Palace Women v Lewes matchday programme 2324 publication

Crystal Palace √ lewes

sun 12 nov 2023 14:00 kick-off

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03

Good afternoon everybody and welcome back to the VBS Community Stadium for our Women’s Championship match against Lewes.

I

’m really looking forward to returning to Sutton today.

We’re unbeaten here at the VBS Community Stadium so far.

We’ve obviously had a change of home ground this season, but we’re flourishing here. It should be a great day and it’ll be good to see all of you watching the game.

It was a big change for us, moving out of our previous ground at Bromley, but everything has been great, like the provisions for the players. I think the fan experience as well has been really, really positive. I know the girls love playing here; the playing surface is great.

It’s also a home for the club.

We’ve got our Academy playing here on the boys’ side, and it’s really good to create that club base away from the training ground. It’s quite a unique position to be in. For us, at this moment in time, it’s working well.

Today we face Lewes, who go into the weekend bottom of the table, but having defeated us on penalties in the Continental League Cup last month. They have been unlucky in a few league games. I’ve watched them and they defend really well. They’ve got a couple of players in there that

can score plenty of goals, and they’ve been unlucky and missed some real clear opportunities in their games, so we’re not taking them lightly.

We can expect to face a very organised side. I know the manager, Scott Booth, is very good at working

Today, for me, it’s the performance that we’re after.

We want to win the game, but we need to perform well and get that confidence as a collective group with the players that he’s got.

They all understand their roles and responsibilities, and that’s clear to see.

They’ve been extremely competitive this season and probably deserved more out of their games. We’ve got to make sure that we’re ready for that, and not get exposed by their threats.

Head coach

We had a knockback last month at Charlton and it was really positive for me to see, against Watford, a reaction. I asked the players to do certain things, in terms of starting the game a little bit better, getting a little bit of momentum and backing themselves by putting pressure on the ball, and I think we did.

Today, for me, it’s the performance that we’re after. We want to win the game, but we need to perform well and get that confidence as a collective group.

When our match at Selhurst Park next weekend comes around, we’re expecting a challenging game – Southampton are a massive threat, a great side and they’re set up well – so for us, these two games are big games.

We’re obviously in a good place but we try not to think too far ahead.

This group are really grounded – we reflect as we go. I’ve got very honest, intelligent football players who look to improve each week based on what we face next, and today will be no different.

Thank you, as always, for your fantastic support.

Laura

THERE’S ALWAYS A HOME FOR THE EAGLES

OFFICIAL PARTNER OF CRYSTAL PALACE WOMEN

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05

Good afternoon everybody, and for the first time in just shy of a month, a very warm welcome back to the VBS Community Stadium for today’s match against Lewes.

O

bviously, coming back from the international break, it was nice to have everyone back into the game. It was good to start a tough set of fixtures coming up with a 3-0 win against Watford. I don’t think we could have asked for anything more than that from the girls.

That game also saw Isabella Sibley come back onto the pitch for the first time in 11 months, after recovering from an ACL injury. I’ve known Issy from my first season here, so for me, personally, it’s a really proud moment to see her back. We’ve all seen the hard work that she’s put in, so credit to her for everything she’s done to get herself back on that pitch.

It’s obviously fantastic having different achievements within the club, and a lot of them not from the same players. We’ve had quite a variety of awards being given out, which is testament to the way we’ve all been playing together as a squad.

We’ve seen Araya Dennis win the Championship Goal of the Month award. For Araya personally, and for a player of her

age, it’s obviously only the start to her career. Now, hopefully she can kick on, and get many more of those awards.

You voted Annabel as your cinch Player of the Month for October. Knowing her for a long time, I think this is the first season

It feels like a good home ground to play at, and I think we’re all excited to get back there, get back on the grass and again show how good we are

I’ve really seen her kick on and play her best football. It’s obviously really nice to see for me and I think, if she carries on the way she’s going, she can really go far. captain

We’re back at home this weekend, up against a Lewes team we know will be wellorganised and well-drilled.

Obviously the girls love playing at Sutton with the atmosphere that you created. It feels like a good home ground to play at, and I think we’re all excited to get back there, get back on the grass and again show how good we are.

Then, next weekend, we play at Selhurst Park against a Southampton team competing for promotion. Obviously the Watford game gives us good momentum going into these two matches, and today, we want to build on that and get as much confidence with which to face Southampton, which will obviously really help us out.

We’ve all loved playing in front of you in Sutton this season.

It’s been a fantastic move so far.

It’s a lovely ground to play at and a lovely pitch to play on. It feels like a home to me and everyone else in the dressing room, thanks to your support.

Enjoy the game!

Aimee

07

After suffering their first defeat of the season prior to the October international break, Crystal Palace Women came back with a bang to soar past Watford away from home…

The Eagles inflicted a 3-0 defeat upon the Hornets at Grosvenor Vale, thanks to an Elise Hughes brace and a Shauna Guyatt wonder strike – the teenager’s first professional goal. Bidding to bounce back immediately from their reverse at Charlton, it did not take long for Palace and Hughes to register their first goal of the afternoon: with just three minutes on the clock, Molly Sharpe deflected a poor pass into Hughes’ path, and the Wales forward swept home at the second time of asking.

Amidst poor conditions, Palace were forced defend for stretches of the first-half, but turned on the style moments before half-time when Sharpe chipped the ball for Hughes to thump a header home at the near post. And Guyatt made it three to the Eagles in stoppage time as she got off the mark – a landmark goal – in spectacular fashion. The young midfielder found some space in the Watford half before thundering a strike from 30 yards out that bounced in off the crossbar.

Award winners -

A trio of home matches -

The Eagles’ fine start to the season has earned yet more recognition, with Araya Dennis’ 35-yard strike against Charlton Athletic named the Women’s Championship Goal of the Month.

Annabel Blanchard, who was voted your cinch Player of the Month for October, claimed September’s equivalent prize, making it back-to-back Goal of the Month trophies for Palace Women at the start of 2023/24.

Don’t miss a minute of the action by heading to cpfc.co.uk/ palace-tv for highlights of all of Palace Women's games.

Three points against Watford saw Palace stay fourth in the Women's Championship table, just four points off top spot – and with a game in hand on current pacesetters Sunderland.

"As a squad we’ve performed well," said Blanchard. "There’s definitely room for improvement but overall, we’ve had a positive month."

They now tackle three back-toback home matches in the space of 10 days, starting with a Women’s Championship clash against Lewes on Sunday, 12th November (14:00 GMT) at the VBS Community Stadium in Sutton. round-up

Following that is a mouthwatering clash against fellow promotion contenders Southampton at Selhurst Park on Sunday, 19th November (14:00) – a match which looks set to host a record-high attendance for Palace Women, and another brilliant atmosphere to boot.

And the run of home games concludes back in Sutton, with Palace hosting Watford at the VBS Community Stadium in the Continental League Cup group stages on Wednesday, 22nd November (19:15).

Tickets are available for all three fixtures via cpfc.co.uk.

09

Age 22 Position Forward Nationality Welsh Signed 2022 (Charlton Athletic)

Elise Hughes Wales international Hughes arrived at Palace from Charlton in the summer of 2022 and has started this season with a bang, scoring her 10th goal of 2023/24 in Palace’s last outing, a 3-0 win over Watford – in what was just our ninth match.

We caught up with the free-scoring forward after her recent brace…

How did it feel to reach 10 goals so early on in the season?

Obviously, I’m really happy to keep scoring goals. Hopefully, the run will continue, but it’s all about the players around me – I can’t score without them! I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but you genuinely can’t! You see the quality in and around me, so it’s my job to score, and I’m glad I can do that.

How important was it to bounce back from defeat with a win?

We’ve all reflected as a group and we knew we had to put in a performance and get a result.

It was about having both. It was tough against Watford. Everyone dug in and it was about the whole squad – it was a great effort from staff and from players.

Molly Sharpe provided two assists for you - and Fliss Gibbons assisted two in your opening two games…

I wish I’d been able to return the favour, but I’m glad [Molly's] getting the assists and I could score for her. Hopefully the link-up will continue! The link-up between me and Fliss is coming on strong too! She’s obviously assisted a few ELISE HUGHES

It’s all about the players around me – I can’t score without them! I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but you genuinely can’t! elise hughes

goals for me now. We’re actually housemates, so I make sure I make tea for her!

And now three home games, including one at Selhurst…

We love playing at home. We want to get as many fans there as possible and create an atmosphere where the away teams don’t want to come and play, and we enjoy playing.

Obviously we’re getting good results away from home, so we need to continue that form, but we’re looking forward to getting back on home turf as well.

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

individual stats

AUGUST Sun 27

Chloe ARTHUR Reading

D 1-1

6

0

Paige BAILEY-GAYLE

6

0

Sun 3

Birmingham City

W 2-1

Keira BARRY

0

0

Sun 10

Durham

W 9-1

Sun 17

Sunderland

D 1-1

Annabel BLANCHARD

8

7

Lia CATALDO

4

0

Blackburn Rovers

W 4-0

Araya DENNIS

8

2

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER Sun 8

Wed 11 Lewes

D 1-1

Sun 15

London City Lionesses

W 6-1

Sun 22

Charlton Athletic

L 2-3

NOVEMBER Sun 5

Watford

Sun 12

Lewes

Sun 19

Southampton

Wed 22 Watford DECEMBER Sun 17

Reading

W 3-0

Polly DORAN

7

1

Aimee EVERETT

8

1

Anna FILBEY

9

1

Fliss GIBBONS

6

0

Shauna GUYATT

9

1

Shanade HOPCROFT

9

2

Elise HUGHES

9

10

Shauna Guyatt scored her first professional goal as Palace Women returned to form against Watford.

league table

Annabel JOHNSON

2

0

pos CLUB P W D

L

Fran KITCHING

0

0

1

SUN

9

6

3

0 12 4

8 21

Demi LAMBOURNE

2

0

2

SOU

9

6

0

3 17 9

8 18

FEBRUARY

Natalia NEGRI

8

0

3

CHA

9

5

3

1

5 18

Sun 4

Southampton

0

CRY

8

5

2

1 28 8 20 17

Blackburn Rovers

0

4

Sun 18

Ellie NOBLE

JANUARY Sun 21

London City Lionesses

Wed 24 London City Lionesses Sun 28

Charlton Athletic

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

Hayley NOLAN

9

1

Lexi POTTER

4

0

Kirsten REILLY

8

0

Molly SHARPE

9

3

Isabella SIBLEY

1

0

Lucy WATSON

3

0

Annis-Clara WRIGHT

0

0

fixtures, results & stats

F

A GD Pts

12 7

5

BIR

9

4

2

3 16 9

6

BLA

9

4

0

5

7 14

7 13 -6 12

7

LON

9

3

2

4 10 15 -5 11

8

DUR

9

3

2

4

9

SHU

8

3

1

4 10 12 -2 10

10 REA

9

2

3

4

11

WAT

9

1

1

7 10 21 -11 4

12 LEW

9

1

1

7

9 17 -8 11

9 14 -5 9

3 14 -11 4

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 Lia CATALDO Natalia NEGRI (GK) Paige BAILEY-GAYLE Hayley NOLAN Ellie NOBLE Lexi POTTER Keira BARRY Polly DORAN Shauna GUYATT Araya DENNIS Shanade HOPCROFT Lucy WATSON Demi LAMBOURNE (GK) Annis-Clara WRIGHT (GK)

lewes women 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 24 25 30 31

A. Keir J. Karram D. Griffin R. Frostick

1

Sophie WHITEHOUSE (GK)

2

Grace RIGLAR

3

Rhian CLEVERLY

4

Amelia HAZARD

5

Grace GARRAD

6

Ellie HACK

7

Caragh HAMILTON

8

Grace PALMER

9

Valentine PURSEY

10

Maria FARRUGIA

11

Anna GREY

12

Shauna VASSELL

14

Reanna BLADES

15

Hollie OLDING

16

Kate OAKLEY

19

Kate MOONEY

21

Sarah BRASERO-CARREIRA

26

Emily MOORE (GK)