Jade Cross has announced her retirement from football, bringing the curtain down on an extraordinary career in Old Gold that established her as one of the greatest players in the history of women’s football in Wolverhampton.
A loyal servant to Wolves from childhood to retirement, Cross leaves the game having scored a remarkable 178 goals in 314 appearances, cementing her place among the club’s all-time greats.
A name synonymous with Wolves Women, Cross departs as a FA Women’s National League Play-Off winner and one of only four women ever inducted into the Wolves ‘300 Club’, an honour recognised proudly inside Molineux.
Her contribution to the club across more than two decades extends far beyond statistics, with her commitment, professionalism and consistency helping shape Wolves Women during one of the most successful periods in their history.
Cross made her senior debut in August 2012 alongside her twin sister Emma, who herself retired in 2025. Having first joined Wolves at the age of nine, Jade embodies the meaning of a true ‘one club woman’.
Through all stages of the team’s development, she remained a central figure, balancing the demands of elite football with a full-time career as a chartered accountant.
As Wolves Women continued their rise through the football pyramid, Cross played a defining role in the club’s progress towards the second tier for the very first time. Her goals and leadership helped secure promotion in 2021, a landmark achievement for the club, before she helped drive the team to a second successive league title the following season.
Time and time again, she delivered in the biggest moments, proving herself one of the most reliable forwards in the women’s game outside the professional tiers.
Among her 178 goals in Old Gold, some moments will live particularly long in the memory. Her 150th strike, scored against fierce rivals West Bromwich Albion in January 2022, stands out as one of the sweetest of her career.
Equally unforgettable was her decisive goal against higher-tier Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup in 2021, helping Wolves pull off a cup upset before prevailing on penalties. Cross’ final goal arrived in January 2026 against Birmingham City in the Challenge Cup.
Everyone associated with Wolves would like to thank Jade for all she has done for the club during the last 20 years and wish her the very best for the future.
Jade was presented - alongside her sister Emma - with a framed shirt adorning her appearance number by Dan McNamara at the club's celebration evening last week.
She will always be an Old Gold legend.