Norwich City Women FC v London Seaward

nOrwICH CIty v CambrIdGe utd

sunday, september 10 (2pm)

CarrOw rOad

TICKETS

aduLts £5 COnCessIOns (65+ & u18) £3 u12s £1

HOspItaLIty £40

Two-course meal in The Legends Matchday Club, with seat in the Directors Box

CaptaIn’s masCOt £350 keeper’s masCOt £300 standard masCOt £200

junIOr squad experIenCe (For 14 children) £520

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Welcome back, Steven.

notes from flo

Good afternoon and welcome to the Nest for today’s league fixture

against London Seaward.

It has been five months since we last played at The Nest and we are excited to see plenty of Canary fans today supporting our side. During the off-season, our players and staff took advantage of the valuable time to reflect, reset, and prepare for the forthcoming season. Additionally, we have made several noteworthy additions to both our playing squad and technical coaching team. We would like to place on record our thanks to the former players and staff who have departed, their commitment, dedication, and hard work towards the development of the club will always be appreciated and we wish them all the best with their future endeavours.

Our playing squad has gained quality and experience as we welcomed seven new signings. Defenders Felicity Limage and Hope Strauss have joined us from Loughborough Lighting. Shannon Shaw and Lauren Tomlinson join us from Cambridge City, as well as Rachel Lawrence from Peterborough, all three players strengthen our attacking options. We were also delighted to secure the signatures of goalkeeper

part of our player pathway.

After an extensive recruitment process for our head coach role, we were delighted to appoint Martin Herdman. Martin’s experience and knowledge of the women’s game was evident and his passion to develop home grown players aligns perfectly to our club values. Martin will also lead the University of East Anglia’s football programme, further strengthening our strategic partnership with UEA.

As we turn our attentions to today’s game against London Seaward, we hope to have a positive result and continue to build on our strong start to the season. Enjoy the game. OTBC.

Sarah Quantrill and a promising emerging talent in Lauren Hailes from Ipswich Town. Both players will adorn yellow and green once again having previously been

coach’s comment

We caught up with Martin Herdman ahead of his first home game in charge of Norwich City Women, discussing his first few weeks at the club, progress with the squad so far and the new signings.

It’s been a couple of weeks now since you joined Norwich City Women now. Are you feeling fully settled in?

I am thoroughly enjoying my time here and really settling well here in Norwich. It’s a beautiful, warm and friendly city.

It’s been a busy summer with seven new additions to the squad, some of whom bring lots of experience to the side and others are young developing players. How are they fitting in?

I think the mix of experience and youthfulness is a key element of our DNA. We have a core of players who have been in and around the league for some time and know what it takes to compete at the level. This is really important, as they mentor and support out younger generation.

The addition of the new players has brought fresh life to the squad whilst adding much needed competition for places which is really healthy for the squad.

Since joining, you’ve kept up a winning streak with good results against Wroxham, AFC Sudbury and Cambridge United. Can you see your style of play being implemented into the team’s games?

I think in the last game, we really started to turn a corner and play the brand of football we want to be associated with. The Cambridge game was an exciting game and we showed a ruthless streak that we hadn't previously seen.

We were able to change up the squad for the cup game against Cambridge and still put on a dominating performance. Does this make your selection for our league games even more challenging?

These games are really good opportunities for all players to show that when they are called upon, they can be trusted. Every squad that is picked is chosen with a lot of care and consideration. When you have a large squad like we do and the volume of games we have in September, it’s important that we meticulously transition players in and out at different times for various reasons, but know that when a new player comes in, they can do the job that is needed. We are asking for a selfless attitude from players as they know that only 11 players can be picked on the matchday. Sometimes you have to persevere a little to get that chance.

London Seaward are a team who gave us a real challenge last season and they finished only one point behind us. They beat a strong Actonians side 3-1 in the opening weekend, so we know they’ll give us a good game. How are we preparing for this fixture?

The process is clear, we make sure we prepare ourselves as best as we can in our contacts through the week with the focus of providing tactical clarity and opportunities of team cohesion for all players.

We will certainly not be taking London Seaward lightly. However, we feel we need to be the aggressors of the game and look to get on the front foot in our home stadium.

Finally, it’s your first home game since joining - are you looking forward to being in front of a home crowd at The Nest?

I have heard a lot of great things about the nest and our fantastic fans. I have been lucky enough to meet some of them on our away trips, but we are really excited to have them with us this weekend to hopefully cheer us on to three points.

Left-back Summer Ward has been part of the Canaries set-up for over 13 years, having played for the Norwich City's Centre of Excellence for eight years and more than five years with the first team.

We’ve started the season well with a cup and a league win. How have you found the start of the 2023/24 campaign?

It has been a great start for the team, with two wins in two competitions as you’ve said. We’ve really focused on the way we want to play and building a new identity in training, so it’s great to see our hard work show on the pitch and reflect in positive results.

What has it been like working with the new head coach Martin Herdman?

It has been great to work with Martin so far. I have learnt a lot and continue to do so each week. We have only just scratched the surface tactically, and haven’t had a lot of time together yet, but we

have built some great foundations to continue to build upon. I am excited to see the growth and development of both myself as a player, and the team as a whole, working under Martin this season.

We’ve got a few new signings join us this season who have had a good start. How are you finding playing alongside them?

The new signings have been a great addition to the team and have started well. We have a really strong squad this season, with great depth. Training is really competitive and everyone wants to push themselves and each other to the next level. It has been good to build new relationships with different players both on and off the pitch and to develop ourselves tactically too.

You had a team bonding day before the season started, that must’ve been a nice change to training and matches?

The team day out on the Norfolk broads was a nice change from football and a great opportunity to bond as a team and have some fun (unless you were in Kathryn’s group). Think it’s safe to say, we will all be sticking to football though!

What are your personal goals and hopes for the squad this season?

As a squad, we are internally aware of our goals for this season and hold each other accountable for making sure we are doing everything we can to achieve them.

Personally, I just want to contribute as much as possible to the team, helping us to have a successful season and a good run in the FA Cup.

Carrow Road is well and truly just around the corner. You were away for the last game, so how special is the game at the stadium going to be for you in just a few days?

I can’t wait. As a Norwich girl since the age of nine, playing at Carrow Road is very special. It’s a great occasion for the team, the city and for the Girl’s and Women’s game in general. It’s great to have the opportunity to showcase what we can do on a big stage, and hopefully attract a bigger attendance than last year.

get to know...

eloise morran

Place of birth

20 10 natasha snelling

Norwich

Position Centre-midfield

Age when started playing Five years old

Previous clubs Bungay FC, Blofield FC

What do you love most about Norwich as a city? The football club

Pre-match song of choice Can’t hold us by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Footballing idol Kiera Walsh

Favourite sport that isn’t football Running

Favourite food Spaghetti bolognese

Favourite holiday destination Thailand

Current favourite Netflix show Gossip Girl

Favourite app on your phone Instagram

Place of birth

Norwich

Position Striker

Age when started playing Six years old

Previous clubs Hethersett FC

Pre-match song of choice Cupid Shuffle by Cupid

Footballing idol Kelly Smith

Favourite sport that isn’t football Cricket

Favourite goal you’ve scored The Carrow Road one against Ashford Town

Roommate on away days Ellie Smith

Favourite food Italian

Current favourite Netflix show The Fall

Favourite app on your phone Instagram

The Canaries claimed a dramatic late winner in their FAWNL season opener away to AFC Sudbury on Sunday, August 20, thanks to a 96th-minute freekick from Freya Symonds.

Over 200 were in attendance at the Mel Group Stadium as Norwich City Women began their 2023/24 campaign travelling away to newly promoted AFC Sudbury.

The hosts started the game with great confidence, taking the game to Norwich early on, with forwards Kate Edwards and Holly Kennard displaying their pace and eye for goal on the counterattack.

Despite absorbing waves of pressure in the opening 20 minutes, it was Norwich who struck first on the 22-minute mark, arguably against the run of play. Ceri Flye turned defence into attack, racing down the right wing, before finding an unmarked Kathryn Stanley in the box to poke the ball home.

Sudbury reacted well and continued to cause problems in the latter stages of the first half, but with neither side having any clear-cut chances, the Canaries would enter the break with a 1-0 lead.

The second half saw much of the same, as the hosts emerged from the tunnel all guns blazing. A handful of half-chances caused little trouble for Sarah Quantrill and her defensive line, but the waves of attack continued.

aFC sudbury 1 nOrwICH CIty 2

Just shy of the hour mark, Sudbury had their best chance of the game. A ball was swung in from the left and met by a Sudbury body. Quantrill met the effort with the sturdiest of gloves to claw away to safety before clambering back out of her own net to deny the follow-up opportunity on the line.

Despite her heroics, Sudbury finally got their deserved breakthrough 10 minutes later. Substitute Evie Creaton found herself in on goal after a lovely through-ball, nestling the ball into the bottom-right corner.

Momentum was now swinging fully in favour of the Suffolk side, who continued to push on. With two minutes of regulation time left to play, they were rewarded for their efforts in the form of a penalty. Creaton, who drew them level, looked to double her personal tally for the day from the spot but watched in agony as her effort flew high over the crossbar.

A number of injury-induced delays to the game saw close to 10 minutes of added time tallied on by the referee, setting the perfect stage for a dramatic finish – and that’s exactly what the away faithful were gifted.

In the 96th minute, Norwich were awarded a freekick right on the edge of the penalty area after a cynical foul to deny a one-on-one opportunity. A frustrated Freya Symonds stepped up and beautifully dispatched the set-piece to secure all three points in the sixth minute of additional time.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 20 MEL GROUP STADIUM

LOndOn seaward oVerView

This weekend we welcome London Seaward to The Nest in our opening home game of the 2023/24 season.

Seaward are an independent women’s club based in East London, formerly known as Leyton Orient Women FC.

The breakaway from Leyton Orient Football Club came after six successful years and lead the team to rebrand to London Seaward FC, a nod to the city’s long association with the sea, and the dreams of hope and success it has offered East Londoners of all classes and backgrounds since the it’s founding.

Dan McKimm’s side claimed a 3-1 in over Actonians on the opening day of the season

earlier this month, with goals from Sophie Lee and a double from Samantha Lanza.

The Blues were less fortunate in their cup tie last week, taking a 3-1 loss to London Bees at The Hive, Katherine Long with the goal for Seaward.

In last season’s meetings, the Canaries only managed a point against a strong Seaward side, with a 3-0 loss away from home and a dramatic 2-2 draw at The Nest.

Natasha Snelling thought she had claimed the winner to make it 2-1 in the 87th minute last time out here, but an injury time equaliser from Joanna Butler-Williams saw the two sides share the spoils.

city make seVen new signings

felicity limage

lauren tomlinson hope strauss

Norwich City Women were delighted to confirm the arrival of seven new signings over the summer to join the 2023/24 squad.

Right back Felicity Limage, 20, is the first of the six signings, joining the Canaries from Loughborough Lightning earlier this month. The 20-year-old also had a spell with Birmingham City Women, having grown up in Leamington Spa.

Hope Strauss, also arrives from Loughborough Lightning, making 16 appearances in Tier 3 for the Bolts last season at centre back. The 22-year-old's previous clubs include Billericay Town Women and Wroxham Women.

Lauren Tomlinson, 25, signed for the Canaries from Cambridge City, having been part of the Lily Whites set-up since 2021. She joins from the same squad as Ceri Flye, who became a Yellow at the start of last season.

lauren hailes sarah quantrill

rachel lawrence shannon shaw

Sarah Quantrill joins the club from local rivals Ipswich Town Women, having also gained experience between the sticks at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Millwall and London Bees. Her time with the Blues saw her keep 40 clean sheets in 60 games.

Central attacking midfielder Lauren Hailes also joins the club from the Tractor girls, playing as part of the Under-21 Academy. Hailes makes a return to the Canaries having been a part of the player pathway up until 2021.

Another fellow Lilywhite, Shannon Shaw brings plenty of Tier 4 experience to the Canaries. The striker bagged against the Canaries last year in a 2-1 loss for Cambridge City at The Nest.

The final summer signing of the season is winger Rachel Lawrence who joins the club from Peterborough United Women. The 20-year-old is described as an energetic and creative player, usually utilised as a midfielder and at full-back, Lawrence made her debut for the Foxes in 2019 against Manchester United in the Continental Cup.

head coach: martin herdman

bryOny wILLIams

CHardOnnay jOHnstOn

summer ward

aLICe parker

CerI FLye

jOdIe drake

meGan tOdd

mILLIe davIss

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natasHa sneLLInG

rebeCCa russeLL

anna LarkIns

katHryn stanLey

naOmI COOper

katIe knIGHts

jess Harper

Freya symOnds

Lauren HaILes

eLOIse mOrran

Lauren tOmLInsOn

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OLIvIa COOk

raCHeL LawrenCe

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FeLICIty LImaGe

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