Happy birthday to Sade Benjamin (NFA)

Sade Benjamin (No 9) hits a trademark free kick. Picture: MATT JOHNSON

Happy birthday to NFA striker Sade Benjamin – 28 today.

Born in Manchester on January 4, 1995, the player who is named after famous sophisti-pop singer Sade has been playing football since the age of about 6.

With Prestatyn Girls among the teams she represented as a youngster, Sade first made her mark in adult football with Rhyl Development, who joined the North Wales Women’s League in 2017-18.

And Sade carved her name in history by becoming the first Development player to score a hat-trick in their first-ever win, a 4-0 result against Amlwch Town in April 2018.

Sade improved further in 2018-19, netting 15 times for the Rhyl team.

Sade (left) has a tussle with Amlwch Town’s Emma Roberts. Picture: GETHIN JONES

In 2019-20, the player spent the season, shortened due to Covid, with Rhyl FC in North Wales League Division One.

With 2020-21 wiped out by the pandemic, Sade decided on a change at the start of 2021-22 campaign, joining another Rhyl side NFA.

She scored on her debut in a 6-2 home loss to Bangor 1876 in the now one-division North Wales League, but things were to get so much better for player and team.

Since moving to NFA, Sade’s finishing has been at its best ever. In 2021-22, she scored a magnificent 26 goals and won runners-up medals in the league and North Wales Coast Cup.

This season Sade is firing again, currently on 13 goals for NFA. Her senior career goals total is now well over the 50 mark.

Sade in her Rhyl FC days

As well as being a deadly finisher, Sade delivers a great corner, is a top quality crosser and can stun the opposition from free kicks.

This ardent Manchester City fan has also competed in combat sport, putting on the gloves for a charity Ultra White Collar Boxing event in Chester in December 2021.

Sade won a points decision over three rounds against Amy Gilbert. For two novices, it was a really good contest with Sade clearly winning the last two rounds to take the verdict. Sade has since won a second contest so is 2-0 entering 2023 😃

Whether it is on the football field or the boxing ring, this lady packs a punch.