Norwich City Women FC v AFC Wimbledon

city sunday, december 3, 2023

OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 2023/24

32 rooms, private bar, spa and restaurant Langham, Norfolk | theharper.co.uk

in this issue 5

NOTES FROM FLO

6

HEAD COACH NOTES

8

MATCH REPORT: BOLDMERE ST MICHAELS

10

MEET THE SQUAD

12

FEATURE INTERVIEW: KATIE KNIGHTS

17

OPPOSITION INFO

19

NORWICH CITY WOMEN NEWS

20

GET TO KNOW

21

2023/24 FIXTURES & RESULTS

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NOTES FROM FLO

notes from flo Good afternoon and a warm welcome back to The Nest for this afternoon’s fixture against AFC Wimbledon.

This season our FA Cup campaign encompassed both highs and lows, with the latter felt by all in attendance last Sunday. Although the team were disappointed to be knocked out of the FA Cup, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Boldmere St Michaels and wish them luck in the next round of the competition.

As we approach the festive period, we have collaborated with Home Instead and are asking fans to ‘Be a Santa’, donating gifts for older people this Christmas. The ‘Be a Santa’ scheme involves collecting gift donations to wrap and distribute to lonely, isolated older people in the community, who may not be seeing anyone this Christmas, or even receiving any cards or gifts. Upon your arrival to The Nest, you will find boxes located in the café area where you can place your gift donations, these will go a very long way amongst the local community.

Looking ahead to this afternoon’s fixture, the staff and players have prepared meticulously this week and are in good spirits ahead of the encounter with AFC Wimbledon. Today is our Junior Canaries takeover, an excellent opportunity for our junior fan base to experience a match at The Nest. There are some exciting activations that our Junior Canaries workforce have planned, including a visit from Captain Canary.

Enjoy the game and we look forward to welcoming you back to the Nest for our fixture on Sunday, December 17 against Chesham United.

OTBC 5

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COACH’S COMMENT

coach’s comment

This week’s catch-up with head coach Martin reflects on the end of our FA Cup journey, and looks ahead to today’s opponents in a top of the table clash. we learnt from Sunday and turn that into a positive result this weekend?

Not the result we would have wanted against Boldmere St Michaels, but we battled until the end. How do we pick ourselves up and come back fighting for our next fixture?

It should be a great occasion and one I hope the players can go and play with freedom. Our tagline for the season was improvement and growth; I feel we are on our way to doing both and I hope we can show that against Wimbledon. We will prepare ourselves as best we can for the game and really try to use the Boldmere game as fuel to light the fire.

The girls gave it their all. We are coming off the back of some gruelling games and I think it showed a little.

We fought hard and had some good chances and to concede so late was a real gut punch. Boldmere showed that they are fresh from Tier 3 and had some really good players, but we matched them for all of the game, even coming out on top at times. I think it shows you that if you switch off for even a split second it can cost you.

Wimbledon are a side that we have faced plenty of times over the last few seasons, with the results concluding fairly even. Regardless of the result, are you hoping for an entertaining fixture at The Nest?

How pleased are you for Ceri, netting her first goal this season and second ever goal for the club?

We hope that whatever the scoreline we can come out with our heads held high. We have been competitive in every game this season and I believe we will be again this Sunday. We are hoping for another bumper and loud crowd at The Nest, roaring us on to what we hope will be a good result for us.

Delighted for her. She has been a rock this season and has come back stronger than ever after her injury layoff. It’s great to see our defenders adding goals to the team and Ceri really deserved her goal.

This weekend’s fixture is one of our most anticipated of the season. How do we take what 7

MATCH REPORT

NORWICH CITY boldmere st michaels

1 2

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26 THE NEST Ceri Flye’s first-half equaliser wasn’t enough against Boldmere St Michael’s Women, as a late goal at The Nest sees Norwich City exit the Adobe Women’s FA Cup in the second round.

Neither goalkeeper had much to do in the first half, as both sides were restricted to shots from range and half-chances.

Philippa Wilson proved most dangerous for the visitors, poking just wide in the 16th minute, and having a second chance blocked in the 20th.

It was drama at the death on Sunday as a 96thminute strike saw Boldmere St Michael’s take victory over Martin Herdman’s side.

In the 33rd minute, the Mikes would get the breakthrough, as Jade Formaston headed home from a corner.

City got off to a bright start from the first whistle, looking to set an early tempo to the game.

Norwich wouldn’t be behind for long, however, as the concession spurred an immediate reaction from the women in yellow and green.

Inside 60 seconds, Ellie Smith was testing the St Michael’s defence after a mazy run into the box, earning a corner for her efforts.

8

MATCH REPORT

The Canaries would take just five minutes to respond from a corner of their own.

Boldmere asked questions from set-pieces late on but could do little to panic the veteran gloves of Sarah Quantrill.

Skipper Anna Larkins whipped a lovely corner from the right side met by Shannon Shaw, whose guided header fell perfectly into the path of an on-coming Flye for the equaliser.

Norwich could have won the game themselves in the 90th minute, as Smith found counterpart Natasha Snelling in a decent area, but the forward couldn’t direct the effort inside the post.

The second half would see even fewer chances for either side as a series of injury delays and robust defending from both brought a wariness to the game.

As the heavens opened to compound the cold, the game looked destined for extra-time, but in the 96th minute, the tricky Wilson would fire home to send Boldmere St Michael’s into the hat for the third round of the FA Cup.

Norwich’s first big chance of the second half came in the 72nd minute, as Smith once again wriggled her way into a dangerous area but failed to test Jodie Whiteman from a difficult shooting angle.

9

2023/24 SQUAD

norwich city women first team squad 2023/24 gk

gk

BRYONY

WILLIAMS

df

df

CHARDONNAY

JOHNSTON

df

CERI

FLYE

5

df

HOPE

STRAUSS

2

SUMMER

WARD

df

ANNA

LARKINS

12

NAOMI

COOPER

25

LIMAGE

3

26

CROFT 10

31

ALICE

PARKER

4

df

15

df

MARY

QUANTRILL

df

df

df

FELICITY

1

SARAH

JESS

HARPER

17

df

27

CHARLOTTE

PERNET

28

2023/24 SQUAD

mf

MILLIE

DAVISS

mf

ELLIE

SMITH

9

HAILES

REBECCA

RUSSELL

11

KATIE

KNIGHTS

mf

mf

LAUREN

mf

mf

19

ELOISE

MORRAN

mf

16

mf

20

LAUREN

TOMLINSON

8

FREYA

SYMONDS

18

mf

21

RACHEL

LAWRENCE

24

fw

MEGAN

TODD

fw

fw

NATASHA

SNELLING

10

KATHRYN

STANLEY

fw

14

SHANNON

SHAW 11

7

fw

22

OLIVIA

COOK

23

FEATURE INTERVIEW: KATIE KNIGHTS

feature interview:

katie knights

12

FEATURE INTERVIEW: KATIE KNIGHTS

Midfielder Katie Knights is this week’s feature interview, where she talks about her goals so far this season, healthy competition within the squad and today’s challenge against Wimbledon.

This is now your second season with the club. How are you finding life at Norwich City Women?

At the start of the season, I set myself a target to increase my league goals tally from last season, so luckily it hasn’t taken me too long to accomplish that! I played a little bit deeper last season before Eloise joined, so it’s exciting this year to be able to get up the pitch and support the attacks more often! I like to arrive on the edge of the box late for a pullback or to get on the end of second balls.

I think I settled in relatively quickly last season, it definitely helped because I knew a lot of the girls already! I think we are extremely lucky with the resources we have here - I love training at the Lotus Training Centre. This season we have the addition of Gill, who we can see on both training nights, and Will who is constantly pushing us on the strength and conditioning side of things. We also spend some time with Floss, who is our mindset coach, which I think has had a really positive effect on all of us. It’s also been fantastic working with Martin and adjusting to his style of play, especially when it’s high pressing, front footed football! I love being here, but I think my family love coming to support even more!

Both of your goals have been lovely finishes in front of goal. Can you describe that feeling after scoring each?

The goal against Ashford was probably the best I’ve scored in a while, plus I don’t think there’s many better feelings in football than scoring a goal at home! The noise the crowd can make at The Nest can be deafening at times, which is why I think it can be an intimidating place for away teams to come. The goal against Actonians was pure relief, as that was my first of the season, so I was really pleased to get off the mark.

You’ve netted twice so far in this campaign, already doubling your total from last season! Do you enjoy being more of a playmaker in matches or getting on the end of something in front of goal?

13

FEATURE INTERVIEW: KATIE KNIGHTS

We’ve had plenty of rotation in the squad this season, especially with all the cup outings. Would you say it’s nice for all of the squad to get their fair share of minutes on the pitch?

Kathryn is my sidekick, so it’s a really odd feeling with her not being around. She brings such positive energy, is such a massive character in the team and we all miss her already. She constantly pushes everyone to work hard and has a really good relationship with every single player on the team.

I wish her all the best on her new adventure… but come back soon please, Kathryn!

Every player in our squad is strong enough to push for a starting place in the team. I also think it’s important that we are adaptable; when we play three at the back we have to change personnel to accommodate this, and I think it’s worked really well so far. It’s good to keep the opposition guessing.

We suffered only our second loss of the season on Sunday, as we lost out to Boldmere St Michaels in the cup. Would you agree that this season, the losses have hit us harder, because they’re so few and far between, and have only been in the cup?

We said goodbye (temporarily) to Kathryn Stanley a couple of weeks back now. Like so many of the other girls, you were certainly close with her. How much is her voice and bubbly personality missed in the team?

The loss on Sunday certainly hit us all hard, we know we didn’t perform to our normal standards and were 14

FEATURE INTERVIEW: KATIE KNIGHTS

all disappointed to bow out of the FA Cup, especially after how hard we worked to get past Hashtag. However, we can now completely focus on our league campaign, which we are still unbeaten!

We face AFC Wimbledon this weekend, in arguably our toughest fixture so far this season. How do you and the rest of the team prepare for something like this and use our loss to pick ourselves up after last week?

We have to pick ourselves up quickly from the loss at the weekend. This is our most important game of the season so far, so we will train hard and get ourselves prepared for a battle. We always trust in Martin’s game plan, so I’m looking forward to seeing 15

how we will approach Wimbledon. It should be a great game!

Finally, we’ve grown the squad this season, with seven new additions in the summer and Charlotte and Holly joining more recently. How are they settling into the side?

I think the new additions have settled in brilliantly, with several of them regularly in the starting eleven. It’s been a great challenge for us all with the level of competition that’s in the squad now, it has definitely made everyone up their game. I think Charlotte has done brilliantly coming up from the 16’s, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of Holly when she’s back from injury. I think she will be up there in terms of speed.

OPPOSITION INFO

afc wimbledon

OVERVIEW This weekend we are back at The Nest for the second consecutive Sunday, welcoming top-of-the-table AFC Wimbledon.

The Dons have been flying this season, with nine wins out of ten and 27 points taken from a possible 27.

Their only points dropped this season came against Ashford Town in a 2-0 loss at home. Ashley Cheatley, a familiar face for Norwich City, was at the double for Town on the night.

17

Since then, Kevin Foster’s side have scored 37 goals, plus an extra seven in their opening two matches. Top scorer Ashlee Hinks has claimed 20 of those goals.

Similarly to City, Wimbledon’s FA Cup run came to an end last weekend, as they lost out 5-4 to Chatham Town away from home.

After finding themselves 4-1 down, the Dons clawed the score back to 4-4 in the 91st minute, but an injury time penalty followed and the game was put to bed.

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GET TO KNOW...

get to know...

4

alice parker

25

hope strauss

Place of birth

Norwich

Place of birth

Southend

Position

Left-back

Position

Centre-back

Preferred foot

Left

Preferred foot

Right

Age when started playing

Five years old

Age when started playing

11 years old

Previous clubs

West Ham, Wroxham

Previous clubs

Loughborough Lightning, Wroxham, Billericay

Roommate on away days

Ceri Flye

Roommate on away days

Felicity Limage

Favourite goal scored

My free-kick at Carrow Road

Footballing idol

Leah Williamson

Messi

Pre-match song of choice

Big City Lift by Mattafix

Favourite app

Twitter

Junkyard Market

Favourite holiday destination

What do you love most about Norwich as a city?

Italy

Favourite holiday destination

Cyprus

Footballing idol

2023/24 FIXTURES & RESULTS

FIXTURES & RESULTS DATE AUGUST SUN 20 SUN 27 SEPTEMBER SUN 3 TUE 5 SUN 10 SUN 17 SUN 24 OCTOBER SUN 1 SUN 8 SUN 22 SUN 29 NOVEMBER SUN 5 SUN 12 SUN 19 SUN 26 DECEMBER SUN 3 SUN 17 JANUARY SUN 7 SUN 14 SUN 28 FEBRUARY SUN 11 TUE 20 MARCH SUN 3 SUN 10 SUN 24 SUN 31 APRIL SUN 21 MAY SUN 5

OPPOSITION

FAWNL DIVISION ONE SOUTH EAST KO

A A

AFC SUDBURY CAMBRIDGE UNITED league cup

1-2 0-5

H A H H A

LONDON SEAWARD CAMBRIDGE CITY CAMBRIDGE UNITED HAYWARDS HEATH ACTONIANS

2-2 0-4 1-1 6-1 1-5

A A A A

AFC BOURNEMOUTH league cup QUEENS PARK RANGERS LONDON SEAWARD fa cup LONDON BEES league cup

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

H H A H

ASHFORD TOWN HASHTAG UNTED fa cup WORTHING BOLDMERE ST. MICHAELS fa cup

4-2 1-0 1-1 1-2

H H

AFC WIMBLEDON CHESHAM UNITED

14.00 14.00

A A H

LONDON SEAWARD CAMBRIDGE UNITED ACTONIANS

14.00 14.00 14.00

A H

HAYWARDS HEATH CAMBRIDGE CITY

14.00 19.45

A H H A

CHESHAM UNITED WORTHING QUEENS PARK RANGERS AFC WIMBLEDON

14.00 14.00 14.00 14.00

H

AFC SUDBURY

14.00

A

ASHFORD TOWN

14.00

AFC WIMBLEDON NORWICH CITY QPR CAMBRIDGE UNITED ASHFORD TOWN WORTHING LONDON SEAWARD ACTONIANS CHESHAM UNITED AFC SUDBURY CAMBRIDGE CITY HAYWARDS HEATH TOWN

*TABLES CORRECT AS OF 1/12/2023

21

p

w

d

l gd pts

10 9 10 10 9 9 10 10 8 10 9 10

9 6 6 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 1 1

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

1 30 0 17 4 5 2 4 2 8 3 8 4 3 5 -3 6 -12 6 -20 6 -18 9 -22

27 21 18 18 17 16 14 11 6 6 5 3

HEAD COACH: MARTIN HERDMAN 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16

BRYONY WILLIAMS CHARDONNAY JOHNSTON SUMMER WARD ALICE PARKER CERI FLYE MEGAN TODD MILLIE DAVISS ELLIE SMITH NATASHA SNELLING REBECCA RUSSELL ANNA LARKINS KATHRYN STANLEY NAOMI COOPER KATIE KNIGHTS

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 31 32

JESS HARPER FREYA SYMONDS LAUREN HAILES ELOISE MORRAN LAUREN TOMLINSON SHANNON SHAW OLIVIA COOK RACHEL LAWRENCE HOPE STRAUSS FELICITY LIMAGE MARY CROFT charlotte pernet SARAH QUANTRILL holly kennard