Background
On seeing Maggs for the first time, Arsenal manager Vic Akers informed her father that she would one day play for England.
On seeing Maggs for the first time, Arsenal manager Vic Akers informed her father that she would one day play for England.
As well as the England women"s national football team, Maggs played FA Women"s Premier League football for clubs including Birmingham City, Watford and Arsenal. Often described as diminutive, Maggs operated as a quick, skilful and creative forward. Maggs joined Arsenal Ladies as a nine-year-old, after being spotted at an after school football course.
Having grown up in nearby Islington, Maggs was already an Arsenal supporter.
When Marieanne Spacey left Arsenal for Fulham in 2002, Maggs was elevated into regular first team contention. Two goals against Fulham in the televised FA Women"s Community Shield underscored Maggs" potential, but minor injuries disrupted her 2002-2003 campaign.
After a further season at Arsenal, in which Maggs scored the League–clinching goal, Marcus Bignot signed her for his ambitious Birmingham City team in August 2004. Maggs joined American West-League club New York Magic in June 2006, along with Birmingham team mate Laura Bassett.
In September 2006 Maggs signed for FA Women"s Premier League Southern Division club Watford, managed by her former Arsenal team mate Sian Williams.
She was paired in attack with Helen Lander, who later stated:
My favourite season was one at Watford where I played up front with Ellen Maggs. She was different gravy and I am told she was nowhere near her best at that stage in her career. I have no doubt that had things worked out differently for her, we would be talking about one of England’s all time greats.
In 2008-2009 Maggs turned out for Welwyn Garden City and Haringey Borough.
Maggs represented England at the 2002 Fédération internationale de football association U-19 Women"s World Championship in Canada. A Fédération internationale de football association.com article said of Maggs:
With the smallest feet in the squad, diminutive striker Ellen Maggs turns up like fine dust all over the field
Gifted with a telepathic impulse for turning defenders and exploding with pace into space, the Arsenal product may well prove the future of English football – and a critical image and icon for other young British girls to look to for a role model. She was called into the senior England squad for the first time in November 2002, when Arsenal team mate Kirsty Pealling pulled out of the World Cup qualifying play–off second leg against France.
On 19 May 2003 Maggs made her senior debut, as a 66th-minute substitute for Amanda Barr in a 4–0 defeat to Canada during a tour of North America.
A second appearance came in October 2003, during a 2–2 draw in Russia. In January 2005 Maggs was recalled to a 30–player training squad for the annual trip to Louisiana Manga. She missed out on selection for Union of European Football Associations Women"s Euro 2005 but was called into the national Under 21 squad for the Nordic Cup in July 2005.