Norwich City Women FC v Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers

city sunday, february 18, 2024

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: LONDON SEAWARD

10

MEET THE SQUAD

12

FEATURE INTERVIEW: HOPE STRAUSS

17

OPPOSITION INFO

22

GET TO KNOW

23

2023/24 FIXTURES & RESULTS

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NOTES FROM FLO

notes from flo Today we welcome back tier six side Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers to The Nest for the quarter-final of the Harrod Sport Women’s Cup 2024. It is great to host a local team and showcase how fantastic the football in Norfolk can be to watch.

shirt sponsors printed in pride colours to show our support for LGBT+ History Month. We’d like to thank our partners Sekura, Eleven Sports Media and The Harper Hotel for their support on this initiative.

It’s been a challenging first few weeks of the year with only two results to celebrate so far, but the team are ready to get back into the swing of things after a week out of action.

Lastly, I’d like to thank our fans for their support with our upcoming Carrow Road fixture against QPR on Sunday, March 24. We recently hit the 2,000 ticket milestone, so let’s keep pushing and get as many of you there as possible.

Alongside the men’s team, this weekend will see our

Enjoy today’s game and OTBC! 5

COACH’S COMMENT

coach’s comment

Head coach Martin Herdman gave his thoughts ahead of this weekend’s Harrod Sport County Cup fixture.

The mood is good, really strong in the camp, with obviously a little bit of frustration around the cancelled games. We’ve had a bumpy start to the year in that respect, but I think we’re just raring to go against the next team we play.

things right and to put all the stuff that we’ve been working on behind the scenes into action in terms of managing momentum.

It’s tough to manage momentum without games; games bring momentum; but we’ve been working on high intensity training, lots of analysis work, lots of strategic work behind the scenes and then we just hope we can start to build momentum against Dussindale, through to our March games.

We’re ready to go and preparing as normal for Dussindale and Hellesdon and then in the league against Haywards Heath.

The girls have got to just channel their frustrations; we have a great opportunity in the county cup to put

We had a real clear plan for three games against 6

COACH’S COMMENT

exciting. It’s a new team to play, a new team to plan for, we know some of their threats.

Haywards Heath, Dussindale and Cambridge City, which has now all been scrapped and thrown up in the air. So, in terms or rotation, there won’t be as much as we’d like, getting players minutes and giving other players opportunities.

Izzy Moore is part of the pathway here, so we know she’s a good player and Jess Barnes as well, so there are some good players in that team and we certainly won’t be taking them lightly.

We’ve got a strong squad, so if there is some rotation it’s not the end of the world, we would still be able to get a very strong team out.

This time of the season is a funny time for injuries, especially when you’re going without games as well, you then go into games and we get a few little knocks and niggles.

With every team comes unpredictability, but I believe we’ve just got to manage ourselves today.

We’re a strong tier four team running for a title and Dussindale are a good team at the top of their league in tier six, but we won’t underestimate them.

We will prepare as we always do we hope for a good result but that unpredictability makes it quite

Chardonnay is doing really well and she’s coming back strong. She’s in the pool at the Lotus Training Centre and almost heading into some pitch work, which is really exciting for her and for us.

7

MATCH REPORT

london seaward 1 NORWICH CITY 2 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4 LAWTECH STADIUM Norwich City Women maintained their unbeaten league run with a narrow victory over a formidable London Seaward on Sunday, February 4.

celebration, but her joy was short-lived as the goal was ruled out for offside.

A late venue change saw the Canaries travel to Barking FC’s Lawtech Stadium on Sunday.

The visitors would eventually get their breakthrough moments later through the familiar face of Smith, who is enjoying a flying start to the calendar year.

After minor disruptions, the game was finally able to get underway 30 minutes later than scheduled, with the visitors looking liveliest.

The attacker read a wayward pass out the back from Ginn and calmly took it around the helpless keeper to roll the ball home.

Both keepers were well-tested inside 10 minutes.

The goal seemed to dampen the game, deflating the home side, and making it comfortable for the commanding Canaries.

The first chance fell to the in-form Ellie Smith, but Tia Ginn was alert and equal to the early chance.

Sarah Quantrill was then called into action, getting off the mark quickly to smother Sam Lanza’s chance.

After 20 minutes of little to write home about, the game burst back into life with five minutes to play in the first half.

In the ninth minute, Norwich looked set to celebrate the opener as Rachel Lawrence wheeled away in

In the 41st minute, Lawrence found herself in some space on the right flank.

8

MATCH REPORT

The winger beat her opponent with some lovely feet and a good turn of pace before finding the head of Natasha Snelling with an inch-perfect cross for City’s second.

a handful of occasions but largely from speculative efforts and few clear-cut chances.

Lawrence continued to be Norwich’s bright spark, winning her individual battles and getting shots off with frequency, but couldn’t get close to restoring the two-goal cushion.

The Canaries looked to head into the half with a comfortable two-goal cushion, but Seaward had other ideas.

With fewer than 90 seconds left to play in the first half, Katherine Long found herself with time and space on the edge of the area before picking out the top corner to claw one back for the hosts.

As the game fizzled out, London Seaward became increasingly impatient, letting fly at every opportunity late on.

The second half was a cagey affair from minute 46 to the final whistle.

In the 90th minute, the hosts went alarmingly close with a half-volley from distance that Quantrill had to get a strong glove to, assuring the three points on the road.

Both Quantrill and Ginn were brought into action on 9

2023/24 SQUAD

norwich city women first team squad 2023/24 gk

SARAH

QUANTRILL

JOHNSTON

df

CERI

FLYE

5

df

HOPE

STRAUSS

2

SUMMER

WARD

df

ANNA

LARKINS

12

NAOMI

COOPER

25

LIMAGE

3

26

CROFT 10

LOCKER

33

ALICE

PARKER

4

df

15

df

MARY

AMBER

df

df

df

FELICITY

31

df

df

CHARDONNAY

gk

JESS

HARPER

17

df

27

CHARLOTTE

PERNET

28

2023/24 SQUAD

mf

MILLIE

DAVISS

mf

mf

REBECCA

RUSSELL

11

mf

ELOISE

MORRAN

KATIE

KNIGHTS

20

TOMLINSON

8

16

FREYA

SYMONDS

21

ELLIE

SMITH

18

LAUREN

HAILES

mf

mf

RACHEL

HOLLY

LAWRENCE

9

mf

mf

mf

LAUREN

mf

24

KENNARD

19

32

fw

MEGAN

TODD

fw

fw

NATASHA

SNELLING

10

KATHRYN

STANLEY

fw

14

SHANNON

SHAW 11

7

fw

22

OLIVIA

COOK

23

FEATURE INTERVIEW: HOPE STRAUSS

feature interview:

hope strauss

12

FEATURE INTERVIEW: HOPE STRAUSS

Hope Strauss joins us for this week’s feature interview to preview today’s cup game and talks about scoring her first Norwich City goal as well as what it’s like playing with her defensive back line.

This is your first taste of county cup action with Norwich, how are you feeling ahead of the game?

Now that we are at the half-way point of the season, let’s start with a brief look over your time with Norwich City so far - how have you found you’ve settled in at the club?

I’m feeling excited. Obviously, there’s always a good energy when it comes to the county cup and I think it’s a really great competition for us to play more football together and try to really develop our playing identity.

I’ve loved being at this club. It was obviously difficult at the start, as I had moved away from my family home and graduated university, so there was a lot of change, but I’ve honestly loved the environment.

The girls have made me feel welcome and I’ve gotten comfortable to just be myself at training and on match days, which means that most of the girls have to experience my horrific dabbing. The coaching staff have also been very welcoming and have pushed me in a magnitude of ways to develop as an individual.

With it being a different kind of opposition to usual, how are we preparing ahead of the game?

At the end of the day football is anyone’s game, so we’ve kept high-standards at training by keeping the intensity high and focusing on key tactical areas we as a team want to solidify. Nothing changes in terms 13

FEATURE INTERVIEW: HOPE STRAUSS

of preparation from a personal perspective from league action to cup action.

I think that every player here has the capability to take a decent penalty to be fair. It’s something we all tend to practice quite a bit at training, just in case we ever need anyone to step up. I think Quants is sick of me asking to take penalties against her at training! I think it was Ethan that told Martin about my penalties at training, so shout out to Ethan for giving me a chance to score and giving me his own penalty masterclasses at training.

You scored your first goal for the club in our 5-1 win against Actonians. How did that feel making your mark?

I was honestly just relieved that the penalty went in to be honest! I had taken a penalty the previous week, which had been chalked off as the game got abandoned, so I really just needed to get my first official goal under my belt. But honestly it was a great feeling to score, especially at The Nest in front of all the fans, although I’ve been told I need to work on my celebrations! Personally, it was also a really great moment as my family and partner came up to watch the match that day too, and let’s just say they don’t get to see me score too often.

You’ve made yourself comfortable within the matchday squad and have played a vast majority of league matches. What is it like working at the back with Ceri Flye, Alice Parker, Anna Larkins and, of course, our trusty Sarah Quantrill?

I place all my trust in those girls, it’s been an honour to play alongside them this season. Quants has made some outrageous saves this season, I genuinely think “how has she done that then?” as she’s tipped one over the bar. Quants has obviously played at an unbelievable standard too, so I try to

Some fans may have been unfamiliar with your penalty-taking prowess, but in Megan Todd’s absence you stepped up and did what you needed to do. Is that a set-piece you have been practicing a lot?

14

FEATURE INTERVIEW: HOPE STRAUSS

talk to her about tactics and scenarios at training to get some knowledge off her!

Ceri Flye is an absolute machine (I have no other way to describe her!). She has blistering pace, will head anything out of danger, and has a ping on her! She’s also my roomie too, so we have a great relationship on and off the pitch.

Alice Parker is an absolute work horse - she’s up and down that line religiously and has an absolutely incredible strike on her. Alice and I used to play at Wroxham together too, so we’ve developed quite a good understanding of each other on the pitch and know exactly how we like to play.

Last but not least Anna Larkins is a leader through and through, she’s able to turn defence into attack in an instant and will 15

run through brick walls to make a last-ditch tackle. So, all in all, I’ve loved playing with every single one of them.

We’ve had a lot of matches called off for various reasons in recent weeks.

How do you all stop the disruption from affecting our momentum and continue an unbeaten run?

It’s frustrating not playing, it seems like things are always going against us, but from my perspective you just have to let those setbacks fuel you. Our coaching staff are incredibly adaptable, so if fixtures are called off, they are quick to get sessions scheduled in and planned to ensure we don’t lose that match sharpness that we need going into the back-end of the season. All we can do as an entire squad is to control the controllable.

OPPOSITION INFO

dussindale and hellesdon rovers

OVERVIEW The Harrod Sport Women’s Cup brings tier six side Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers across to The Nest today, in the quarter final of the prestigious Norfolk County Cup.

Leyer to convert from the spot.

The visitors started their cup journey in the third round where they travelled to Thetford Town back in January, emerging victorious in a penalty shoot-out.

Rovers are currently sat in second place of the Eastern Region Women’s Football League Division One North.

After 90 minutes, neither side had managed to find the target, so up stepped Rachel Bussey, Chelsea Brister and Victoria 17

Keeper Tyla Cole played her part, making two important saves to end the shootout at 3-2.

With 25 points accumulated this season in the league, they sit just two points behind Harpenden Town at the top of the table.

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NORWICH CITY WOMEN NEWS

snelling wins player of the month Natasha Snelling has been voted as Norwich City Women’s Player of the Month for January, presented by Sekura.id.

In a month with just one fixture, the number 10 wasted no time in making her mark going into 2024, netting a hat-trick against Actonians in a 5-1 win.

On winning the award, Snelling said: “I am over the moon to win the award!

“I just want to thank everyone that took their time to vote, as it really is appreciated.

“It was nice to start the new year with a big win and continue with our unbeaten run.

“I’d like to thank all of the fans that come to our games - your support doesn’t go unnoticed and we know you are behind us on our journey.”

19

Sydney van Hooijdonk and Alice Parker will be at the Jarrold store for a signing session on Wednesday, February 21.

The pair will be at Norwich City's concession on the ground floor of the department store from 3pm-4pm, ready to sign fans’ shirts, footballs, books and any other Norwich City memorabilia.

The Dutch striker joined the Canaries on loan on transfer deadline day from Serie A side Bologna.

Across all competitions, the 23-year-old has netted 26 times in 54 appearances of his professional career.

Norwich City Women's Alice Parker cemented her name into Carrow Road history, scoring twice in the club's opening fixture at the stadium back in April 2023.

The left-back first joined the Canaries in the Under-11 team, where she then progressed to West Ham United, returning to the Norwich City first team in 2020.

The signing session is free to attend and open to all Norwich City fans.

Please note that players and timings are subject to change.

20

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24.03.24

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GET TO KNOW...

get to know...

23

22

olivia cook

shannon shaw

Place of birth

Norfolk

Place of birth

Nottingham

Position

Winger

Position

Forward

Preferred foot

Right

Preferred foot

Right

Age when started playing

Six

Age when started playing

Six

Footballing idol

Alessia Russo

Footballing idol

Mapi Leon

Favourite goal scored

Cup final at Carrow Road

Favourite food

Salt and pepper chips with curry sauce

Favourite film

Pitch Perfect

Favourite film

Bridesmaids

Pre-match song of choice

Golden by Harry Styles

Pre-match song of choice

Sprinter by Dave ft Central Cee

Favourite holiday destination

Tenerife or France

Favourite holiday destination

Corfu

22

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 28 FEBRUARY SUN 4

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

2-1 4-1

H

ACTONIANS

5-1

A

1-2

SUN 18

H

TUE 20 SUN 25 MARCH SUN 3 SUN 10 SUN 24 SUN 31 APRIL SUN 21 MAY SUN 5

H A

LONDON SEAWARD DUSSINDALE & HELLESDON ROVERS norfolk women’s cup CAMBRIDGE CITY HAYWARDS HEATH

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

14.00 19.45 14.00

*TABLES CORRECT AS OF 15/02/2024

23

p

w

d

l gd pts

15 13 15 15 14 14 15 15 13 14 15 14

13 10 10 9 7 6 6 5 4 1 1 1

0 3 2 1 3 4 2 4 0 3 3 1

2 0 3 5 4 4 7 6 9 10 11 12

45 27 18 6 6 1 -6 3 -16 -27 -29 -28

39 33 32 28 24 22 20 19 12 6 6 4

HEAD COACH: MARTIN HERDMAN 2 CHARDONNAY JOHNSTON 3 SUMMER WARD 4 ALICE PARKER 5 CERI FLYE 7 MEGAN TODD 8 MILLIE DAVISS 9 ELLIE SMITH 10 NATASHA SNELLING 11 REBECCA RUSSELL 12 ANNA LARKINS 14 KATHRYN STANLEY 15 NAOMI COOPER 16 KATIE KNIGHTS 17 JESS HARPER

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 31 32 33

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 amber locker