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WEDNESDAY 11 OCT 2023 | 7.00PM KO | OFFICIAL DIGITAL PROGRAMME

v MANCHESTER CITY

2023/24 AWAY KIT AVAILABLE NOW

EVERTON ONE - EVERTON TWO - EVERTONDIRECT.COM

Official Matchday Programme

MANAGER’S NOTES

BRIAN SORENSEN

Good evening, Evertonians. Welcome back to Walton Hall Park for our match against Manchester City. It is the beginning of our League Cup campaign, and we are grateful to begin this competition in front of our incredible supporters. I have fond memories of cup competitions when I reflect on my time managing in Denmark. There is a unique and special feeling heading into a new domestic tournament and the League Cup is no exception. It gives us an opportunity to focus on a different challenge after what has been a tough start in the league.

performances, and I am sure we will be in for another physical and demanding test tonight. It is a strong League Cup group that we have found ourselves in, with the potential of becoming even tougher should Manchester United fail to qualify for the Champions League. However, that challenge excites us. Highly competitive games is the way this group of young talented players can be properly tested and in turn can continue to flourish.

The emotion of Sunday’s result is still very much raw. I have a feeling of disbelief of how we lost the game against Leicester City.

We have an excellent squad that is rich in depth. We will need to rely on everyone this week, especially with the quick turnaround to Sunday for our trip to Anfield.

I thought we played some great football, created brilliant chances, and looked in control.

Two tough games, but matches we are determined to take results from.

We did not to get the result we deserved, and football can be cruel like that sometimes.

In my notes before our match against Brighton, I spoke about the stability in our performances and the foundation built last season.

Nevertheless, this evening presents an opportunity to bounce back against a top opponent. Gareth Taylor has built a side over the past few years that has really impressed me. Manchester City play some superb football and have started the season well. We faced City twice in pre-season and ran them close on both occasions. While these matches were only friendlies, we can take confidence from those evertonfc.com

Two defeats in the league has not changed that. We are still the team that plays excellent football, a Club that gives young talent a platform to shine, and a squad committed to the badge on the shirt. We know we have your trust and support, and this team will give everything to repay that gratitude. Enjoy the game. Brian 3

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Official Matchday Programme

CAPTAIN'S NOTES

MEGAN FINNIGAN Good evening everyone and welcome back to Walton Hall Park. I write these notes now with the experience of having led Everton out as your captain for the very first time and it was an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. Years of hard work had led to that moment, and I am incredibly grateful for your support in what was a proud day for myself and my family. Tonight we begin our League Cup campaign, and we are delighted to do so in front of our brilliant fans. We welcome a strong Manchester City side who we have faced during pre-season and were edged out of what would have been a deserving result. A lot of confidence can be taken from that display, and I am sure the girls will be ready to replicate that level of performance tonight. Of course, this is our second of three matches in just over a week and we will be relying on our squad’s depth to face the next two games head on. This was not the start to the season we had envisioned. We are all still incredibly frustrated with Sunday’s result against Leicester. The performance from the team certainly deserved more and, at the minute, we are not getting our just reward. However, in football there is always the next game and with that an opportunity to put things right. We are under no illusion of the challenge that faces us tonight and again on Sunday at Anfield, but I assure you that every single player is up to the task. When you begin a campaign in a competition, as evertonfc.com

a team you embark on a new journey and one you hope will go all the way. With regards to this tournament, your first objective is to progress from the group, and we know how tough it will be to accomplish that. Our group features top-flight opposition – with the potential of Manchester United joining as well – but we use that as motivation as we want to compete against the best. We approach these cup competitions with the same mentality as the league. With a desire to win. This is potentially our only home game in this tournament, so it is important we get off to a winning start and use the performance as a foundation for what we could achieve. Of course, an influential factor in generating that level of performance comes from the passion Evertonians bring on a matchday. Since we have moved to Walton Hall Park, I believe we have produced the best atmosphere that I have experienced in an Everton shirt to date. Tonight, I know will be no different. That noise intimidates our opponent and galvanises our squad into action. So, let’s hear you roar. Enjoy the game, Meg 5

PLAYER PROFILES 1

COURTNEY

KATRINE

MEGAN

BROSNAN

VEJE

CAMPBELL

COUNTRY: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND POSITION: GOALKEEPER

COUNTRY: DENMARK POSITION: DEFENDER

COUNTRY: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND POSITION: DEFENDER

NATHALIE

CLARE

JUSTINE

BJORN

WHEELER

VANHAEVERMAET

COUNTRY: SWEDEN POSITION: DEFENDER

COUNTRY: AUSTRALIA POSITION: MIDFIELDER

COUNTRY: BELGIUM POSITION: MIDFIELDER

Official Matchday Programme

EVERTON 9

TONI

HANNA

EMMA

DUGGAN

BENNISON

BISSELL

COUNTRY: ENGLAND POSITION: FORWARD

COUNTRY: SWEDEN POSITION: MIDFIELDER

COUNTRY: ENGLAND POSITION: MIDFIELDER

EMILY

LIBBY

NICOLINE

RAMSEY

HART

SORENSEN

COUNTRY: ENGLAND POSITION: GOALKEEPER

COUNTRY: DENMARK POSITION: FORWARD

evertonfc.com

PLAYER PROFILES 17

LUCY

MARTINA

HEATHER

HOPE

PIEMONTE

PAYNE

COUNTRY: SCOTLAND POSITION: MIDFIELDER

COUNTRY: ITALY POSITION: FORWARD

COUNTRY: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND POSITION: FORWARD

MEGAN

AURORA

SARA

FINNIGAN

GALLI

HOLMGAARD

COUNTRY: ENGLAND POSITION: DEFENDER

COUNTRY: ITALY POSITION: MIDFIELDER

COUNTRY: DENMARK POSITION: DEFENDER

Official Matchday Programme

EVERTON 25

KATJA

ELISE

KAREN

SNOEIJS

STENEVIK

HOLMGAARD

COUNTRY: NETHERLANDS POSITION: FORWARD

COUNTRY: NORWAY POSITION: DEFENDER

COUNTRY: DENMARK POSITION: MIDFIELDER

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ABBY

ANNIE

CLARKE

WILDING

COUNTRY: ENGLAND POSITION: FORWARD

COUNTRY: ENGLAND POSITION: DEFENDER 9

PLAYER PROFILES 41

ALYSSA

KAROLINE

AHERNE

OLESEN

COUNTRY: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND POSITION: MIDFIELDER

COUNTRY: DENMARK POSITION: MIDFIELDER

Official Matchday Programme

THE PERFECT WAY FOR GIRLS AGED 5-11 TO GET INVOLVED IN FOOTBALL RE SCAN HE ORE M T U O TO FIND

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PLAYER PROFILES 1

ELLIE ROEBUCK

DEMI STOKES

LAIA ALEIXANDRI

ALEX GREENWOOD

Goalkeeper

Defender

STEPH HOUGHTON

LAURA COOMBS

MARY FOWLER

CHLOE KELLY

Defender

Midfielder

Forward

DEYNA CASTELLANOS

LAUREN HEMP

FILIPPA ANGELDAHL

ESME MORGAN

Forward

Midfielder

Defender

Official Matchday Programme

MANCHESTER CITY 15

LEILA OUAHABI

JESS PARK

KERSTIN CASPARIJ

JILL ROORD

Defender

Forward

Defender

Midfielder

KHADIJA SHAW

SANDY MACIVER

YUI HASEGAWA

RUBY MACE

Forward

Goalkeeper

Midfielder

Defender

ALANNA KENNEDY

KHIARA KEATING

JULIE BLAKSTAD

Defender

Goalkeeper

Midfielder

evertonfc.com

Official Matchday Programme

ACADEMY DUO

Express Desire To Learn Abby Clarke and Annie Wilding have said it’s a dream come true to become professional footballers at Everton. The pair put pen-to-paper on their first deals with the Club last month and are now fully integrated with Brian Sorensen’s squad. The Academy graduates made their competitive Blues debuts in the League Cup last season against Durham and hope this year’s competition will present an opportunity for both to earn minutes on the field. “It’s so special for us all,” Clarke said as she expressed how it felt to play for Everton. “I have been here from the age of nine, I have grown up with this club. “To sign my first pro contract [at evertonfc.com

Everton] is a dream come true.” Wilding added: “This is everything I have ever wanted, from when I was a kid starting to play the game to now as a 19-year-old. “Someday I want to be a regular in Everton’s Senior Team and I’m going to work hard to try to achieve that.” Last season, Everton averaged the youngest starting line-up in the Women’s Super League as talented youngsters were given an opportunity to shine. This season could produce a similar statistic for the Toffees with a strong youth presence within the side. Clarke and Wilding will hope that presents opportunities to come in and compete, but both are content

with maturing their game on the training field in the meantime. “My aim now is to push on and develop my game,” Clarke continued. “I know there’s a big step to the best players in the Senior Team; I want to bridge that. “Brian and his staff have been so helpful, which has included Chris [Assistant Head Coach, Chris Roberts] with my transition into the senior side.” Wilding added: “I want to be like a sponge over these next few months, taking on all the information that’s given to me. “I want to keep improving and keep getting better.”

PAYNE’S FOCUS ON EVERTON PLUS POINTS Heather Payne insists Everton will focus on the “positives” following Sunday’s defeat to Leicester City and has welcomed the opportunity to bounce back quickly against Manchester City this evening. The Blues are still chasing their first points of the new WSL season and fell to a slender 1-0 loss against the Foxes, with Lena Petermann’s strike in the 69th minute proving the difference between the two sides. It was a strong showing from Brian Sorensen’s team, with the manager saying they “did everything right” from a performance perspective when he spoke to evertontv following the contest on Sunday afternoon. That sentiment was echoed by Payne in her interview as she admitted the team were

deeply frustrated with the result. She does, however, see tonight’s League Cup clash as an opportunity to bounce back quickly. “We played so much better than last week (against Brighton), which is what we wanted to do,” said Payne. “We are gutted we didn’t get at least one goal to grab a point. But we went away and looked at the game. After coming off the loss last weekend, we knew it would be tough again but we wanted to come in stronger and be more physical. “I think we did that so I am

gutted. Overall, though, we played well and have to look at some of the positives. It’s a quick turnaround, we play Manchester City tonight and that’s our main focus now.” Payne joined Everton this summer following four years in the United States with college side Florida State Seminoles. She made her debut in the WSL opener against Brighton last weekend and completed her first full 90 minutes for the Club against Leicester on Sunday. The Republic of Ireland international acknowledged, despite the slow start to the

Official Matchday Programme

season, it was pleasing to get her first full 90 minutes in royal blue and revealed she has settled into life at the Club well so far. “I’m happy to get my first 90 minutes under my belt and overall I’m really enjoying it here,” she explained. “I’ve been here for a month or so now and I feel like I have really settled in. Each week it’s getting better and I am really enjoying it. “As a team, we are all disappointed with the opening two results, but I think we have been a bit unlucky. From a personal point of view, I hope evertonfc.com

Brian keeps giving me chances to impact games. I want to try and get regular chances on goal. I was unfortunate not to get an equaliser for us against Brighton on the opening day, but I am going to keep working hard and try to impact games as much as I can.” Despite Payne’s frustrations that the Blues don’t have more to show for their strong performances so far, she was eager to acknowledge the great support Evertonians had given her and the team in the campaign’s opening two fixtures. The 23-year-old added she

can’t wait for more of it tonight against City: “The support from the fans has been great. When they were singing my name at Walton Hall Park on the opening day, it was very surreal. It was great to play in front of them wearing the Everton shirt. “Even at Leicester on Sunday, you could hear the fans throughout the whole game, and it’s great for them to travel to those games. We were disappointed that we couldn’t get a point out of the game for them. But the support has been great, from last weekend to this one and we can’t wait to hear them again tonight.” 17

WHERE

GREATNESS LIVES

WOMENSLEAGUES.THEFA.COM

Official Matchday Programme

UPCOMING HOME FIXTURES SUN 22 OCT | 1PM

Everton

Man Utd

Chelsea

Bristol City

Man City

Leicester City

West Ham

Aston Villa

SUN 12 NOV | 1PM

Everton SUN 19 NOV | 1PM

Everton SUN 17 DEC | 1PM

Everton SUN 28 JAN | 1PM

Everton SUN 18 FEB | 1PM

Everton SUN 17 MAR | 1PM

Everton

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LUCY HOPE

VIP GUEST? Adele

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Official Matchday Programme

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POST-MATCH? CHEAPizTzMasE!AL

DRESS CODE? Smart casual. Whatever the weather is saying!

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HOW EITC’S NEW MISSION WILL EMPOWER THOUSANDS Everton in the Community last week launched Trinity Project, an ambitious five-year strategic plan which sets out the charity’s bold vision to create stronger communities and brighter futures for the Liverpool City Region. The official charity of Everton Football Club unveiled its new strategy to a wide array of key stakeholders at a breakfast briefing event at Goodison Park and introduced attendees to EitC Learns, EitC Minds and EitC Thrives; three powerful pillars which will form the Trinity Project, each designed to create a lasting impact and bring positive change to the communities it serves. Since 1988, Everton in the Community has become a dynamic force for good, harnessing the unifying power of football to drive social change and addressing societal challenges across Liverpool City Region. Supported by a team of more than 130 full-time staff and more than 200 volunteers, the independently governed and independently financed charity offers an extensive array of more than 60 programmes and initiatives that tackle a diverse range of social issues. These programmes cover areas such as health, employability, anti-social behaviour, crime, exploitation, education, dementia, and disability. Everton in the Community stands firmly beside the most at-risk and most in need members of its local communities, but the needs of the city are ever-growing and ever-evolving and so the charity has introduced the Trinity Project to bring transformational change to Liverpool 4 and beyond and will work to nurture confidence in

others by creating opportunities that can profoundly change lives. Liverpool is battling some of the UK’s highest levels of poor mental health and the lifespan of mental health service users across the city are cut short by 20 years compared to the rest of the country, while more than 15,000 people across Merseyside are currently living with dementia. Through its new Minds pillar, Everton in the Community is committed to significantly improving the quality of life for Liverpool residents living with dementia through a range of innovative programmes and initiatives while creating a comprehensive offer that guarantees quick access to high quality mental health support so everyone in the community receives the help they need. Underneath its new Learns pillar, the charity is dedicated to removing barriers and widening the pathway to education for people of all ages and ensuring that each and every individual has the chance to learn and grow. In parts of Liverpool, many children are well

below the city average in achieving their Early Learning Goals; young people across Liverpool City Region are being left behind and spend their lives struggling to catch-up. Areas of Merseyside are more than 10% below the national average at GCSE level, and among adults, almost a third of the working-age population in parts of North Liverpool have no formal qualifications, impacting those seeking work and fulfilment. Through Learns, Everton in the Community will support children at every step of their educational journey, empowering young people to choose their own career paths and equip adults with the necessary skills to thrive in future workplaces, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to learn and grow. Thrives, the third pillar to make up the newly-launched Trinity Project, will see the charitable arm of Everton Football Club empower individuals to reach their full potential through an array of programmes that harness the power of football, life skills and bespoke support.

ACROSS THE PARK

15 OCTOBER | ANFIELD | 4.30PM

AWAY ALLOCATION - ON SALE NOW

Official Matchday Programme

Friday 13 October | £25 Registration fee Everton in the Community is giving you the unique opportunity to spend the night braving the elements at Goodison Park to raise awareness and funds for the charity’s Home Is Where The Heart Is programme. As the Club’s move to its new waterfront home moves ever closer, this will be one of your last chances to experience a unique night at Goodison Park, sleeping in the open air submerged in its unique history and heritage. To sign up now contact fundraising@evertonfc.com for more information.

Participants must be aged 18+ and be in an appropriate medical and physical condition to take part. evertonfc.com

EVERTON

MANCHESTER CITY

Manager: Brian Sørensen

Manager: Gareth Taylor

Courtney Brosnan

Ellie Roebuck

Katrine Veje

Demi Stokes

Megan Campbell

Laia Aleixandri

Nathalie Bjorn

Alex Greenwood

Clare Wheeler

Steph Houghton

Justine Vanhaevermaet

Laura Coombs

Toni Duggan

Mary Fowler

Hanna Bennison

Chloe Kelly

Emma Bissell

Deyna Castellanos

Emily Ramsey

Lauren Hemp

Libby Hart

Filippa Angeldahl

Nicoline Sorensen

Esme Morgan

Lucy Hope

Leila Ouahabi

Martina Piemonte

Jess Park

Heather Payne

Kerstin Casparij

Megan Finnigan

Jill Roord

Aurora Galli

Khadija Shaw

Sara Holmgaard

Sandy MacIver

Katja Snoeijs

Yui Hasegawa

Elise Stenevik

Ruby Mace

Karen Holmgaard

Khiara Keating

Abby Clarke

Julie Blakstad

Annie Wilding

Alyssa Aherne

Karoline Olesen