[5][6] At club level, Houghton started at Sunderland in her native North East England, before moving on to Leeds Carnegie in 2007, where she won the FA Women's Premier League Cup.

At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Houghton scored three goals in Great Britain's four games, including winners against New Zealand and Brazil.

[12] After helping Leeds win the 2010 FA Women's Premier League Cup, Houghton signed for Arsenal in August of that year.

[13] On 5 December 2013, it was announced that Houghton had signed an agreement to leave Arsenal for new WSL side Manchester City on 1 January 2014.

[16] She played her final game on 18 May, coming on for Alex Greenwood and taking the captain's armband in the 66th minute of a 2–1 away league win over Aston Villa.

[19] She made her debut in the next match, replacing Emily Westwood after 73 minutes of a 6–0 win over Russia in Milton Keynes on 8 March 2007.

[23] She played in all three games at UEFA Women's Euro 2013 as England finished in last place; she described the result as "a massive disappointment personally and collectively as a squad.

[26] Houghton scored her first World Cup goal against Norway in the round of 16,[27] and was chosen Player of the Match during the quarterfinals with Canada, which qualified England for their first semi-finals ever.

[32] Houghton was allotted 164 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England's inaugural international.