Sarah Pollard played for Exeter in the Western League in 1983/84, scoring a hat-trick against Cope Chat in a 14-0 win which moves Exeter towards winning the Western League for the first time in their history.

Sarah played a full international away against Denmark, on the 18th May 1979, coming on as a substitute, Sarah scored  England's only goal, at the time she was playing for Torbay LFC.

The following is from Rod Hawker's book 
"Irrepressible Women"

"Sarah, born and bred in Paignton, started playing football for Torbay YMCA as a 13 year old in 1969. Sadly, the team only lasted for one season before disbanding and there were just no other teams at the time that she was able to subsequently join. Sarah recalls playing for the YMCA against a Teignmouth girls team in February 1970 (five years prior to the formation of local leagues), in ankle deep mud at the White Rock pitches in Paignton. The game was played in response to a challenge from the Teignmouth to any women's team who fancied their chances against them! team

By 1976-77, the then 21 year old Sarah joined newly formed Torbay Ladies, whose secretary Lee Donnelly (now Lee Hayward) had entered the team into the early Devon Women's League. Sarah's performances drew attention to her talents, and in 1979 she was invited to an England Ladies trial at Warminster, followed by subsequent training weekends.

The England manager at the time, thought to be Tommy Tranter, already had a great many players from Southampton Ladies in the squad as they, along with Queen's Park Rangers (QPR), were the dominant forces in women's football. It was very difficult for a relative outsider from Devon to break into the team. Nevertheless, her performances during the trials was sufficient to earn her a place in the Women's Football Association England team to play away against Denmark (in Copenhagen) on 19th May 1979 - a game in which Sarah also managed to get on the score-sheet in a 3-1 loss.

Despite being attributed as the England scorer in the Danish press, the acknowledgment was not shared in the English press at the time. This error was corrected as recently as 2020 as a result of efforts being made by Pat Gregory (Ex WFA Secretary) to contact and list all past England Women's international players in an attempt to gain further recognition for these pioneers. It was to be Sarah's only inter national match. After the game in Denmark she chose to be excluded from future selections.

"What a Player, was wonderful and best time of my life playing with Exeter Ladies alongside Sarah Pollard and have to say so many other team players." 

Karen Rothery November 2022 

Appearances and Goals