Norwich City Women FC v QPR

ThIs IssuE:

5 NOTES FROM FLO

6 HEAD COACH NOTES

9 MATCH PREVIEW: RACHEL LAWRENCE

13 MATCH REPORT: MULBARTON WANDERERS

14 MEET THE SQUAD

19 MATCH PREVIEW: HOPE STRAUSS

20 OPPOSITION INFO

25 MATCH PREVIEW: NATASHA SNELLING

27 COMMUNITY SPORTS FOUNDATION

31 GET TO KNOW

33 MATCH PREVIEW: LAUREN HAILES

35 HER GAME TOO

37 JUNIOR EXPERIENCES

39 MATCH PREVIEW: ELLIE SMITH

41 2023/24 FIXTURES & RESULTS

32

notes from flo

Good afternoon and welcome to Carrow Road for our second women’s team showpiece fixture of the season.

Today’s fixture marks the third occasion in twelve months that the women’s team have played at Carrow Road in FA WNL action, with today set to be another landmark occasion for the club with over 5,000 in attendance.

Earlier this week Anna Larkins, Freya Symonds, Alice Parker, Sarah Quantrill, and Katie Knights visited local primary schools within Norfolk to talk through their footballing journeys and partake in Q&As, a brilliant opportunity for the players to give back to the community. As a club we take immense pride in the impact and reach we have within the local community, highlighting the players as positive female role models to inspire the community. The schools visit initiative has been a superb example of this and we hope that this afternoon Carrow Road will be welcoming lots of new fans for the very first time.

I would like to take this moment to show appreciation and thanks to everyone at the football club who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes in the build-up to this afternoon’s fixture. Their commitment and contribution towards the preparation and planning of this afternoon’s showpiece fixture has been exceptional.

As we turn our attentions back to this afternoon’s fixture with QPR, I would like to ask our fantastic supporters to bring your energy and passion and get behind our City team.

I hope you all enjoy today’s game, and we hope that many in attendance today will return to support the team at The Nest for the remainder of the season.

OTBC.

coach’s comment

Interim head coach Scott Emmerson had his say on last weekend’s county cup win and looked ahead to this weekend’s visit to Carrow Road.

It was a great win at the weekend in the cup, how do you assess the performance from the team?

The performance within the squad on Sunday was everything that we asked them to do. They worked with a high tempo, made the opposition work for every inch on the pitch and we were happy with the performance overall as a group.

It was a fairly rotated squad with a few first minutes for some - are you pleased with the performance put in by all those who may not usually start or are coming back from injury?

Sunday was a day to give an opportunity to those that haven’t started a game or had any minutes this season, due to loans or injuries, so

it was an opportunity for all players to impress. Those changes to the starting line-up weren’t just regarding the game today, it was more about looking at the run-in for the remainder of the season. We’re trying to give everyone that opportunity, like a fresh slate, so it’s down to the players to say: ‘I want to be selected and this is what I am capable of doing’. The girls put in a great performance so they should all be proud.

Although we would have liked more games in the build-up to Carrow Road, it must be nice to get such a convincing win the weekend before?

We treated both games before this one with the utmost amount of respect for our opponents and we treated them both the same, regardless of level and ability. We are trying to make sure we are as

consistent as possible in our performance to make sure that we are looking to play attacking football from the start and have a real go at any opposition.

What has been the general message to the players ahead of this game to help battle nerves and excitement?

We spoke about this game in training this week, and we just told the players it’s like any other game, it’s still only three points up for grabs. Most of the players have played in big stadiums and had that exposure, so I think this has become second nature to them, and those that want to push on higher are going to have to play in front of big crowds. It will be nice to have the support behind us; both the players and coaching staff are really looking forward to it and hopefully we can pull off the win for everyone.

rachel lawrence

Another convincing win on the weekend, how does it feel to be county cup finalists?

It’s been really fun playing in the County Cup so far, and I can’t wait for the final. I can see how much the team love the competition and how important it is for them to retain the trophy.

It’s been a really great first season for you with Norwich City Women; are you enjoying life as a Canary and how do you see your role on the pitch?

I’ve loved playing for Norwich; the set-up is so professional and I love the team, it’s such a good group where we’re all genuine friends and look out for each other. My role on the pitch is to do everything I can to help us win games! We all have our own individual roles too, which has developed throughout the season and I think we show this through our character when we play.

Have you started to notice a change in the way Scott coaches to Martin’s style?

There are some differences between the two, but Scott has made it clear that he hasn’t come in to change everything and make us start from scratch. He knows us well and knows what works and what doesn’t and he is utilising that knowledge in his own way, which we’re all on board with.

You enjoyed our last trip to Carrow Road, despite the really tricky weather conditions. What kind of atmosphere are you hoping for this weekend?

Last time was incredible, but we should have got the win. We are in a position now where we have to win in terms of the league, and we’ve built a momentum where we’re ready to fight even harder to do so. I already know the atmosphere will be amazing, as it was last time. The fans that come to The Nest to support us each week are so impactful to our game, so having over 4,000 people supporting us at Carrow Road will be huge.

nOrWIch cITy 7

muLbarTOn WandErErs 0

SUNDAY, MARCH 17 THE NEST

Norwich City Women soared into the Harrod Sport Women’s Cup final with a resounding 7-0 victory over Mulbarton Wanderers at The Nest.

A refreshingly consistent display from the Norfolk weather brought another dark, damp and drizzly afternoon to The Nest as the semi-final kicked off shortly after 2.30pm.

Mulbarton, a side that troubled the Canaries in last year’s County Cup final, began this fixture with equally high intensity, transitioning from low-block to fast counter-attack well in the opening 10 minutes.

However, in the 13th minute, the persistent pressure from the Canaries would pay dividends through the familiar face of Natasha Snelling. The prolific forward took a lovely touch just inside the box, swivelled onto her right foot, and fired home beautifully into the bottom-left corner to open the scoring.

Just 10 minutes later Snelling was at the double as an Alice Parker diagonal pass found the inside of the penalty area. After a single bounce of the ball, Snelling latched onto it and cheekily lobbed the helpless Mulbarton goalkeeper.

Lauren Tomlinson returned to the starting lineup and came close to a goal of her own in the 27th minute if not for a strong save and a subsequent corner.

Skipper Anna Larkins on her usual corner-kick duties stepped up to take and shocked everybody at The Nest, including herself, as her effort whistled past an outstretched glove and into the far corner.

Mulbarton remained positive and continued to string passes and ask questions of Norwich, but the home side continued to attack with potency. In the 35th minute, it was Rachel Lawrence who was denied this time by another good save before the rebound sat perfectly in the path of an oncoming Katie Knights to make it 4-0 at the interval.

A trio of changes at the half saw the introduction of Olivia Cook, Shannon Shaw and Freya Symonds and it was the latter who would make the instant impact. Larkins sent Rachel Lawrence racing away down the

right wing with a great pass, followed by an equally impressive first-time cross without a break in stride. Symonds, sensing danger, made the run across goal and gratefully side-footed her volley home for five.

The second half also brought the introduction of a returning Becca Russell and a City debut for summer-signing Felicity Limage, who both looked comfortable in their respective cameos.

The offensive pressure continued and amounted to another Norwich City first as Lauren Hailes coolly slotted home a sixth for the Canaries and her first in yellow and green. Two minutes later Hailes turned provider, finding Shaw at the back-post from a corner to wrap up an impressive set-piece display and a 7-0 victory for the hosts.

The result ensures Norwich will enjoy a second successive Harrod Sports Women’s County Cup final visit in May when they will look to retain the silverware.

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naTasha snELLInG and ELLIE smITh TakE a LOOk back aT

ThE bEsT bITs FrOm nOrWIch

cITy WOmEn's PrEVIOus VIsITs

TO carrOW rOad.

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hope strauss

You seem to have cemented yourself well into the team and have proven you can contribute at either end of the pitch. How do you assess the season so far, personally and as a team?

This season so far has had so many highs, with hopefully even more to come, and on a personal note it has been amazing to be a part of this journey. I feel like we’ve grown stronger week upon week and that’s because of our hard work on and off the training ground - this includes players and staff! I feel like this group is like one big familyeveryone has each other’s backs, through thick and thin, which I think we have proved countless times.

You even captained the side briefly on Sunday during our win over Mulbarton. Does being leader come quite naturally to you as a centre-back?

It was amazing to captain the side in a competitive game last week, although I think Anna only gave it to me as I was the closest player! But it’s always nice to put on the armband, especially as someone new to the team this season. According to Gill and Ethan, I couldn’t stop looking at it! I think as a centre-back

I can see most of the pitch, which makes it easier to instruct others and most of the time I can’t stop myself from speaking, so to put a positive spin on that I’m always communicating! But honestly I think everyone is a leader in their own right, especially in our team. We all bring something unique to the table, which makes us all capable of leading on the pitch.

For you, this is only your second time playing at Carrow Road for Norwich City. How different does it feel playing there instead of at The Nest?

It’s an unreal experience to play at Carrow Road in front of the fans - I’ve never experienced a fanbase like it, you are all incredible! I still can’t believe we’ve sold over 4,000 tickets. I think prior to my first Carrow Road experience, the biggest crowd I had played in front of was about 50 people!! Obviously, it’s slightly different from The Nest, which we have made into quite a fortress, but as a team we are adaptable and we have worked together on managing these big occasions, mentally and physically. On a personal note, my niece, Riley, will be watching me play football for the first time and it’s at Carrow Road, so she might think her auntie is quite cool!

QuEEns Park ranGErs oVerView

This weekend we welcome Queens Park Rangers to Carrow Road, in our second fixture at the stadium this season.

Steve Quashie’s side occupy fourth in the Division One South East table with 31 points, three behind Norwich City.

In an exciting season for the R’s, they have claimed ten wins, one draw and five losses across 2023/24 so far.

Their five most recent results saw them

take three points away from Cambridge United (3-0), Cambridge City (2-1) and Haywards Heath (4-0), a 7-2 loss to leaders AFC Wimbledon, whilst settling for a point against Worthing in a 1-1 draw.

Top scorer Grace Stanley has been enjoying her season, having netted 18 times for the R’s in this campaign.

The striker put QPR ahead in the reverse fixture at Loftus Road, in a game that ended 2-1 to City.

OPPOsITIOn manaGEr: steVe quashie

QPR manager Steve Quashie has been in charge of the R’s for five seasons now, having previously headed up the club’s Women Youth Development programme. We caught up with him ahead of the match.

What do you make of your side’s impressive campaign this season in Division One South East?

I am pleased with our performances, particularly how well the players have attacked with creativity and freedom in all areas of the pitch. Our positivity, enthusiasm and commitment when defending has resulted with the squad chalking up five clean sheets to date.

Is this your first time managing at Carrow Road?

I have visited this stadium several times over the years supporting the R's, however this will be my first time in the dugout.

I have been looking forward to this fixture since the Canaries sent fixture confirmation.

You and the R’s frequently play at Loftus Road, so do you find playing on the big stage and in high pressure environments is something that comes

quite naturally to the squad?

The squad enjoy playing at professional stadiums, especially the players that have performed for numerous seasons in the FAWNL.

The last match between these two sides was an entertaining one, with City just edging out QPR. Is this a fixture you and the squad have been looking forward to playing to make amends?

We always enjoy playing fixtures against the Canaries. Both teams play a similar brand of football which has resulted with some enjoyable and tactically challenging encounters over the years.

What has been your proudest achievement/ moment since being in charge at the club?

This is an interesting question... Winning the prestigious Capital City County Cup in my second season as the first team manager.

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natasha snelling

You are no stranger to Carrow Road now, how are you feeling ahead of the clash against QPR?

I’m really excited to be back playing at Carrow Road, it’s always a privilege to be given the opportunity to play there. QPR are a good team, so I’m hoping we can put on a good performance for the fans.

Having played here a few times already, what advice are you giving to the younger or newer players coming here for the first time?

We try and treat it like any other game, I know we are playing in front of several thousand fans in a big stadium, but I’ve just said to them we can’t let nerves get to the better of us, just play how we have been playing and just enjoy it!

As our top scorer, you know you can have an influence on the game but there’s been an abundance of scorers across the squad this season. Do you think having a close-knit team helps the team as a whole both on and off the pitch?

We do have a very close-knit team, I think every single player in the squad has had an impact to how successful we’ve been this season so far, it doesn’t come down to individual players or the starting 11. It’s how we collectively perform together, whether it being supporting on the side line, making it competitive in training or being the first one on the microphone in the changing rooms, it all helps the bigger picture in what we want to achieve here at Norwich.

community sports foundation

Thorpe St Andrews’ road to Wembley!

This year’s U13 Girls Cup saw local school Thorpe St Andrews don the yellow and green of Norwich City in their bid to reach Wembley Stadium.

The preliminary round saw the side travel to Milton Keynes knowing victory would send them to the regional round of the competition, also hosted by MK Dons Sport and Education Trust.

After securing a first-round victory, the team would go on to face Swindon Town, AFC Wimbledon, and Newport County in the southern bracket of the competition. Despite losing to Newport County in the group stages, the two sides would go face-toface again in the final with the Canaries emerging victorious at the second time of asking.

The 2-1 victory ensured the team will be Londonbound in early April to compete under the iconic arch of Wembley Stadium in the National final of the U13 Girls Cup.

The Community Sports Foundation would like to congratulate Thorpe St Andrews and wish the whole team the best of luck for their visit to London.

Girls United (ages 4-11)

Girls United is a fun weekly football session providing an introduction into football for girls aged four to 11.

Taking place at The Nest in Norwich, the programme welcomes beginners and those who have played before but would like to develop their skills and aims to help participants enjoy playing football in a relaxed and friendly environment.

The sessions will help to develop football skills along with teamwork, cooperation, movement and social skills.

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There are also opportunities for excelling participants to be invited onto advanced girls’ programmes within our pathways.

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Soccer Schools (ages 5-11)

Soccer Schools provide thousands of children with a fun-filled footballing experience in the school holidays every year.

The Foundation have Soccer Schools running at venues across Norfolk & Suffolk. Whether participants are new to football or are already a budding Canary superstar, the Soccer Schools programme has been put together to provide a fun, holiday activity at an affordable price.

Our Soccer Schools include:

• Games, competitions and Norwich City-themed fun

• Outdoor & indoor spaces for all weather conditions

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• Certificates and course gifts and the chance to meet Norwich City players (subject to training and fixture schedules)

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get to know...

holly kennard

Place of birth Ipswich

Position Winger

Preferred foot Right

Footballing idol Messi

Favourite food Chicken nuggets

Pre-match song of choice Hips Don’t Lie by Shakira

Favourite sport that isn’t football Rugby

Favourite film Tangled

Favourite holiday destination Malta

Current favourite Netflix show The Vampire Diaries

charlotte pernet

32 28

Place of birth Norwich

Position Right-back/CDM

Preferred foot Right

Footballing idol Lucy Bronze

Favourite food Noodles

Pre-match song of choice Humble by Kendrick Lamar

Favourite sport that isn’t football Athletics

Favourite film

Ratatouille or Top Gun Maverick

Favourite holiday destination Spain

Current favourite Netflix show Breaking Bad

It was a great win in the county cup this weekend just gone and a first Norwich City goal for you. Just describe that feeling and what it means to you?

It means a lot to me to get my first senior goal for this amazing club. Recently, I’ve been trying to challenge myself to get into better positions higher up the pitch and to be more clinical. So, when the ball went over the line I was bursting with joy! The experience was definitely elevated by the enthusiasm of the fans. We heard them loud and proud last weekend. Their support is unfathomable, and we are always extremely grateful.

This year is your first year with a senior women’s team, so how have you found it adapting to the game and pushing yourself further in your player development?

I think the first year in senior football for any player isn’t going to be an easy ride. New coaches, new teammates and new opportunities always come with challenges, as well as the added pressure that you put on yourself as a player to perform well and give everything for the badge. However, in a sense, the transition has been easy for me, and for that, all the credit goes to my teammates and staff at the club.

As a younger player, it’s been kind of easy to adapt because of the high number of role models we possess within our squad. There is always someone to put an arm round you in the lows and to support

lauren hailes

or congratulate you in the highs. Everyone is so approachable, I feel like I can go to anyone for support, on and off the pitch.

Also all the staff are beyond brilliant, from technical staff, to physios and everything in between. The communication and professionalism has made the transition a whole lot easier.

What is the general feel around the squad ahead of Sunday’s game and what advice have you been given going into it?

We know it’s vital that we get the win this Sunday and there’s very small margin for error, but I think that’s where we perform best, thriving off pressure.

The advice we’ve been given this week is to treat this game like any other. It’s imperative that we keep our routines the same during the training week, pre-match and in the warmup to ensure we are fully prepared. Also keeping calm is important. We need to control our excitement and our nerves. I believe that everyone in our squad is capable of doing this and that we will turn up when it’s time.

You may have seen the Her Game Too stall at The Nest before the FAWNL fixture against Worthing a few weeks back. Our ambassador Nicol Nicholls was joined by the Norwich City men’s ambassador Jess Pye to engage with fans and give information on the campaign.

We would like to thank all the fans who made time to chat and join in with the fun. Norwich City have been partnered with the Her Game Too campaign for over a year and together we are working together to stamp out sexism in football.

What is Her Game Too?

Here at Her Game Too, we are a group of female supporters who are passionate about football and working to eradicate sexism in the football industry. We want women and girls of all ages to feel confident and safe sharing their opinion about football both online and in real life without fear of sexist abuse.

Football has always been seen as a man’s game, but this just isn’t true. Football is the beautiful game.

Enjoyed and played by women and girls of all ages too. Our main focus is to ensure that football continues to be a safe and welcoming place for all.

We achieve this through our partnerships with clubs and the work of our ambassadors.

How can you help?

It’s simple really: just use your voice. Call out people who make sexist comments at football or online. If you do see or hear something at a game, please report it either to your club or through the reporting page at www.hergametoo.co.uk. Together we can make a difference.

You can also reach out to the Norwich City Women ambassador, Nicol, if you need any support:

Email NicolHGT@hotmail.com

X - @NicolNicholls

0300 561 0077

If you're in immediate danger, call 999.

What is Domestic Abuse?

Domestic abuse goes beyond violent behaviour and physical abuse. It also includes any type of sexual, psychological and financial abuse and is about a range of coercive and controlling behaviours. It can happen in any relationship – regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or social class or income.

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1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime.

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Do they:

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Control where you go and what you do

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FAVOURITE PLAYER: ALICE PARKER

HOBBIES: PLAYING FOOTBALL AND GYMNASTICS

FAVOURITE PLAYER: ALICE PARKER

HOBBIES: NETBALL AND FOOTBALL

FAVOURITE PLAYER: KATIE KNIGHTS

HOBBIES: DRUMMING, GAMING AND FOOTBALL

FAVOURITE PLAYER: ELOISE MORRAN

HOBBIES: LOTS OF FOOTBALL, TENNIS AND MINECRAFT

FAVOURITE PLAYER: ELOISE MORRAN

HOBBIES: FOOTBALL, SKATEBOARDING, FIFA AND NINTENDO SWITCH

FAVOURITE PLAYER: MEGAN TODD

HOBBIES: PLAYING FOOTBALL AND SPENDING TIME WITH HER DOG TEDDY

FAVOURITE PLAYER: ELLIE SMITH

HOBBIES: FISHING

FAVOURITE PLAYER: LAUREN TOMLINSON

HOBBIES: FOOTBALL

junior

3

4

7

8

sofia kingsley

hughie rory

jude dolly

iron ella

captain’s mascot keeper’s mascot

Another convincing win at the weekend; how does it feel to be county cup finalists again?

It feels amazing. It’s been a really intense season in the league, but away from that we’ve really enjoyed mounting another cup run, as we did last year. Let’s hope for some more silverware at the end of it.

It’s been another fantastic season for you Ellie, with plenty of goals and assists and you seem to work well with any partnership up top. Do you have a particular player or players that you find you play best with?

I think I link up well with most of our attacking players and enjoy playing with everyone, but if I had to choose someone it would have to be Tash. We’re good friends and we’ve played together for several seasons now, so we’ve reached the point where I know almost exactly which runs she’s going to make and she knows which passes I’m going to play. We have a great relationship on and off the pitch, and long may it continue.

ellie smith

How has Scott and the rest of the coaching team asked you to approach this game?

It’s very much going to be a case of us playing our own game, which has served us really well so far this season. We’ve obviously been doing our usual preparation, but we will have our game plan and go with it. We know what we’re capable of and we’ll focus more on that, but we prep like any other game.

You netted against QPR earlier this season in the reverse fixture at Loftus Road, so how excited are you to be back at our big stage, Carrow Road?

It’s going to be great - the whole team is so excited. Playing and scoring at Loftus Road was a great experience, but as a lifelong Norwich City fan who’s come through the youth system, there’s nothing quite like playing at Carrow Road. It’s going to be a pleasure doing it again and hopefully we can carry our good form from the majority of the season into this game.

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