Palace Women v Blackburn Rovers matchday programme 2324 publication

Crystal Palace √ blackburn rovers

sun 18 feb 2024 14:00 kick-off

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03

Good afternoon everybody, and a very warm welcome back to the VBS Community Stadium for this afternoon’s Women’s Championship game against Blackburn Rovers.

L

ast weekend, we faced Chelsea – one of the best teams in the world – and I could truly say I was proud of every single player.

At the end of the day, we lost the game, but for us, in terms of the grit and resilience we showed to get in at 0-0 at half-time, and then to stay in the game for as long as we did, I think the group did fantastically well. I thought we were absolutely brilliant.

We went toe-to-toe with a side of very high calibre. We defended really, really well. We didn’t have much of the ball, but we did well with it when we had those moments.

It’s really hard to change shape for one game, but the girls got organised, understood it and applied it, which showed me real character.

We also showed a lot of togetherness. For a group like that, with some young players in there who have never really played sides at the top of the Women’s Super League, it’s a fantastic learning opportunity for them.

I used all substitutes available because I wanted to get players on the pitch to get a feel for it. We want to be playing those kinds of games week in, week out,

We hope that we gave you a performance you can take a lot of pride from and feel part of. We’ve got a fantastic fanbase here, and we just want that growth to continue

so those young players have got to relish that opportunity, relish the experience, and take that into the final part of the season.

We know there are going to be times, towards the end of the Head coach

season, that we’re going to have to defend and work really hard.

We’ll need to show tight shape and tight distances between units, and I thought at Chelsea we had a great opportunity to practice that.

The fans who went to Kingsmeadow, as well, were absolutely pivotal. I heard them from the very start of the game, even before the whistle, right the way through to the end of the game. I want to thank each and every person that watched the game or came to the game, because we heard them loud and clear from start to finish.

We hope that we gave you a performance you can take a lot of pride from and feel part of.

We’ve got a fantastic fanbase here, and we just want that growth to continue.

With eight games left, we’ve got lots of big challenges coming up, but we know you’ll get behind us like you always do, and hopefully we can make you proud.

Enjoy the match, Laura

THERE’S ALWAYS A HOME FOR THE EAGLES

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05

Good afternoon everybody and another warm welcome back to the VBS Community Stadium for today’s match against Blackburn Rovers.

L

ast weekend, playing Chelsea – FA Cup winners in each of the last three seasons – away from home, the girls put in an absolutely incredible performance. I was so proud of every single one of them.

I thought the shift that we put in to keep Chelsea, one of the best teams in Europe – if not the world – down to just 1-0, and a late goal at that, was fantastic. I couldn’t ask for any more from the team.

Obviously it was a defeat, but we all could all hold our heads up high at the end of the day, and be proud of the performance and shift that we put in.

There’s no better way to test yourself than to play one of the best teams in Europe, and I thought we did really well. That’s where we want to be next year – facing that level of quality week-in, week-out – so now we need to keep pushing upwards for the rest of the league season.

Thank you, as well, to all the fans who came out to Kingsmeadow – our biggest-ever away support. We could hear you singing throughout the 90 minutes, and you were our 12th player throughout the game.

We’re taking each week and challenge as it comes and, with your backing, hopefully we can come away with another three points this afternoon

captain

Today, we have another tough league game against Blackburn, so we’ll be looking to build on last weekend’s performance and take the positives into today’s match.

We were really happy to come away with an away win against Southampton in our last league match, and with just eight games left to play, we know just how much each win could count for at this stage.

We’re taking each week and challenge as it comes and, with your backing, hopefully we can come away with another three points this afternoon.

Thank you, as always, for your fantastic support – and enjoy the game!

Aimee

07

Crystal Palace Women bounced back from defeat last time out with a stunning 2-1 win over fellow promotion contenders Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium.

When the two teams had met at Selhurst Park in November, a highscoring contest ensued – but this was a closer encounter, settled by finer margins and a resilient defensive display.

With chances at a premium, Palace’s breakthrough arrived on 22 minutes when Annabel Blanchard played in Izzy Atkinson on the left. The winger dribbled past her marker on her left foot and arrowed in a pinpoint low finish across the ‘keeper.

In first-half added time, a mis-kick from Palace ‘keeper Demi Lambourne saw the ball land at the feet of Katie Wilkinson, who slipped in Sophia Pharoah.

The Southampton attacker was through on goal but Lambourne atoned immediately, charging down the striker’s effort.

The Saints would rue that miss as Palace doubled their advantage just moments later; Ria Percival, on her first start for the club, cut out a pass on the halfway line, charged forwards, exchanged passes with Elise Hughes and struck the base of the post.

Hughes, following up, gleefully

tapped in the rebound for her 14th goal in as many Championships games this season.

Frustrated by Palace’s resilience in the second-half, Southampton did pull one back in the closing stages; moments after Lucia Kendall hit the bar, a free-kick from Paige Peake picked out the midfielder, who slid in to reduce the hosts’ deficit.

But for sheer resilience alone, and an excellent performance from Lambourne, Palace were full value for three vital points.

And with Charlton drawing against Lewes, the Eagles are now once again just three points off the top of the table, with a game in hand – and a stronger goal difference to boot. With eight games of the season left, there remains all to play for.

SE25 when they host Watford on Sunday, 24th March (14:00 GMT)!

Fans booking via cpfc.co.uk before 23rd February can enjoy a 50 percent off ‘early bird’ discount (no discount code required) – so hurry!

last chance for early bird selhurst tickets -

Crystal Palace fought superbly, but bowed out of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup at the hands of reigning champions and WSL table toppers Chelsea last weekend.

A full report and highlights can be found on cpfc.co.uk.

Following a spectacular last time out at Selhurst Park, in which a club-record 4,442 tickets were sold, Palace Women will return to round-up

highlights from our huge fa cup tie -

09

Age 18 Position Forward Nationality Republic of Ireland Signed 2024 – Glasgow City

Abbie Larkin Teenage forward Abbie Larkin – who last summer became the youngest-ever player, male or female, to represent the Republic of Ireland at a FIFA World Cup finals – joined the club last month on a permanent transfer from Glasgow City, signing until 2026.

Get to know our new signing…

How does it feel to sign for Crystal Palace?

I'm absolutely buzzing, I can't wait to start off with the girls and hopefully get my first match out of the way soon. I want to get closer to the girls and focus on my football, enjoy it and hopefully develop more as a player.

What can Palace fans expect to see from you?

I can play anywhere in the front three. I'm versatile up there and I can't wait to hopefully start scoring some goals again.

Why did you decide to sign for Palace?

Obviously the facilities here are outstanding – they’re unbelievable. It's my dream to play in English football, and the Championship is the place to start. Hopefully I can get promoted with the girls, and we can get into the WSL. You know Hayley Nolan and Izzy Atkinson already…

Yeah, obviously I’m best mates with Izzy and Hayley. They were giving me great recommendations abbie larkin

We’re delighted to welcome Abbie, a player of enormous talent and potential, to Crystal Palace head coach Laura Kaminski

about the whole place.

Obviously Iz came here only recently, and she said she’s fitted in with the girls really well already.

What do you make of your new teammates?

I’m looking forward to training and getting my head down.

This team is amazing. It has so many qualities and all the girls are top class. I think we just need to keep working together as a team and get the results that we need to get promoted.

11

Crystal Palace Women have made an excellent start to their 2023/24 campaign at their new home: the VBS Community Stadium. Catch up with the season so far in our comprehensive Stat Zone...

Home fixture Away fixture Cup fixture (Crystal Palace score shown first)

fixtures & results

AUGUST Sun 27 Reading SEPTEMBER Sun 3 Birmingham City Sun 10 Durham Sun 17 Sunderland OCTOBER Sun 8 Blackburn Rovers Wed 11 Lewes Sun 15 London City Lionesses Sun 22 Charlton Athletic NOVEMBER Sun 5 Watford Sun 12 Lewes Sun 19 Southampton Wed 22 Watford DECEMBER Sun 10 Chatham Town Sun 17 Reading JANUARY Sun 14 Blackburn Rovers Sun 21 London City Lionesses Wed 24 London City Lionesses Sun 28 Charlton Athletic FEBRUARY Sun 4 Southampton Sun 11 Chelsea Sun 18 Blackburn Rovers MARCH Sun 3 Birmingham City Sun 17 Sheffield United Sun 24 Watford Sun 31 Durham APRIL Sun 21 Lewes Sun 28 Sunderland TBC Sheffield United

individual stats

D 1-1 W 2-1 W 9-1 D 1-1 W D W L W W L W

4-0 1-1 6-1 2-3 3-0 3-2 3-4 3-0

W 6-0 D 1-1 W W L L

3-1 2-0 1-2 0-1

W 2-1 L 0-1

Izzy ATKINSON

2

Chloe ARTHUR

16

Paige BAILEY-GAYLE

10

1

Keira BARRY

1

1

Annabel BLANCHARD

15

8

Lia CATALDO

8

Araya DENNIS

19

Polly DORAN

8

3 1

Aimee EVERETT

19

2

Anna FILBEY

15

1

Felicity GIBBONS

16

Shauna GUYATT

17

Shanade HOPCROFT

20

3

Elise HUGHES

20

21

Annabel JOHNSON

4

1

Frances KITCHING Demi LAMBOURNE

11

Abbie LARKIN

1

Natalia NEGRI

10

Izzy Atkinson scored her first Palace goal as the Eagles beat Southampton in a key Championship clash.

Ellie NOBLE 3

league table

pos CLUB P W D

L

1

1 22 13 9 30

CHA

15 8

6

F

A GD Pts

2

SUN

15 8

4

3 18 10 8 28

3

CRY

14 8

3

3 39 17 22 27

4

SOU

15 9

0

6 26 17 9 27

5

BIR

14 8

2

4 24 12 12 26

Hayley NOLAN

19

Ria PERCIVAL

5

Alexia POTTER

14

1

8

SHU

14 5

2

7 20 22 -2 17

Kirsten REILLY

17

1

9

REA

13 3

6

4 13 17 -4 15

6

6

BLA

13 6

0

7

7

DUR

15 5

3

7 15 28 -13 18

11 18 -7 18

Molly-Mae SHARPE

20

10 LON

15 3

3

9 14 25 -11 12

Isabella SIBLEY

7

11

WAT

15 3

3

9 18 30 -12 12

Lucy WATSON

5

12 LEW

14 2

4

8

fixtures, results & stats

11 22 -11 10

Crystal palace f.c.

Fran KITCHING (GK) Annabel JOHNSON Fliss GIBBONS Chloe ARTHUR Anna FILBEY Aimee EVERETT Isabella SIBLEY Molly SHARPE Elise HUGHES Annabel BLANCHARD Kirsten REILLY Natalia NEGRI (GK) Hayley NOLAN Lexi POTTER Keira BARRY Polly DORAN Shauna GUYATT Araya DENNIS Ria PERCIVAL Shanade HOPCROFT Lucy WATSON Abbie LARKIN Demi LAMBOURNE (GK) Annis-Clara WRIGHT (GK) Izzy ATKINSON

blackburn rovers f.c.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 15 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 30 31 77

S. Dennington S. Walsh L. Markwick J. Karram

1

Alex BROOKS (GK)

2

Niamh MURPHY

3

Hannah COAN

4

Tyler TOLAND

5

Helen SEED

6

Jade RICHARDS

7

Farah CROMPTON

8

Emma DOYLE

10

Chloe WILLIAMS

11

Meg HORNBY

14

Lucy SHEPHERD

15

Hannah SILCOCK

16

Annie HUTCHINGS

17

Millie CHANDARANA

19

Evie SMITH

21

Lauren THOMAS

22

Milly ROBERTSON

23

Georgia WALTERS

25

Nicola WORTHINGTON

29

Faith NOKUTHULA

42

Jemima DAHOU

99

Shanell SALGADO (GK)