sunday, august 25, 2024
Live mobile insight. Simplified.
Proudly based in Aylsham, Norfolk, Sekura.id is a truly global mobile identity company replacing usernames and passwords and creating awesome logins using our tech and the superpower of the SIM card in any mobile device.
Like Angus, we’re a safe pair of hands: Sekura.id prevents identity fraud, seamlessly and securely with live insight from over 75 mobile network operators and the SIM card in the phones of +2.5 billion people on six continents.
That’s over 92,000 full-capacity Carrow Road crowds, and growing very fast, covered in real-time by Sekura.id during secure, friction-free logins and transactions across banking, insurance, gaming, crypto, retail, ecommerce and more.
Welcome back, Angus.
We will continue to work incredibly hard to continue to build on the growth and development of our women’s football programme
Good afternoon and welcome to The Nest for today’s FA Women’s National League fixture against Cambridge United.
Since we last played a competitive fixture at The Nest we have welcomed Andy Cook as our full-time women’s team head coach. Andy’s experience, track record and motivation towards player development stood out throughout the extensive recruitment process. We also welcomed Jake Jessup to the coaching team, who will take up the position of goalkeeper coach, vacated by Nathan Pauling. Jake will also act as an assistant coach for Andy, alongside Ethan Scott.
I would like to take this opportunity to place on record our thanks to the players who have departed the club: Alice Parker, Anna Larkins, Summer Ward, Kathryn Stanley, Rachel Lawrence, Mary Croft, Rebecca Russell, Jess Harper, Felicity Limage and Naomi Cooper. All players depart the club with our best wishes, and we thank them for their commitment throughout their time at the club.
As a club we were delighted to strengthen the squad over the summer with six summer signings. Sienna Booty, Lara Densley, Issy Moore and Jess Barnes are products of our girls’ academy, whilst Tamsin Medd-Gill joins from Plymouth Argyle and Ella Powell from Loughborough Lightning. All six players bring different qualities to the squad and have settled well into the first team environment.
As a club we will continue to work incredibly hard to continue to build on the growth and development of our women’s football programme this season. Please enjoy this afternoon’s fixture and please get behind your City team.
OTBC.
Andy Cook
This team and group of players are brilliant.
Head coach Andy Cook took time to reflect on last weekend’s 2024/25 season opener against Dulwich Hamlet and spoke about the excitement around playing at The Nest for the first time.
We started the season as we mean to go on with three points against Dulwich Hamlet. Just give me some brief thoughts on the game, now that you’ve had time to reflect?
We played well in parts of the game and Dulwich made it tough for us. Having looked back at the game, what’s pleasing for me is how we reacted to the first goal against. It was very much “no problem, let’s go and get at them” and we scored very quickly. The way we battled to get two goals ahead is exactly what I’m after. We have looked at what needs improvement and that’s a great place to be right now.
You yourself have played at stadiums with thousands of fans present before, but it was pretty noisy from the home fans on Sunday, something that the girls won’t be used to. What did you say to them to keep them calm?
I didn’t even mention it, the crowd is always something that can be a factor. For me, in life you have to live through things, and the players lived that this past weekend. We are better for it now and that’s called experience. Now, when you walk out in front of 20/30,000 you have to act like you’ve always been there and you’re ready for it. That’s the secret when you’re nervous and anxious; think ahead of how you will act in those moments and you’ll trick yourself into actually doing it.
This weekend will be your first game in charge at The Nest, how are you feeling ahead of the game?
I can’t wait to get to The Nest and play, I’ve been a few times now. It’s a fantastic facility to have so I’m hopeful we have good crowd, we put on a good show for them and repay them with a performance and a win that will send them home happy, ready for the bank holiday!
Finally, you’ve had all of pre-season to get to know the squad and a variety of starting 11s, but we have so much talent and a great depth of squad, do you find that makes it harder for you each week making your team selection?
I don’t have a favoured 11, we have a squad who can all play, they all have to play their part and I’ve always said pre-season is the best time to get to know your team. I’ve not upset anyone by leaving them out, I had to last weekend and I will this weekend and that’s the hardest part of the job. But, we do it with respect to the players and they know they can come and ask me anything. This team and group of players are brilliant and I’ve loved working with them and this will only get better as they get to know me and vice versa, the further we work this season.
Dulwich Hamlet Women 2 Norwich City Women 3
City got their league campaign off to a winning start with a 3-2 victory on the road against newly-promoted Dulwich Hamlet Women.
The hosts initially took the lead after 25 minutes, but an immediate equaliser from Shannon Shaw, a penalty from Hope Strauss and an insurance goal from Ellie Smith sealed the win.
A towering header from a corner provided a consolation goal five minutes from time for Dulwich Hamlet to end a lively second half.
Head coach Andy Cook made five changes to his starting 11 from the final pre-season fixture of the summer schedule, bringing back Sarah Quantrill in goal, who was pulled out of last week's line-up against Royston Town with a late injury.
The hosts were carrying momentum from last season's London and South East Regional Women's Premier Division title win, and had a boisterous crowd at Champion Hill.
It was Tamsin Medd-Gill for the Canaries who would test the opposition first, finding the crossbar inside two minutes from a Freya Symonds free-kick, with Natasha Snelling poised at the rebound, only to flick behind for a goal kick.
A free-kick from Lily Price kept City on alert, as she managed to hit the post from 30 yards out just after 10 minutes.
Ella Powell managed a shot on target with a strong header on the edge of the area, but the Hamlet stopper Saskia Reeves-Priestly was there to collect.
The Blues would be first to break the deadlock though, as an initial save from Quantrill wasn't tipped away far enough from Lucy Monkman, who latched on to the ball and poked home for 1-0.
It took all of one minute for City to find an equaliser, as a free-kick into the area found the head of Shaw, who nodded in from close range.
A double save from Quantrill kept the score level just another minute later, as she punched away two efforts from a blue shirt in quick succession.
The second half opened with much of the same pressing from the Canaries, but not enough end product in the box to challenge the Hamlets for a second.
Price had another go from the edge of the area for the hosts, but her effort went high over the target.
Just before the hour mark, City were awarded a penalty for a poor tackle on Smith in the area, allowing Strauss to step up and convert from the spot.
The centre-back maintained her 100 per cent record for penalties, scoring her sixth out of six for Norwich City.
The first changes for City saw Issy Moore and Lara Densley introduced for their debuts, with Moore immediately in on the action with a shot from inside the area, but Reeves-Priestly stood strong to save.
Shortly after, Smith extended City's lead, making an interception in a dangerous area and turning to find the bottom corner for Norwich's third.
The hosts claimed one back with five minutes to go through Asia Harbour-Brown, keeping the game close until the end, but the Canaries claimed all three points on the opening day.
LaRa dEnsLEy natasHa snELLIng
LauREn tOMLInsOn
FREya syMOnds ELLa POwELL
sIEnna bOOty
LauREn HaILEs sHannOn sHaw
HOLLy kEnnaRd
IsabELLE MOORE OLIvIa COOk
Feature interview
Olivia Cook
Olivia Cook
Olivia Cook is the first feature interview of the 2024/25 season, as she discusses pre-season, the feeling around the squad and looking ahead to next week’s cup game against Ipswich Town.
You’ve had plenty of minutes in pre-season and netted twice, are you feeling confident and fully fit for the season ahead, on a personal level?
I’ve really enjoyed pre-season this year. I think the intensity and the work rate from myself and all the girls has been really good. On a personal level, I’m feeling really confident and fit for this season, we all have the same goal that we want to achieve and I know the work and determination I need to put in to be able to help us achieve it. It’s always a nice confidence boost to score a couple of goals in pre-season and to then focus on specific areas to improve on personally.
We started the season off strong with a good win against Dulwich Hamlet, just summarise that game for us?
I think it was a good game for the girls. It shows the determination, work rate and the mindset we have as a team to make sure we get all three points. They were a strong side with a strong crowd who played as a twelfth player for them and pushed them on until the end of the game. Andy said he doesn’t expect us to be at our best yet, but it just shows that we are ready for this season and we will work hard to get three points in every game we play with everyone giving their all to have an impact, whether that’s the starting 11 or the substitutes.
You weren’t involved in the game but travelled the long journey with the squad. How important is it that even when not involved, everyone has a role on a matchday?
I think it’s very important. I’d never miss a game for this team, whether that’s playing or
norwich city v ipswich town
thursday, august 29 (7.45pm)
TICKETS
adults £6 concessions (65+ & u18) £3 u12s £1
hospitality £50
Two-course meal in The Legends Matchday Club, with premium padded seating in the South Stand.
junior squad experience (For 14 children) £520
Visit tickets.canaries.co.uk or
Click here to buy
watching from the sidelines. I think everyone has an impact on the squad and it’s important that we always stand by each other and push each other on no matter what. I think that it just shows how together we are as a team, that if you’re involved in the 16 or not, everyone feels like they have a role or part to play, and I know the girls really appreciate it.
We’ve had a little shuffle around in the squad this season, with a few outgoings and a few in, what was the feeling in the squad like pre-season?
The feeling during pre-season was good, everyone came in after the off-season fit after working hard on their own programmes, which gave us the best chance to start pre-season the right way. Obviously, it’s never nice to see anyone leave but I feel like the new signings have really made an impact on this team and we feel like they’ve been here for a while already.
How are the new players, especially those younger ones, settling in?
They’ve settled in really well! I think they all have their own qualities that they bring to the team which just make us stronger. They still have the same goals as us, they’ve come in to women’s football really strong and they just clicked with how we play straight away!
How has Andy adapted to life at Norwich City so far as head coach?
I feel Andy has settled in really well, some of us went to meet him a bit earlier just to speak to him about specific things we wanted to ask, for example his style of play, and he was really open with us about what we wanted from us and what we can expect from him. He really drives us forward as a team and comes around to speak to us individually about certain things that would help us within our positions. I feel
We want to be pushed and we always want to perform to a high standard.
like he’s really helped me on a personal level throughout pre season to gain confidence back in how I play, and also to help me improve on certain parts of my game really well.
Promotion is the word on everyone’s mind, but how has Andy asked you all to approach the season?
I feel like we all just go into every game giving everything to bring back three points and nothing less. We are all on the same page in the team and coaching staff that we want to be pushed and we always want to perform to a high standard and I feel like Andy really helps us with this.
We’ve got a big game at Carrow Road coming up, what is the feeling around the squad when we play on the big stage?
Obviously playing at Carrow Road again is a real positive for the women’s team and all of us look forward to games there, however, we just go into it like it’s another game and we just focus on what needs to happen and how we need to play.
With it being Ipswich we play against, does that make it even more exciting or are you treating it as just another game?
Obviously it’s going to be a good challenge playing against Ipswich, as they’re a Tier 3 side and it will give us a taste of what that league above can bring, but we just go into it sticking to our game plan and making sure we are putting in the work before training. It’s just another game for us and that’s how the squad will see it.
Opposition Overview: Cambridge United
This afternoon we welcome Cambridge United to The Nest in our first home game of the 2024/25 season.
The U’s opened their season last weekend with a 1-0 loss to Actonians on home turf, Dior Knorr scoring the only goal in the first half.
Last season saw Darren Marjoram’s side finish seventh in the table on 31 points, with eight wins, seven draws and seven losses.
City’s last home game against United was hosted in front of 5,000 fans at Carrow Road, ending in a 1-1 draw thanks to Megan Todd’s equalising penalty.
Norwich have faced United 18 times since 2014, resulting in nine wins for the Canaries, seven wins for Cambridge and two draws between the two sides.
Ceri Flye
Place of birth
Tamsin Medd-Gill
5 12
Bury St Edmunds
Position
Centre-back
Nickname
Cezza
First pair of boots
Adidas
Favourite food
Roast dinner
Favourite drink
Fanta Fruit Twist
First choice of snack
Protein bar
Last thing you do in the dressing room before a match
Watch Tash dance with a broom
Pre-match song of choice
Can’t hold us by Macklemore
Who do you sit next to on the bus to away games?
Sarah Quantrill
Best football match you’ve ever watched
Liverpool 4-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final
Last holiday destination you visited
Madeira
Place of birth
Truro
Position
Centre-midfielder or full-back
Nickname
Tams
First pair of boots
Umbros
Favourite food
Pizza
Favourite drink
Cup of tea
First choice of snack
Flapjack
Last thing you do in the dressing room before a match
Put my shinpads on
Pre-match song of choice
Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
Who do you sit next to on the bus to away games?
By myself
Best football match you’ve ever watched
Liverpool 4-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final
Last holiday destination you visited Lanzarote
Norwich City Women make six new signings Tamsin
Norwich City Women have started their summer off with six new signings for the 2024/25 season.
Tamsin Medd-Gill joins the Canaries from Plymouth Argyle, having played in Tier 3 with the Pilgrims as a central midfielder during the 2023/24 season.
Her first stint with Argyle came between the ages of 16 and 18, before she moved to the United States for a scholarship with Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia. Medd-Gill, 23, also completed a BS in Sports Management during her time overseas.
Sixteen-year-old Sienna Booty graduated from the club’s Academy Development Pathway (ADP) at the end of the 2022/23 season, and now moves into senior football for the first time with Norwich City Women.
Booty will take up a place in midfield, preferring a central role on the pitch.
Another player making the step up into women’s football is Issy Moore, also just 16 years old. She too has been part of Norwich City’s academy system, playing there for nine years after joining at age seven.
The central midfielder also played an important part in Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers promotion to Tier 5 during the 2023/24 season, scoring eight goals in 11 appearances.
Lara Densley is the fourth and final signing, making a move from Wroxham where she played as a winger for two seasons.
Ella Lara
Jess
Densley is no stranger to the Canaries, having been part of the academy set-up from 2020 to 2022 and also making up part of the opposition who played City in the final of the Harrod Sport Women’s Cup in May earlier this year.
Powell, 21, is an attacker joining from Loughborough Lightning, having spent three seasons with the Midlands side, who just missed out on promotion to the Southern Premier Division in the 2023/24 season.
Her previous clubs include Leicester City Girls’ Regional Talent Club (RTC) and Birmingham City Under-21s.
The final recruitment of the summer is 16-year-old Jess Barnes, who will be dual signed with Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers Women for the 2024/25 season.
Barnes signed with Rovers at the start of the 2023/24 season, helping the side achieve promotion in her 16 appearances.
The centre-back will remain signed and committed with Dussindale and Hellesdon during her dual registration with Norwich City, using the collaboration with the Canaries as an opportunity to support her player development via training sessions.
Like many of this season’s new recruits, she graduated from Norwich City’s Academy Development Programme, having joined at age eight.
The 16-year-old has previously played with Costessey Girls, as well as Sprowston Boys and Girls teams.
Visit nuffieldhealth.com/book-a-tour to
or
.
We’re dedicated to building a healthier nation through our network of hospitals and fitness and wellbeing centres across the UK. For supporters of Norwich City FC you’ll find everything you need at Norwich Fitness & Wellbeing Centre – cutting edge equipment, supportive personal trainers, swimming pool and a full range of classes. Away
captain
#7 MEgan tOdd
Norwich City Women are delighted to announce Megan Todd as the club captain for the 2024/25 season.
Todd takes on the role following the retirement of Anna Larkins at the conclusion of the 2023/24 campaign, who held the title for two seasons.
City's number seven has been a part of the club since 2018, amounting 76 appearances for the Canaries and 25 goals for the club.
On being appointed club captain, she said: "I feel very honoured to be club captain for Norwich, I love the club.
"I will wear the armband with pride and give all I can to help this club get promoted this season."
Head of women's football, Flo Allen, said: "Megan is an exceptional role model and leader both on and off the pitch, always conducting herself to the highest of standards. Her
passion and commitment to the football club is reflective in her desire to support the team.
"When Andy and I reviewed all the requirements of what it takes to make a well-versed club captain, Megan ticked all the boxes with her leadership qualities, and we are delighted to name her as club captain."
Head coach Andy Cook added: "Since I joined the club, Megan has been at the forefront of my thoughts for this role.
"She has shown all the qualities we want from a club captain with her skills, experience and ability, so speaking with Flo, we are completely on the same page.
"Megan was delighted when we spoke to her and this can be seen in her pride when she speaks about Norwich and what the club means to her. She truly understands what it means to play for the great club."
HEad cOacH: andy cOOk
saRaH quantRILL
CHaRdOnnay jOHnstOn
CERI FLyE
ELOIsE MORRan
MEgan tOdd
MILLIE davIss
ELLIE sMItH natasHa snELLIng
ELLa
katIE knIgHts
LaRa dEnsLEy
FREya syMOnds
LauREn HaILEs
Issy MOORE
LauREn tOMLInsOn
sHannOn sHaw
OLIvIa COOk
jEss baRnEs
HOPE stRauss
sIEnna bOOty
CHaRLOttE PERnEt
HOLLy kEnnaRd
LOCkER