Former Crystal Palace defender Coombs joins Gillingham | OneFootball

Former Crystal Palace defender Grace Coombs has joined FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division club Gillingham.

The 31-year-old experienced defender joins the Kent club on a free transfer after leaving former club Crystal Palace earlier this summer.

Coombs has plenty of elite football experience under her belt. She has made 55 appearances in the Barclays Women’s Championship over the last four seasons in spells with Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace. Seven of those outings came last season as Coombs helped Crystal Palace to record their highest-ever league finish in the Barclays Women’s Championship. The player was one of eight to leave The Eagles at the end of the season.

The defender has spent most of her long career with Charlton Athletic. Coombs was with The Addicks for the best part of two decades, making more than 250 senior appearances for the club in all competitions. The player left The Oakwood in summer 2021 very much a Charlton Athletic club legend.

With Coombs’ elite level experience, the player should be a real asset for new club Gillingham. The Kent side finished the 2021/2022 campaign in sixth position in the table and they will be keen to move on to bigger and better things in the upcoming season.