{{Short description|Welsh footballer (born 1989)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Natasha Harding | image = | caption = | fullname = Natasha Marie Harding | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1989|03|02}} | birth_place = Caerphilly, Wales | height = | position = Forward, Fullback | currentclub = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2007–2012 | years2 = 2012–2014 | years3 = 2015 | years4 = 2016–2017 | years5 = 2018–2022 | years6 = 2022–2023 | clubs1 = Cardiff City | clubs2 = Bristol Academy | clubs3 = Manchester City | clubs4 = Liverpool | clubs5 = Reading | clubs6 = Aston Villa | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 0 | caps2 = 39 | goals2 = 8 | caps3 = 10 | goals3 = 1 | caps4 = 29 | goals4 = 11 | caps5 = 84 | goals5 = 4 | caps6 = 4 | goals6 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2008–2022 | nationalteam1 = Wales<ref name=faw/> | nationalcaps1 = 103 | nationalgoals1 = 26 | pcupdate = 31 May 2023 | ntupdate = 27 April 2024 }} '''Natasha Marie Harding''' (born 2 March 1989) is a retired Welsh footballer. Harding began her career with Cardiff City and has also played in the FA WSL for Bristol Academy and Manchester City.

==Club career== Harding began her career at Cardiff City and made her first team debut in January 2007, during a 4–0 Welsh Women's Cup quarter final win over Newport Strikers. Harding came on as a second-half substitute for Gwennan Harries.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Strikers+no+match+for+defending+champions.-a0159311672 |title=Strikers no match for defending champions|work=South Wales Echo|date=2007-02-14 |access-date=2012-03-24}}</ref> She subsequently represented the club in the 2007–08 UEFA Women's Cup.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=1904579/profile/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126010342/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=1904579/profile/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 November 2012 |title=Natasha Harding|publisher=UEFA|access-date=2012-03-24}}</ref>

She went on to captain Cardiff City,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/13333434 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720131953/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/13333434 |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 July 2012 |title=Harding 'ecstatic' with Cardiff City Ladies promotion|work=BBC Sport|access-date=2012-03-24|date=2011-05-11}}</ref> then joined Bristol Academy ahead of the 2012 FA WSL campaign. Bristol manager Mark Sampson said of Harding: "Tash will really bring another dimension to our forward play, a striker who can play off the shoulder and with great speed was something we were missing last season so it will give us far more variation to our play going forward."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bristolacademywfc.co.uk/news/vixens_announce_new_signings.html|title=Vixens announce new signings|publisher=Bristol Academy WFC|access-date=2012-03-24|date=2012-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311022540/http://www.bristolacademywfc.co.uk/news/vixens_announce_new_signings.html|archive-date=11 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the end of the 2014 season Harding signed for the Washington Spirit,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30134553 |title=Natasha Harding leaves Bristol Academy for Washington Spirit |publisher=BBC |date=20 November 2014 |access-date=19 March 2015 }}</ref> but her move fell through over visa issues and she signed instead for Manchester City.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31890402 |title=Natasha Harding: Manchester City Women sign Wales forward |publisher=BBC |date=14 March 2015 |access-date=19 March 2015 }}</ref>

In January 2016, Harding was sold by Manchester City, who had signed Swedish forward Kosovare Asllani.<ref>{{cite news|title=Natasha Harding: Wales striker leaves Manchester City Women|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35395318|access-date=24 January 2016|work=BBC Sport|date=24 January 2016}}</ref> Later that week she signed for Liverpool.<ref>{{cite news|title=Natasha Harding: Liverpool Ladies sign ex-Man City winger|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35430560|access-date=29 January 2016|work=BBC Sport|date=28 January 2016}}</ref> Harding left Liverpool Ladies in December 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|last=BBC Sport|date=3 January 2018|title=Natasha Harding: Wales vice-captain to leave Liverpool ladies|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42523836}}</ref> Reading Women snapped up the Welsh international on a free transfer in January 2018<ref>{{Cite web|last=BBC Sport|date=3 January 2018|title=Natasha Harding: Reading Women sign Wales and ex Liverpool forward|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42560178}}</ref> Since joining the Royals in 2018, Harding has been named captain. On 3 May 2022, Reading announced that Harding would leave the club at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web |title=NATASHA HARDING SET TO LEAVE READING WOMEN FC |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2022/may/03/natasha-harding-set-to-leave-reading-women-fc/ |website=readingfc.co.uk |publisher=Reading F.C. |access-date=3 May 2022 |ref=3 May 2022 |date=3 May 2022}}</ref>

On 16 September 2023, Harding announced her retirement from football.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Natasha Harding: Wales forward and centurion announces retirement |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66830715 |date=16 September 2023 |access-date=2024-04-28 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://faw.cymru/news/natasha-harding-bring-her-playing-career-to-a-close/ |title=Natasha Harding brings her playing career to a close |publisher=Football Association of Wales |date=16 September 2023 |access-date=20 November 2024}}</ref>

==International career== left|thumb Harding played five times for the Wales Under-19 team in season 2007–08.<ref name=faw>{{cite web|url=http://www.faw.org.uk/teams/player/162|title=International Teams&nbsp;— Natasha Harding|publisher=Football Association of Wales|access-date=2012-03-24|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321121046/http://www.faw.org.uk/teams/player/162|archive-date=2009-03-21}}</ref> She made her senior international debut, aged 19, as a late substitute in a 2–0 defeat to Switzerland in Oberdorf on 8 May 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.womenssoccerscene.co.uk/womens-football-news-2007-2008/080509-3.htm|title=Battling Wales edged out by Swiss|publisher=Women's Soccer Scene|access-date=2012-03-24|date=2008-05-09|archive-date=22 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122164914/http://www.womenssoccerscene.co.uk/womens-football-news-2007-2008/080509-3.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Harding scored her first goals for Wales on 20 June 2012 in a UEFA Qualifying match against Israel at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham. She scored a hat-trick in a 5–0 win to cap a fine evening both personally and for her country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.faw.org.uk/news/FAW84637.ink|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223233838/http://www.faw.org.uk/news/FAW84637.ink|url-status=usurped|archive-date=23 December 2012|title=Wales 5–0 Israel|publisher=Football Association of Wales|access-date=2012-06-20|date=2012-06-20}}</ref>

As a student at UWIC, Harding was called–up to represent Great Britain at the 2011 World University Games in Shenzhen, China.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Harding+among+best+of+British+off+to+China%3B+FOOTBALL.-a0262555971|title=Harding among best of British off to China; FOOTBALL|publisher=South Wales Echo|access-date=2012-03-24|date=2011-07-27}}</ref>

On 12 April 2022, she played her 100th match for Wales in a 3–0 win over Kazakhstan in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/28508/12588697/kazakhstan-women-0-3-wales-women-natasha-harding-scores-on-100th-cap-to-boost-world-cup-hopes |title=Natasha Harding scores on 100th Wales cap |website=Sky Sports |date=13 April 2022 }}</ref>

==International goals== {| class="wikitable" |- ! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition |- | 1. || rowspan=3| 20 June 2012 || rowspan=3| Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Wales || rowspan=3| {{fbw|ISR}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=3 align=center| 5–0 || rowspan=3| UEFA Women's Euro 2013 qualifying |- | 2. || align=center|'''2'''–0 |- | 3. || align=center|'''3'''–0 |- | 4. || 7 April 2013 || East End Park, Dunfermline, Scotland || {{fbw|SCO}} || align=center|'''1'''–1 || align=center| 1–2 || Friendly |- | 5. || 4 April 2014 || Eskişehir Atatürk Stadium, Eskişehir, Turkey || {{fbw|TUR}} || align=center|'''5'''–0 || align=center| 5–1 || rowspan=5| 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |- | 6. || 9 April 2014 || Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Wales || {{fbw|UKR}} || align=center|'''1'''–1 || align=center| 1–1 |- | 7. || rowspan=3| 19 June 2014 || rowspan=3| Traktor Stadium, Minsk, Belarus || rowspan=3| {{fbw|BLR}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=3 align=center| 3–0 |- | 8. || align=center|'''2'''–0 |- | 9. || align=center|'''3'''–0 |- | 10. || 26 November 2015 || Bridge Meadow Stadium, Haverfordwest, Wales || {{fbw|KAZ}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 4–0 || rowspan=3| UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying |- | 11. || rowspan=2| 1 December 2015 || rowspan=2| Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan, Israel || rowspan=2| {{fbw|ISR}} || align=center|'''1'''–1 || rowspan=2 align=center| 2–2 |- | 12. || align=center|'''2'''–1 |- | 13. || 5 April 2017 || CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach, Wales || {{fbw|NIR}} || align=center|'''3'''–1 || align=center| 3–1 || Friendly |- | 14. || 12 June 2018 || Newport Stadium, Newport, Wales || {{fbw|RUS}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || align=center| 3–0 || 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |- | 15. || rowspan=3| 29 August 2019 || rowspan=3| Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands || rowspan=3| {{fbw|FRO}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=3 align=center| 6–0 || rowspan=6| UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifying |- | 16. || align=center|'''3'''–0 |- | 17. || align=center|'''5'''–0 |- | 18. || rowspan=2| 22 October 2020 || rowspan=3| Rodney Parade, Newport, Wales || rowspan=2| {{fbw|FRO}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 4–0 |- | 19. || align=center|'''3'''–0 |- | 20. || 1 December 2020 || {{fbw|BLR}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 3–0 |- | 21. || 17 September 2021 || Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Wales || {{fbw|KAZ}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 6–0 || rowspan=4| 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |- | 22. || 21 September 2021 || Pärnu Rannastaadion, Pärnu, Estonia || {{fbw|EST}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–0 |- | 23. || 26 October 2021 || Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales || {{fbw|EST}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || align=center| 4–0 |- | 24. || 26 November 2021 || Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Wales || {{fbw|GRE}} || align=center|'''5'''–0 || align=center| 5–0 |- | 25. || 16 February 2022 || Pinatar Arena, San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain || {{fbw|SCO}} || align=center|'''3'''–1 || align=center| 3–1 || 2022 Pinatar Cup |- | 26. || 12 April 2022 || Astana Arena, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan || {{fbw|KAZ}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 3–0 || 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |}

==Allegations of financial impropriety== In November 2024, BBC News reported allegations against Harding (now using her married name of Allen-Wyatt), of taking payments for undelivered football coaching, unpaid loans and unfulfilled sponsorship deals. Up to 70 parents and businesses claimed losses totaling nearly £70,000.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c86q7z1yp9eo |title=Top footballer took thousands of pounds, claim teammates and parents|access-date=2024-11-20 |date=2024-11-20 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Johnson | first=Jenny | last2=Thomas | first2=Kayley | title=Natasha Harding: Former Wales football player faces fresh claims | work=BBC News | date=22 November 2024 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c86q2d0ez1go | access-date=23 November 2024}}</ref>

== Career statistics == ===Club=== {{updated|match played 27 May 2023}}<ref>{{soccerway|natasha-harding/20054}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|Bristol Academy |2012 |rowspan="3"|WSL |14||3||0||0||4||1||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||18||4 |- |2013 |14||4||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||16||4 |- |2014 |11||1||0||0||5||3||4||2||colspan="2"|-||20||6 |- !colspan="2"|Total !39!!8!!0!!0!!11!!4!!4!!2!!-!!-!!54!!14 |- |Manchester City |2015 |WSL |10||1||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||11||1 |- |rowspan="4"|Liverpool |2016 |rowspan="3"|WSL |16||3||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||18||2 |- |2017 |8||4||0||0||-||-||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||8||4 |- |2017–18 |5||4||0||0||3||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||8||4 |- !colspan="2"|Total !29!!11!!0!!0!!5!!0!!-!!-!!-!!-!!34!!10 |- |rowspan="6"|Reading |2017–18 |rowspan="5"|WSL |13||0||-||-||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||13||0 |- |2018–19 |19||1||3||0||5||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||27||1 |- |2019–20 |8||0||2||0||2||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||12||0 |- |2020–21 |22||3||1||0||4||3||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||26||6 |- |2021–22 |22||0||2||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||26||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !84!!4!!8!!0!!12!!3!!-!!-!!-!!-!!104!!7 |- |Aston Villa |2022–23 |WSL |4||0||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||6||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !166!!24!!8!!0!!31!!7!!4!!2!!-!!-!!209!!32 |} {{notelist}}

==Honours== '''Individual''' *Welsh Footballer of the Year: 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37909156|title=Gareth Bale and Joe Allen lead Wales award winners|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 November 2015|access-date=12 January 2022}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20121126010342/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=1904579/profile/index.html Harding] at UEFA *{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20121223234045/http://www.faw.org.uk/PlayerDisplay.ink?skip=0&squadno=12096&season=11/12&seasonl=2011/2012&Playertype=w Harding]}} at FAW *[http://www.bristolacademywfc.co.uk/playerProfile/natasha_harding.html Harding] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428101934/http://www.bristolacademywfc.co.uk/playerProfile/natasha_harding.html |date=28 April 2014 }} at Bristol Academy

{{Welsh Women's Footballer of the Year}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harding, Natasha}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Caerphilly Category:Cardiff City Ladies F.C. players Category:Bristol Academy W.F.C. players Category:Manchester City W.F.C. players Category:Liverpool F.C. Women players Category:Reading F.C. Women players Category:Women's Super League players Category:Wales women's international footballers Category:FA Women's National League players Category:People educated at Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni Category:Welsh women's footballers Category:21st-century Welsh sportswomen Category:Women's association football forwards Category:FIFA Women's Century Club Category:Aston Villa W.F.C. players