimbledon Reserves (8–8 on 21 January) and Denham United Reserves (20–0 win on 6 May).

Lancaster was released at the conclusion of 2017–18, after *The Hammers* had secured promotion to the Super League.

Billericay Town
In the summer of 2018, Lancaster switched to National League - Division One, Division One South East side Billericay Town. Her debut arrived on 19 August as *The Blues* beat Denham United away from home. In her 16th appearance, against the same opposition on 13 January 2019, Lancaster netted twice in a six-goal thrashing. Next time out, on 27 January, the defender scored a second brace during an Essex Senior Cup encounter with Rayleigh Town as Billericay won 31–0. Her final goal of her first season arrived on 13 March in the league against Ipswich Town. 2019–20 saw Lancaster score goals versus AFC Basildon (the precursor of HTU) and Woodlands (cup), as she appeared 18 times in a season that was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After 6 appearances in the pandemic-enforced curtailment of 2020–21, Lancaster would miss the promotion-winning campaign of 2021–22 due to a knee injury. She returned to the first-team fold in 2022–23, making her bow in the Premier League - Premier Division, Southern Division on 18 September 2021 after coming off the bench in a 1–1 league draw at Oxford United - with her first start soon coming on 25 September during a National League Cup loss at Bridgwater United. Lancaster, following 7 goals in 63 games since 2018, revealed that she had decided to leave *The Blues* on 16 February 2023 - she subsequently headed to HTU, with manager Jason Stephens later stating that he believed that Billericay "didn't see the potential" in the defender that had just returned from an ACL injury.

### HTU

2022–23
On 22 February 2023, Lancaster was announced as a new signing by Jason Stephens' HTU; having been signed alongside Phoebe Murton. She made her bow later that day off the bench in the National League - Division One South East during a 3–1 victory over London Seaward at Parkside. Her first start arrived at Woodlands School on 26 February as HTU lost 4–0 at home to AFC Wimbledon, participating for almost an hour before being replaced by Amy-Leigh Abrehart. Lancaster netted her first goal for *The Tags* on 19 March as they defeated Cambridge City 8–0 in the league; a division that they ending up being crowned champions in soon after.

2023–24
Lancaster was retained ahead of the 2023–24 season.

## Personal Life

Lancaster attended William de Ferrers School, Tyler Junior College and the University of Northwestern Ohio. She works in finance for Allied World, having previously done so for Aegon. She also worked off the field for American club Global Premier Soccer. Lancaster's younger siblings, George and Faith, played youth football for Latchingdon and Fambridge respectively.

## HTU Statistics

Breakdown

'*Other Cups' includes competitions like the FA Trophy, the FA Vase and friendly tournaments. See also: HTUwiki:DataIssues.*

Appearances (22)
* List of appearances of Esme Lancaster

Goal (1)
Hashtag United  v  Cambridge City

## HTU Honours

* National League - Division One South East (1): 2022–23

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Esme Lancaster-Joe (D)" .
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Happy 21st Birthday to our very own TOWIE @EsmeLancaster" .
3. ↑ "Esme Lancaster" .
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Esme is on the ball" , 22 August 2007.
5. ↑ "Esme Lancaster (Def)" .
6. ↑ "Esme Lancaster" .
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 "Esme Lancaster player stats" .
8. ↑ "Ladies book place in Cup final after Whyteleafe win" , 31 January 2018.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Billericay Town Ladies' Esme Lancaster: I lived my own American dream" , 24 October 2018.
10. ↑ "Everybody in the @BTFC @BTFCWomen Press Dept sends their best wishes to our star defender/wing back @EsmeLancaster as she has an operation tomorrow on her injured left knee" , 31 August 2021.
11. ↑ "I’ve made the decision to leave @BTFCWomen after 5 seasons at the club.." , 16 February 2023.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "NEW LEAGUE, NEW TEAM?? Hashtag United 23/24 Women's Squad Update" , 18 August 2023.
13. ↑ "Esme Lancaster" .
14. ↑ "Esme Lancaster" .