Shanade Shereen Hopcroft (born 4 October 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Crystal Palace. Born in England, she currently represents the Republic of Ireland national team. Hopcroft has previously played for London City Lionesses and Birmingham City, and played college soccer for Daytona State College and the Colorado Buffaloes.
Early life Shanade Shereen Hopcroft was born on 4 October 1997 in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Hopcroft attended Aylesbury Vale Academy.
Youth career At the age of five or six, Hopcroft played for a local football team called Samba. She joined the Chelsea academy at U10 level, after fellow Aylesbury-born footballer (and then-Chelsea striker) Ellen White's father put her forward for trials. Hopcroft departed Chelsea when she was 14. She would also go on to play for London Bees, Reading and Middlesex at U17 level.
College career In 2017, Hopcroft moved to the United States where she played college soccer for Daytona State College and the Colorado Buffaloes. During her college soccer career, Hopcroft suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and underwent surgery for the injury.
Club career London City Lionesses, 2022–23 On 31 January 2022, Hopcroft signed for Women's Championship club London City Lionesses.
Crystal Palace, 2023–26 On 31 July 2023, Hopcrost signed for fellow Championship side Crystal Palace. In her first season with the club, Palace won the Women's Championship, gaining promotion to the WSL for the first time in the club's history.'No-one expected this' - Crystal Palace reach WSL, Emma Smith, BBC Sport, 28 April 2024 Hopcroft was voted the club's Player of the Year by her teammates.
Hopcroft missed most of the 2024–25 season with an injury, playing just three times in the WSL before Palace were relegated.
Hopcroft made 11 appearances in the first half of the 2025–26 season.
Birmingham City, 2026 On 9 January 2026, Hopcroft signed for WSL2 side Birmingham City. On 18 January 2026, she scored her first goal for the club in a 6–2 FA Cup win over Hull City. Birmingham City won the WSL2 and were promoted to the WSL.
Return to Crystal Palace, 2026– On 3 September 2026, Hopcroft returned to Crystal Palace on a two-year deal. Palace, alongside former club Birmingham, had been promoted to the WSL for the 2026–27 season.
International career Hopcroft attended English trial camps at U12 and U15 level.
On 29 September 2026, Hopcroft was called up to the Republic of Ireland national team for the first time for their World Cup play-offs against Kazakhstan. Born in England, she is eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland through her grandmother, who was born in Tubbercurry, County Sligo.
Personal life In June 2026, Hopcroft married fellow professional footballer and New Zealand international, Grace Neville.
Hopcroft has described Ronaldinho as her childhood football idol.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLondon City Lionesses2021–22Women's Championship100——1002022–232241030264Total3241030364Crystal Palace2023–24Women's Championship21620302662024–25WSL300000302025–26WSL 2710040111Total3172070407Birmingham City2025–26WSL 2903100121Crystal Palace2026–27WSL40000040Career total7611611009212
Honours Crystal Palace Women's Championship: 2023–24
Birmingham City Women's Super League 2: 2025–26
References
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