Striker Kayleigh Barton has announced her retirement at the age of 37 after 89 appearances and 22 goals for Cymru.
Although her playing career with Cymru has come to an end, Barton will now play an important role in the development and progression of the next generation as she also takes up the role of assistant coach of the Cymru WU17 squad alongside new head coach Natalie Lawrence.
Barton has been a key player for Cymru for more than a decade, and it was fitting that her final three appearances for her country were at the EURO finals in Switzerland this summer. A popular figure within the squad, Cardiff-born Barton has played an integral role in the rise of the Cymru women’s team having played under Jarmo Matikainen, Jayne Ludlow, Gemma Grainger and current head coach Rhian Wilkinson.
After making her Cymru debut in 2012, Barton initially played as a defender but evolved into a talented striker under Jayne Ludlow and scored her first Cymru goal in a 2-2 draw against Finland in March 2016. Her 22nd and final goal for her country came from the penalty spot as Sweden were held to a 1-1 draw in Wrexham in the Nations League in February this year.
Barton played the majority of her football on a part-time basis, representing Cardiff City, Yeovil Town and Italian side Chieti Calcio Femminile between 2012 and 2018. She finally turned professional at the age of 30 when she signed for FA Women’s Super League side Brighton & Hove Albion upon the expiry of her contract with Yeovil Town, and most recently played for Charlton Athletic.
It was almost a very different story for Barton as she considered quitting the sport as a teenager as she revealed in an interview in 2020 how she had lost her love for the game. However, signing for Cardiff City and subsequently gaining international recognition reignited her passion for the sport and she returned to the field while training to be a plumber.
Representing Cymru was the catalyst that fuelled the fire within for Barton, and she spoke openly about her love for her country ahead of the WEURO finals. “I’m proud of my small nation with its passionate spirit and rich history,” she explained. “We are kind and loving people who give our all in what we do which make me feel connected and supported, and there’s simply no place like home. Wales is where my heart feels at peace, no matter where life takes you.”
In addition to that equalising goal against Sweden earlier this year, Barton also played a key role in several other memorable games for Cymru. The 0-0 draw with England at Southampton in 2018 saw Barton put in a tireless performance as the sole striker, while she scored twice in the impressive 3-0 win over Russia at Newport later that year. Barton’s solitary goal sealed a 1-0 win over New Zealand in 2019, and she also scored four goals during the recent EURO qualifying campaign as Cymru made history.
Despite increased competition for places and a recent injury, Barton was named in the starting line-up for the second match at EURO against France and came off the bench against the Netherlands and England as Cymru made their major tournament debut. In an interview with UEFA, Barton was asked about the legacy of the tournament and how important it was for her that the success of qualifying acts as a catalyst for the women’s game in Wales.
“It’s about participation rates,” she explained. “It’s about making sure that we’re advertising women’s football and getting more young girls interested in playing football again. That’s our ultimate goal. We want to show young girls that Wales have been at a major tournament. That’s something that we want to continue to do, so it’s about advertising Wales as a nation and a language and putting that on the world stage.”
