Norwich City Women FC v Ashford Town

city sunday, november 5, 2023

OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 2023/24

202 3/24

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in this issue 5

NOTES FROM FLO

6

HEAD COACH NOTES

9

MATCH REPORT: LONDON BEES

10

MEET THE SQUAD

12

FEATURE INTERVIEW: SHANNON SHAW

17

OPPOSITION INFO

18

NEW SIGNINGS

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 today’s fixture against Ashford Town.

After consecutive away trips for the players and coaching team they are relishing the opportunity to play at home in front of our incredible supporters at The Nest once again. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our supporters that have travelled up and down the country over the last few weeks to support the team away from home.

future endeavours. This is also an opportune moment to wish Summer Ward (Needham Market) and Bryony Williams (Wroxham) good luck as they have completed dual-registration agreements with Eastern Region sides. Finally, a warm welcome must go to Holly Kennard, Holly joins us from fellow FA WNL side AFC Sudbury.

Since we last played at The Nest, Jodie Drake announced her retirement from football after 14 seasons with the club. Jodie is a player who has shown unquestionable commitment and loyalty to the club and we wish her all the best with her

As we turn our attentions to the game today, we hope to have a positive result that can be celebrated by all upon the final whistle.

OTBC. 5

COACH’S COMMENT

coach’s comment Head coach Martin Herdman looked back at the progress made by the squad this season and talked through Sunday’s cup defeat against London Bees.

We spoke about the cup result after the game but having had more time to reflect, what do you think our downfall was on the day?

Although it was our first loss of the season, we are still unbeaten in the league. How are you keeping morale high this week in the team?

We came up against higher opposition who have played at Championship level with many players who have experience at that top level.

Just move on. We will reflect and look at some footage but move straight on to the Ashford game and align all our efforts to that in the way we always do. I’m excited to see how we bounce back from this.

Although it was disappointing to lose, we certainly won’t be too down about it. The League Cup was always a bonus and chance to try different things in terms of tactics and personnel.

We’re back home after five straight away games – how excited are you to be back at The Nest?

6

COACH’S COMMENT

Since we last spoke, we have signed Charlotte Pernet from our player pathway and Holly Kennard from AFC Sudbury. What are you hoping each individual brings to the side?

It’s been a gruelling spell - including pre-season, we have played 10 of 13 games away from home. I think we are all excited to have our fans and familiar surroundings for once. This is a big game, and we will need our fans to shout us on as they always do. A massive credit to those fans who have also followed us on our away trips too, it doesn’t go unnoticed.

Charlotte is a credit to our pathway, at the young age of 16 she has already made her debut which is fantastic and I’m sure she will get more opportunities in the future as she learns how we play tactically and learns the league and surroundings.

Ashford have proven to be a top side this season and will give us a good game. How can we take our learnings from Sunday’s defeat and our matches last season against Town?

Holly has played women’s football for some time with bags of goals, assists and Player of the Match awards already. She brings a great work ethic as well as pace and dynamism, which is much needed at this level of the game in attacking areas.

Ashford are an excellent team. They are the only team to have taken points off the promotion favourites AFC Wimbledon this season. We will have to be at our best on the day and we will do everything we can to take the points.

7

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MATCH REPORT

Anna Larkins made an important interception in a dangerous area just before the half-hour mark and steadied the pace of the attack coming Norwich’s way.

City found themselves chasing shadows and having to make only reactive plays for the most part of the first 45 and they were punished with just four minutes of the half remaining.

The Bees, who had been making great use of the right wing, went ahead through Kayla Potter, whose perfectly placed strike looped over Sarah Quantrill, hit the bar and crossed the goal line.

LONDON BEES NORWICH CITY

2 0

The second half substitutions brought new energy to the side that the Canaries needed, with Alice Parker working the wing with Rachel Lawrence well.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29 HIVE STADIUM

Ceri Flye made an excellent interception in the box to prevent a second goal for the hosts with 20 minutes to go.

The Canaries’ impressive unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end on Sunday, following a 2-0 defeat in the League Cup to London Bees.

Flye came to the rescue again just minutes after as she protected the ball in the six-yard box and allowed Quantrill to clear to safety.

Martin Herdman made five changes from Norwich’s 3-1 win over London Seaward in the FA Cup in the previous week, bringing in Millie Daviss, Olivia Cook, Kathryn Stanley, Ceri Flye and Ellie Smith.

With just five minutes to go, the game looked to be wrapped up for the Bees, as a long distance effort from Abbie Bensted caught Quantrill out and found the back of the net to make it 2-0.

Hope Strauss was moved further up the pitch from her usual position and took on the role of central defensive midfielder.

City didn’t let their heads drop and kept up the attack in the final minutes of the match, as substitute Jess Harper came close with a free-kick on the edge of the box, but Amber Webber was there to get a hand to it.

The match opened fairly end-to-end, with neither side able to test the opposition keepers, but the Bees had the first shot, as Taylor O’Leary went for goal, but couldn’t find the target.

Megan Todd also had a go from a tight angle on the right but her effort could only rattle the post.

Stanley played a lovely ball through to Shannon Shaw up top, but the striker was just short and Webber collected.

Injury time saw no last-minute luck for the Canaries and the only action was a sin bin for Ellie Smith.

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: SHANNON SHAW

feature interview:

shannon shaw

12

FEATURE INTERVIEW: SHANNON SHAW

Striker Shannon Shaw was one of seven new signings to join the Canaries in the summer of 2023, having been at Cambridge City for a number of seasons. The number 22 has three goals to her name so far this season and is hoping to develop her game over the course of the 2023/24 campaign.

You’ve been at Norwich City now for nearly three months, how have you found you have settled in?

You’ve certainly found your feet in front of goal when given the opportunity, with three goals already and (I’m sure) plenty more to come. Who have you found on the pitch works best with your playing style?

I was saying to the girls the other day how it feels like I’ve been at the club for years already, I can’t believe it’s only been three months! The experience so far has been incredible, and they are such a good bunch of girls that have really made me feel at home.

Honestly, I’ve really enjoyed playing alongside all the girls so far! I think based on our results it’s clear that we are all willing to work hard and fight for each other which is important. The best thing for me is that assists and goals come from all across the pitch in this squad, from Larkins’ and Cook’s assists at Cambridge United to Tomlinson’s long throw at Seaward. Hoping to get another opportunity to sit alongside Snelling this season too!

For you, what helped make the decision to move from Cambridge City across to the Canaries?

After my first training session with Norwich City, I knew I wanted to be a part of this club. Since the ability level across the team is so consistently high, the competition, and commitment from everyone really drives you on to develop as a player. Not to mention the level of professionalism that Norwich City brings as a club. We are very lucky to have access to such amazing facilities, coaches, staff, support systems, etc, all of which made the decision a very easy one.

Have you had to adapt your playing style much with Martin in charge?

I think you always have to adapt when joining a new club; firstly to the team’s playing style and of course to how the manager prefers to play. Martin has made it 13

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FEATURE INTERVIEW: SHANNON SHAW

very easy to adapt, bringing a clear vision of how he wants us to play. It’s a little different to how I have played previously, which is good because it adds layers to your game.

We suffered our first defeat of the season last week, where we were knocked out of the cup to Southern Premier side London Bees. Although it still means we are unbeaten in the league, how does the team stay positive and move forward from that fixture?

I don’t think any of us expected the unbeaten streak to last forever, so it’s kind of a blessing in disguise that it happened sooner rather than later. We can learn a lot from defeat which helps us to improve and focus on the league, which is our main priority.

We’ve only played at The Nest twice so far this season, so are you excited to be back in front of our home crowd, especially after five away games on the spin?

Although I have enjoyed the many hours we’ve all spent together on the team bus, I don’t think I’m alone in saying I’m super excited to be back at home! Our travelling 15

fans have been amazing, but it will be great to hear the crowd back together at The Nest cheering us on again.

Having played in Division One South East for a few seasons now, what do you think Norwich have to do to keep themselves in the running as a top team in this league?

I would say, keep doing what we are doing, plus a little more! I think we have to keep trusting the process and working hard. It might come down to goal difference at the end of the season, so plenty of goals should do the trick! We are taking each game as it comes so, after last week’s defeat, we’re ready to continue our unbeaten streak and hopefully get a win in front of the home crowd.

What are your personal goals for the season with Norwich City Women?

As I said, I want to keep adding different layers to my game as a forward. While goals are important as a striker, for me it’s about taking every opportunity given to me in this first season at Norwich and hopefully becoming an established player within this impressive squad.

OPPOSITION INFO

ASHFORD TOWN

OVERVIEW This weekend we welcome Ashford Town to the Nest in only our third fixture here in the 2023/24 season.

Their 2023/24 campaign has started well, with four wins, two draws and just two losses.

Similarly, to the Canaries, the Tangerines recently saw a formal integration into their men’s first team at the end of the 2022/23 season.

Adam Frailing’s squad are the only Division One South East side to take points from league leaders AFC Wimbledon, where they scored twice away from home.

Last season also saw Town be one of the first women’s teams to play at Carrow Road in the League for some years, as the Canaries battled it out for a 5-3 win over Ashford.

Alissa Down is the club’s top scorer, with six goals to her name this season, just one goal behind City top scorers Megan Todd and Natasha Snelling.

17

NEW SIGNINGS

new signings:

Charlotte pernet and holly kennard Pernet made her debut for the club against AFC Bournemouth in round one of the League Cup, come on for extra time and helping the side through to the next round.

Norwich City Women were delighted to welcome two new signings Charlotte Pernet and Holly Kennard over the last two months.

Pernet is the second player in a year to make the transition from the club’s player pathway into the senior team.

Kennard was part of the 2022/23 promotion-winning side and has since made seven appearances for the Suds this season, scoring twice.

The 16-year-old will join Martin Herdman’s set-up as a right-back or central defensive midfielder, whilst her playing style is described as creative and effective.

The 18-year-old was also voted for as the Opposition Player of the match by the Canaries, in Norwich City's dramatic 2-1 win over Sudbury in the first game of the season.

She joined the Foundation at age nine, moving into the Under-10s age group as part of the Academy Development Programme.

She picked up the same award in five of her other six fixtures for the club.

She said: “Having been part of the academy pathway since Under-10 age, I already knew some of the squad, but all of the girls and coaches have made me feel so welcome.

The winger, who will don the number 32 shirt, said upon signing: "It's a really good feeling, my family are very happy. My grandad is a Norwich supporter, so he was really pleased.”

“I’m really looking forward to my future with this team."

18

THANK YOU JODIE

thank you

jodie

Norwich City Women would like to place on record a huge thank you to Jodie Drake who has made the decision to step down from the club and retire from football to spend time with her family.

missed on the team. We wish her all the very best in the future and hope to see her and her family regularly at The Nest.

There will be an on-pitch presentation for Jodie taking place before kick-off at today’s fixture.

After 14 fantastic seasons as a Yellow, she has played a huge part in countless cup wins and will be hugely 19

GET TO KNOW...

get to know...

12

anna larkins

14

kathryn stanley

Place of birth

Gorleston

Place of birth

Great Dunmow

Position

Full-back

Position

Left forward

Preferred foot

Left

Previous clubs

Dunmow Rhodes, Colchester, Bishop Stortford

Previous clubs

Wroxham, Acle, Lowestoft

Job

PE teacher

Age when started playing

10

Age when started playing

5

Roommate on away days

Naomi Cooper

Footballing idol

Alessia Russo

Favourite sport that isn’t football

Table tennis

Favourite sport that isn’t football

American Football

Footballing idol

Adam Drury

Favourite holiday destination

French Alps

Favourite food

Bread and butter

Favourite food

Nandos

Favourite film

The Holiday

Favourite film

The Greatest Showman

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 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

ASHFORD TOWN HASHTAG UNTED fa cup WORTHING

14.00 13.00 14.00

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

*TABLES CORRECT AS OF 3/11/2023

21

p

w

d

l gd pts

8 7 7 8 7 8 9 7 7 8 8 8

7 5 5 4 4 4 3 2 2 1 1 0

0 2 0 3 2 0 2 2 0 3 0 2

1 25 0 15 2 9 1 2 1 9 4 0 4 0 3 -2 5 -9 4 -10 7 -17 6 -22

21 17 15 15 14 12 11 8 6 6 3 2

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