Villa's Staniforth 'at Ease' With Decision To Retire

York-born Staniforth was 1 of a fistful of Lionesses who developed successful nan academies of nan northbound eastbound of England and went connected to successful careers.

She collapsed into Sunderland's first squad astatine nan property of 16 and was adjacent friends pinch Lucy Bronze, sharing lifts to training pinch her erstwhile team-mate and existent England defender.

A midfielder known for her intelligent activity and passing range, Staniforth ends her profession astatine Villa having made much than 50 appearances successful each competitions.

It has not been a soft ride, however, arsenic she has suffered back-to-back anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries successful 2014 successful different knees, which caused her to miss almost 3 seasons.

"I consciousness truthful fortunate to person been capable to spell to nan places I've been to and to person met nan group I have," added Staniforth.

"Football has yet been my life. It's made maine who I americium and it's each I've known. It's immense and I've loved it. I've besides hated it astatine times because it's really hard!

"There's truthful galore times erstwhile you mobility your worth. That's thing I person struggled pinch passim my career, knowing who I americium distant from nan pitch.

"I'm excited now because I'm not 'Lucy nan footballer' anymore. It mightiness beryllium difficult to travel to position pinch down nan line, but astatine nan moment, it conscionable excites me."

Staniforth hopes to "discover a caller part" of herself distant from nan crippled and study to observe her achievements.

"I've astir apt been truthful difficult connected myself passim my full career. I ever wanted to execute awesome things and beryllium this awesome subordinate pinch a database of honours," she added.

"I've learned that while everything has been truthful hard, I've been truthful resilient. I conscionable request to beryllium like, 'Fair play, it's not easy'.

"I tin get done thing and I'm really proud that I've been capable to do that and still scope nan highest of my career.

"I person tried not to return life excessively seriously. I've ever tried to beryllium a awesome team-mate and assistance everyone's spirits. Hopefully those skills lead maine into occurrence aft football."