Sophie Birkett
Current Club
Oxford United
Centre mIDFIELD
Sophie is a technically gifted midfielder, renowned for her exceptional work rate, quick feet, and impressive passing range. Combining strength, determination, and excellent 1v1 defensive ability, she consistently wins back possession and transitions swiftly into counterattacks. She is confident receiving the ball under pressure, turning her marker, and driving forward with purpose to deliver incisive passes that spark attacking opportunities, evident through her numerous assists and standout individual goals. Her dribbling skills allow her to glide past multiple opponents and navigate tight spaces with ease. Equally adept at playing quick one-touch football or switching play to retain possession, Sophie excels in building from the back and maintaining control under pressure. With strong communication skills, relentless drive, and a proven track record in leadership roles—including serving as county team captain—Sophie brings invaluable energy and resilience to any squad. Her versatility further enhances her value, with the ability to play both defensive and attacking midfield roles, as well as fullback and across the back line.
Athlete Information
Current Club: Oxford United
Previous Club(s): Chesham United Women, Watford FC U16 & U10, London Bees U12 & U14, Arsenal RTC U9, Hertfordshire County Representative Team U14 & U16 (Captain), Independent Schools National Representative Team U16 & U18 (ISFA, including playing up in age group gaps), Level 7 College (played up to four years above age group for senior experience in the National Youth League).
Athletic Achievements: JPL Trophy Winners 2023/24 (started and played full 90 minutes), Tonsser Women’s Showcase 2024 Most Valuable Player, Hertfordshire County Representative Team Captain for 2 years (1st year as a U15 playing up in the U16 squad), selection for the Independent Schools National Representative Team through a rigorous trial process, starter in 3–0 and 6–1 wins against Wales, Berkhamsted School Girls’ 1st XI Captain.
Academic Information
Study Major Preference: Biology
GPA: 4.0
English Language - 9
English Literature - 9
Mathematics - 9
History - 9
Drama - 9
Physics - 9
Biology - 9
Chemistry - 9
Spanish - 9
Placement Year
Fall 2026
Gender
Female
Date of Birth
April 8, 2008
Place of Birth
United Kingdom
Height
5 foot 3 inches
Weight
110 lbs
Preferred Foot
Right
“Sophie has shown an excellent attitude towards her sport, she is very passionate about football as well as a variety of different sports and has a positive impact within her teams. Sophie’s passion, drive and current knowledge within football encourages me to believe her potential in her next football steps will be very successful. She is also a very mature individual who thrives when given responsibilities, her leadership skills also shine as she is never afraid to get stuck into doing what is best for her team. I’ve had the privilege of knowing and coaching Sophie for over 5 years now, watching her grow from year 6 to now gearing towards her GCSEs. I’ve watched her develop as an individual and really seen her mature into a fantastic athlete with the mind set to always want to improve. This season Sophie has joined the college set up having day release from school on Wednesdays to play fixtures. She is playing in the national football youth league against other college set ups like Ipswich, Cambridge, Spurs etc. she is playing against girls who could be up to 3 years older then her, but is still able to compete and prove that the is a fantastic versatile player.”
“I am writing on behalf of Sophie Birkett, whom I have coached for two seasons at Watford Football Club. In that time, I have come to know Sophie very well as both a player and as a person. I am pleased to say that she is a highly dedicated player who is extremely coachable who gives 100% in everything that she does. As a player, Sophie is focused and determined, often practicing and training in her own time to improve her game. Sophie is a friendly, welcoming person, often treating people courteously and is a player that many of the squad look up to for inspiration. I’ve rarely had the pleasure to coach such a hard-working player and any team would be lucky to have Sophie as part of it. If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.”