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Rebekah Stott: Helping Others Whilst on the Comeback Trail

For this week’s #MidweekDub feature, Rebekah Stott spoke to Kieran Yap about her business Beat It By Stotty, the new podcast she is launching, and her footballing comeback (5/1/22)

Above: Rebekah Stott on her first appearance for Melbourne City this season on the opening night at Canberra United. Photo: Melbourne City.

If she was judged purely on her on-field achievements, Rebekah Stott would be a legend of Australian domestic football.

The New Zealand international has had a long and successful career in the W-League/A-League Women and been a key player in some of the most dominant sides in the competition’s history.

Four Championships and two premierships would be enough to secure the legacy of any footballer but Stott’s story will be more than statistics of wins and losses.

In February of 2021, while signed to Brighton Hove and Albion in the FAWSL, Stott was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She has since returned to health and to football but after the whistle on game day there is more to be done.

The Melbourne City star is the founder of Beat It By Stotty. What started as a record of her journey through treatment evolved into a remarkable project. Her business provides bags filled with essential and helpful items as patients begin cancer treatment.

The Beat It website describes a hospital travel bag based on her own experiences with specific compartments and good to help remove some of the stress in a very difficult time.

“When I first started, I was very unorganized going to appointments,” she told Impetus of the origins of Beat It.

“I needed a bag which is specific for taking to hospital and helping me organize myself so that was the idea then I figured I could make it a blog to follow my journey and it kind of just grew from there.”

One of the highest-profile fundraisers has been charity auctions. The website has offered rare memorabilia from the world of football for fans to competitively bid on, raising money to supply the packs for cancer patients.

Some of the world’s best players have donated. Fran Kirby, Jess Fishlock , Steph Catley, Megan Rapinoe, and the legendary Marta are just some of the match-worn shirts available through the auctions. The proceeds will have direct benefits.

“Probably just over 80” is Stott’s estimate on the number of bags that have been paid for.

“And then I’ve had Marlah who’s a little legend. She’s shaved her hair and raised six and a half grand (see https://www.instagram.com/p/CXp7pp_vUow/?hl=en)

“There’s heaps of bags to go around. Hopefully early in the new year, I’ll be able to distribute these.

“I have teamed up with Canteen and the Leukemia Foundation. They have a lot of patients who rely on them for their support, they will be distributing them to their contacts and patients.”

**Above:** One of the Beat It By Stotty bags. **Photo:** Beat It By Stotty.

On top of her philanthropy and while starting for the most successful women’s club in Australia, Stott is about to begin a podcast for Beat It.

The show is scheduled to be available by the end of January and will give listener a window into the hardships many face and how attitude can help overcome them.

“I just wanted to help people really, to share my story, and also shed a light on how having a positive mindset can really help get you through hard times,” says Stott of the show’s genesis.

“It’s not going to just be about people going through cancer treatment. It’s going to be people who have had just very hard things in their life and they’ve used having a positive mindset to get through it.

“That’s the plan and hopefully it’s something listeners can really enjoy.”

There are no spoilers available for the guest list just yet but there will be some familiar faces.

“To start with, footballers that I know which is good because people don’t get to see too much of their lives and their struggles.

“A few guests like Lydia Williams, I’m not going to say anyone else.”

During her own treatment and recovery, Stott used her own positive mindset to keep pushing on and that is something she hopes to share through the podcast.

“For me, it was finding the positives in everyday life. The fact that I was in Melbourne meant that I could get a coffee every day which was a huge positive for me.

“Having Beat It and having a distraction from what I was going through really helped me and put me in a good mindset to really overcome what I was going through.

“It’s always good to think that there’s so many people in worse situations so that really helped me.”

When Stott first returned to the field it was on a mid-winter evening with NPLW club Bulleen. It was a heartwarming moment on a cold night but one she had been anticipating.

**Above:** Rebekah Stott during her comeback match for Bulleen in the Victoria NPLW. **Photo:** @Stotty_13

“I always knew I was going to be back to playing. It definitely wasn’t something I was thinking about a lot during treatment. It was ‘let’s get better first then let’s back to playing’, but there wasn’t any doubt in my mind.

“I was going into that game and I wasn’t thinking much of it, then when I got onto the field I was actually quite emotional I was like, ‘Wow, I’m bald and standing here on this football field. I’ve come from cancer.’

“It was pretty surreal and emotional and yes it was the first step, and it was a long time ago and to see how far I’ve come and what I’ve been through this last year it’s pretty incredible.”

Stott has since returned to the A-League with a Melbourne City that has made an impressive start to the season. She has been deployed in a different role, on the team sheet she is listed as a defensive midfielder but often links the defence with the attack.

She is on managed game time but has been a crucial part of City’s lineup. In the second Melbourne derby she was dominant as they recorded a 5-1 win.

“When I sat down with Rado (Vidosic) in early of July he said ‘I want to use you as a six,’

“I’m definitely open to that idea and I don’t mind getting further up the field.

**Above:** Rebekah Stott pictured after returning to Melbourne City ahead of the new A-League Women season. **Photo:** Melbourne City.

“It was the plan all along, I’m finding my feet in there, I’m getting better every week and hopefully I can continue to learn and grow.”

That growth will likely not be limited to the pitch. The podcast, with co-host Yana Kyparisis (“she was kind of there throughout the whole experience with me.”) will launch in the coming weeks and while Beat It continues fundraising and distribution.

“It’s going be very conversational,” she says of the show’s format.

“Episodes won’t be too long, around 30 minutes, with a range of guests that all types of listeners can relate to or get a real insight into. Chatting about things that people have overcome and how they overcame it to try and help others.

“The most important thing to be is that the podcast can help people and showcase the importance of a positive outlook or mindset amidst difficult circumstances.”

Beat It By Stotty’s podcast will be available on Spotify and Apple.

Find out more information at https://www.beatitbystotty.com/

Chances Created But None Taken

Perth Glory 0-0 Canberra United

At Wanderers Park, Blacktown, NSW

Report by Kieran Yap, Photos by Kris Goman (5/1/22)

Above: Perth Glory’s Gemma Craine in possession with Ashlee Washington keeping a close eye on the English-born striker. Photo: Kris Goman.

Perth Glory welcomed Canberra United to their home away from home at Blacktown Football Park.

The Glory are on the road to keep their season and the league going, and in the first half, they played like they were back in Western Australia. Possession was evenly shared but Perth had six shots on goal to Canberra’s three.

The visitors’ best chances came early. Michelle Heyman skipped into the box but was forced too wide and the ball was cleared. Grace Maher swung in the corner that was well cleared by Tash Rigby when it looked dangerous.

**Above:** Michelle Heyman, the source of Canberra’s best chance in the first half. **Photo:** Kris Goman.

Emma Illojoski was missing for Canberra United while awaiting a COVID test result. Perth’s fluid attack looked to take advantage of the makeshift defence.

Susan Phonsongkham was the busiest of the front three in the opening half. She was able to create some space on the right side after retrieving a ball that looked likely to go out. She found Cyera Hintzen after shuffling past her opponent and the American teed up Alana Jancevski on her preferred left foot.

The combination of the three new Perth signings looks promising. All have different playing styles that so far seem to compliment each other well but on this occasion, Jancevski’s low, hard show curled wide of the far post.

Phonsongkham continued to test the Canberra defence and after some good build-up work from Hintzen again, her close-range shot was deflected inches wide.

**Above:** Susan Phonsongkham who tested the Canberra United defence many times. **Photo:** Kris Goman.

Keeley Richards was the reason that the game stayed level at halftime. The Canberra goalkeeper made a brilliant close-range save to once again deny Phonsongkham.

Gemma Craine had cut inside and raced along the by-line before hitting a low pass across the face of goal. Phonsongkham attacked the ball and met it at full pace but Richards sprawled to stop what looked like a certain goal.

Richards was called into action again as Hintzen took the direct approach. Perth’s centre forward raced down the middle of the pitch and held off the attentions of Lauren Kier. Her shot was on target and well hit but Richards was alert to the danger and blocked emphatically.

**Above:** Cyera Hintzen, another lively performance for Perth Glory from the American. **Photo:** Kris Goman.

Canberra United almost took the lead early in the second half. Allira Toby turned well in the final third and slipped a clever pass to Michelle Heyman. The captain was in space and facing goal and she looked more shocked than anybody when her strike whizzed wide on the right of goal.

Perth continued to create opportunities by pressuring the Canberra defence but had yet to turn any into clear chances.

Hayley Taylor-Young, who had been playing out of position as a left wing-back found some space in attack. She was clearly more comfortable in that area of the ground but her shot was straight at Courtney Newbon, making her Perth Glory debut, and the keeper saved comfortably.

Grace Maher and Michelle Heyman schemed up a chance with a combination of passes and a clever turn by Heyman. Her long-through pass dissected the Perth defence but Newbon was alert to the danger and collected the ball at the feet of Laura Hughes.

**Above:** Grace Maher looking to unlock the Perth Glory defence. **Photo:** Kris Goman.

Up to this point, it was a game of changing momentum and free-flowing play but both sides looked capable of either an error or something spectacular.

Heyman very nearly provided it on the hour mark. A curling cross from Chloe Middleton found the league’s all-time leading scorer but her flicked header bounced off the roof of the net.

Both managers made changes with 30 minutes to play. Lisa de Vanna entered to the field in place of Hintzen, Sofia Sakalis and Deborah De la Harpe replaced Craine and Poppie Hooks.

Canberra brought on Ashley Sykes and the previous round’s hero Holly Caspers to add some firepower in the closing stages.

**Above:** Lisa De Vanna making a trademark run. **Photo:** Kris Goman

Chloe Middleton dropped a dangerous cross onto the edge of the six-yard box that momentarily looked like it might be a goal and Sakalis responded with a long pass that was only slightly too long for De Vanna.

As the team began to tire nobody told Tash Rigby, a lung-busting run along the right flank ended with her winning back possession and crossing just too high for Jancevski.

Karly Roestbakken hit a strong shot after drifting upfield but Newbon was well-positioned to save and hold onto the ball.

As the clock ticked past 90, Ash Sykes jinked into the area, she was patient and composed but her shot was deflected and squirmed wide.

**Above:** Margot Robinne on the charge persuded by Mie Leth-Jans. **Photo:** Kris Goman.

The game ended 0-0, it was a frustrating game from a fan’s perspective and if not for Keeley Richards it would have been 2-0 by halftime.

Canberra will be pleased with the clean sheet but had enough chances of their own to earn a win. The importance of Emma Illijoksi was underlined by this performance and Michelle Heyman was inventive and threatening despite not making the breakthrough.

Grace Maher was as tidy as ever in the middle but she is often needed in deep midfield when her skills are most effective closer to goal.

In the end, this was not a game that did not offer any new information about either side. Perth’s first choice attack of Hintzen, Phonsongkham, and Jancevski were dangerous before fatigue set in. Sakalis offered the craft that she is known for but Lisa De Vanna was unable to impact the game off the bench.

**Above:** Hana Lowry, who had arguably her best game of the season for Perth Glory today. **Photo:** Kris Goman.

On the positive for Perth, this was possibly Hana Lowry’s best performance of the season. She was constantly on the ball and remained a positive force even when exhausted.

Canberra ended had 16 shots on goal to Perth’s six. Despite this being a goalless game it was not a defensive one. After conceding four goals to Adelaide United, Perth’s defence looked greatly improved. We looked good with the ball, and that was the key message the team had, and we were solid without it.

This may have been a frustrating afternoon for both sides, but it was not a boring one.

Ben Gilby heard from Perth Glory head coach Alex Epakis after the game: “It was a more resilient performance than the one we gad against Adelaide (on New Year’s Day).

“We probably did enough to win it today. A lot of players had to step up and produce better individual performances which they did. It is a step towards our expectations. We created chances. Clear cut chances, and if we had put them away things would have been better – that is the next thing for us to work on.

“The ball was moving quite slowly today because the field was thick and the weather was humid. Therefore players didn’t have as much time and space as they would like, but that’s not something I’m overly worried about as it was more down to today’s conditions.”

**Above:** Tash Rigby (left), who head coach Alex Epakis called an “absolute warrior) keeps a close eye on Canberra United’s Michelle Heyman.
**Photo:** Kris Goman.

Epakis was particularly impressed with the influence that his more experienced players such as Tash Rigby and Kim Carroll had on the younger members of the squad today. “They were immense. The communication was really strong – Lisa (De Vanna) was part of that too. It’s a really positive sign.

“Tash is an absolute warrior. She’s taken the pain (broken nose against Adelaide last time which opened up again during the game today) but she’s good.”

Looking ahead to the Sydney game on Saturday, the Perth head coach emphasized the schedule of three games in a week: “I have to look at resting a couple of people and rotating the squad. We were preparing for it and we have a deep squad.”

Teams: PERTH GLORY (4-4-2): Newbon, Rigby, Anton, K.Carroll, Hooks, Jancevski, Leth-Jans, Lowry, Craine, Phonsongkham, Hintzen. Substitutes: Aquino (GK), de la Harpe, Cain, Sakalis, De Vanna.

CANBERRA UNITED (3-4-3): Richards, Kier, Haran, Roestbakken, Maher, Washington, Taylor-Young, Middleton, Heyman, Toby, Hughes. Substitutes: Caspers, Karrys-Stahl, Lincoln, Robinne, Sykes.

Referee: Georgia Ghirardello.

Attendance: 106.

Norfolk Women’s & Girls League Returns With A Bang!

By Darrell Allen (4/1/22)

Above: Mulbarton Wanderers’s Rebekah Lake in action in recent fixture vs Bungay Town, she will be hoping to add to her goal tally this weekend. Photo: Hardy Scott Photos.

The Norfolk Women & Girls League gets underway again this coming Sunday following its festive break, with nine games scheduled across the league’s two divisions.

Division One

In Division One (Step Seven) there are five fixtures scheduled with a bottom vs top battle as North Walsham Town host Mulbarton Wanderers. Martin Francis’s Mulbarton team are flying so far this season with seven wins out of seven and will be strong favourites to continue their 100% record. North Walsham are one of the hardest-working teams in the division however and will certainly be doing all they can to try and cause a big upset.

Sprowston are set to welcome Long Stratton to Sprowston Sports & Social Club on Blue Boar Lane in what looks set to be a very competitive fixture. Long Stratton will arrive in fifth place with Sprowston in ninth position, but only three points in front of their hosts. On a day of fixtures that are tough to predict, this one is anyone’s guess with Long Stratton on their day being capable of beating anyone, but inconsistency means they have the most number of defeats in the top half of the table. Sprowston has the same inconsistent traits as they are the only team to take points off unbeaten Thetford Town but struggled to beat 11th placed Thorpe St Andrew in a tight contest earlier in the season. This game could well be one for the neutrals and one that could easily go either way, a mistake or moment of quality could well decide it.

**Abpve:** Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers’ Bethan Taylor gets to a header first in recent fixture vs Mulbarton Wanderers. Photo: Hardy Scott Photos.

The division’s other game of the day looks set to be over at Mundford Road where Thetford Town welcome Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers. This game looks set to be the biggest test of Thetford’s unbeaten start to the season so far with Dussindale & Hellesdon only having played five games so far and sitting in sixth, they are a team that I and many others expect to climb the table in the second half of the season. Thetford management duo David Skipp and Stuart Terry will be well aware of the threat Dussindale & Hellesdon pose and an unbeaten Thetford will go into the game full of confidence and belief their good start to the season can continue. Like with the game at Sprowston, this is sure to be one that is closely fought, hard to predict, and a flip of the coin game with very little between two quality teams. It might well come down to whoever returns from the Christmas break sharper and whoever wants it more on the day will prevail. It is sure to be one for the neutrals to so if you live in South Norfolk Mundford Road is certainly the place for you on Sunday.

**Above:** Thetford Town’s Melissa Boulton goes on the attack vs Thorpe St Andrew on 5th December. **Photo:** Darrell Allen,

In the day’s other games, an in-form and on fire Fakenham Town are on their travels as they make the trip to Stalham Town. In the tightest of tables, Fakenham Town sit fourth just three points ahead of seventh placed Stalham. Fakenham Town will be the favourites but home advantage will give Stalham belief and confidence they can achieve some points.

In the final fixture, Tony Allen’s Thorpe St Andrew team host Bungay Town at Sir George Morse Park. Thorpe St Andrew are my closest team geographically to where I live with their home games played just a 10-minute walk from my front door. Tony Allen’s team are one of the most hard-working around and the philosophy Tony installs means that whether you are Mulbarton flying high or Sprowston or North Walsham, when you play Thorpe St Andrew you know that you have been in a game. Third place Bungay Town head into the encounter as clear and obvious favourites for the win, but they know the challenges Thorpe provide and any slip-ups from Bungay could make it a very interesting contest.

**Above:** Thorpe St Andrew manager Tony Allen will have his side prepared for another tough test against Bungay this weekend. **Photo:** Darrell Allen.

Due to this league having 11 teams, it means that each round of fixtures sees one side without a game, and this coming weekend Beccles Town do not have a fixture.

Division Two

The game of the day was set to be League Leaders Caister travelling to the University of East Anglia at Colney Lane but due to it being the first week of the new year and the university not having started the new semester, this contest has been postponed until later in the season.

That creates a big chance for second-placed Kings Lynn Soccer Club to reach the summit. Sitting just two points behind Caister at the start of play, any win at home to sixth place Horsford will see KLSC hit top spot. A great incentive for the players and staff as they look to continue their fantastic start to the season.

This Sunday’s planned game between third-placed Gorleston and Loddon United has been postponed.

**Above:** Gorleston’s Maddison Furbank in action earlier in the season making her debut against Shrublands. **Photo:** Donna Gowing.

The day’s most competitive game in Step Eight looks to be between eighth placed Red Rose and seventh placed Freethorpe as both sides sit on six points, with two wins and three losses each from their first five games. This is anyone’s for the taking and if you are looking for a game to watch in Step Eight, this would be your one of choice this weekend.

In the final game of the day, an unbeaten Shrublands who are showcasing themselves brilliantly this season on and off the pitch, welcome Ben Binder’s FC Viking Valkyries to Southtown Common. Shrublands will be big favourites to claim the win and continue their brilliant start to the season but Ben Binder’s teams are always one to watch and will give their hosts a decent game.

Like with Division One, with 11 teams in the league one side gets a weekend off and this weekend it’s Thetford Bulldogs without a scheduled fixture.

A full report of the Division One clash between Thetford Town and Dussindale & Hellesdon will follow next Tuesday and I will round up all the scores and tables from both divisions at the end of that report.

Happy New Year and thanks for all your continued support.

John Smith’s Stadium Cup Date For Huddersfield Town

Above: Huddersfield Town pictured on a previous match staged at the John Smith’s Stadium. Photo provided to Impetus by: Huddersfield Town Women (4/1/21).

Huddersfield Town Women announced this afternoon that their Fourth Round Vitality Women’s FA Cup fixture against Everton will be held at the mens’ team’s 24,500 capacity John Smith’s Stadium on January 30^th 2022.

This is a huge fixture for the club and a big test against a Barclays FA Women’s Super League side. It is also a great opportunity for Huddersfield fans to watch their local women’s football side in action, potentially for the first time.

The match gives the club an opportunity to break their attendance record which stands at 1,115. Ticketing information alongside confirmation of kick-off time will be announced in the coming weeks.

Speaking about the news, Huddersfield Town Women chair Alison Bamforth said: “The whole club are incredibly excited to have the privilege of welcoming Jean-Luc Vasseur and his Everton side to Huddersfield.

**Above:** Huddersfield Town (in red change kit) took on FA Women’s Super League side Brighton and Hove Albion in the last sixteen of the 2020/21 FA Cup. **Photo provided to *Impetus* by:** Huddersfield Town Women,

“We are delighted that our players once again have an opportunity to test themselves against WSL opposition, building on the experience of playing Brighton and Hove Albion in last year’s Vitality Women’s FC Cup 5th round.”

“I would like to extend huge thanks to Huddersfield Town AFC for hosting the game at the John Smith’s Stadium and would love to see the whole of Huddersfield out in force to be that ‘12th man [player/women]’ and perhaps help generate a bit of FA Cup magic!”

First Impressions

England-based women’s football writers Lucy Fuller, Allie Coker, and Darrell Allen watched an A-League Women’s match over the festive period for either the first time or the first time in a few years. Here’s what they made of the action (3/1/22).

Above: Perth Glory’s Cyera Hintzen (left) and Adelaide United’s Matilda McNamara battle it out at Coopers Stadium on New Year’s Day. The physicality on display impressed our English contingent. Photo: Adelaide United.

Allie Coker on Adelaide United v Perth Glory:

Having managed to tempt a couple of Aussies to my UK team, West Ham United, it was time to return the favour and see where our new heroes came from.

As this was a doubleheader with the Adelaide United men’s team, it didn’t really showcase the crowds both teams normally get. The stadium reminded me of the American’s set up with open plan stadiums unlike the closed and encased English set up. Which unfortunately emphasized the sparse crowds who had turned up early. The ground looked immaculate and honestly, one of the best-looking pitches I have seen for the women’s game. However, we are only three games into the season. There is still time to turn it into a mud bath which the English viewer is more accustomed to.

My first thought once the game started is how physical all the players were. Which is the football I have come to love with my team. Within the first five minutes, Perth delivered a bone-crunching tackle to stop Adelaide’s press.

Here in the United Kingdom, very few teams play with that physicality. It was a joy to watch as someone who loves that kind of shin-kicking football.

If a team lost possession it didn’t take long for a defender to slide in and take it back. What’s a couple of yellow cards between friends when a goal can be stopped.

My second major thought on the play was the pace of the game. It was frantic and scrappy in the best possible way. Respect was certainly paid but each team played as if this was a cup final.

It was fast especially on the wing where the majority of the head-to-head battle lines were drawn.

**Above:** Chelsie Dawber who caught the eye of both Allie and Darrell. **Photo:** Adelaide United.

End to end stuff from each team with no let-up for either side. The players looked exhausted by the end.

It’s an easy choice to select a goal scorer as a standout player. However, Chelsie Dawber is something special.

From kick-off until her substitution she did not stop. For such a young player she has a really wise head on her shoulders. Her awareness of space and lightness of touch made her a class act. I hope that Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson is paying attention.

For Perth Glory, one player kept popping up over and over again making their presence known. Susan Phonsongkham did not stop until her substitution in the last ten minutes. Getting an assist for her troubles, just looking at her heat map, I don’t think there is a blade of grass she didn’t touch. Another young player who has a very bright future ahead of her. She certainly made up for tactical error that lead to Adelaide’s second goal.

The first half was tight between the two teams and that made it such an entertaining first match to watch. When Perth came back into the game within the first ten minutes of the second half, you felt it could be anybody’s game. As a neutral, this was a great first game to get into the new season.

Overall I have found the Australian League is one that a lot of WOSO fans sleep on (no pun intended) because of the time difference.

This should change as it is a fast and furious league which makes it one of the most enjoyable to watch.

Now I just need to pick a team!

If you want to check out more of Allie Coker‘s thoughts and opinions, check out her Twitter @axlsgirl or her podcast, The Woso Show, which drops every Wednesday.

Lucy Fuller on the Melbourne Derby:

**Above:** Hannah Wilkinson – the star of the show in the Melbourne derby. **Photo:** Melbourne City.

It has been a very long time since I last watched the A-League Women, in fact, I last watched it when the likes of Sam Kerr and Hayley Raso were over there playing in the NWSL off-season. Due to this, I didn’t know half of the team’s players with me only recognizing Lynn Williams for the Victory plus Hannah Wilkinson and Rebekah Stott for City, those seemed to be the only names that stood out to me after looking at the team sheet.

The standard of the game has definitely improved since I last watched the league even with some of those huge names no longer appearing, but I guess that sometimes helps as it gives other players the chance to make a name for themselves. One player that really stood out to me though was Wilkinson who had a fantastic game scoring all five of City’s goals. For me, the game really put the spotlight on her and she has really made a name for herself in my eyes – she was really impressive. I think I will be keeping a close eye on her as the season progresses and even further into the future.

City had a great game with an aggressive press and some great play to win them the game 5-1 and I will be honest after watching the game’s build-up I really didn’t expect the scoreline to go in City’s favour let alone be so big.

When you look at the stadium the game was played in, it goes to show for me how Australia is pushing the league. The venue at AAMI Park is stunning but could you image UK teams playing in stadiums like that week in week out? It would be amazing.

It was a bit strange seeing the ground so empty though with people spread out so much but I guess that is still an effect of the pandemic that a lot of countries are still having to deal with for now. There was still a bit of a noticeable atmosphere though which was great and I am sure as the pandemic and restrictions start to ease we will see the stadium filling up.

Watching this game has made me want to watch a lot more of the league throughout the season and follow it a bit closer and luckily doing so is being made a lot easier here in the UK thanks to BT Sport and the likes of Impetus.

Lucy Fuller runs the UK-based football site Edge of the Area which can be found via these links:

Site : www.edgeofthearea.co.uk

Instagram : www.instagram.com/edgeofthearea

Twitter : www.twitter.com/edgeofthearea

Darrell Allen on Adelaide United v Perth Glory:

**Above:** Coopers Stadium – a venue that impressed both Darrell and Allie. **Photo:** Adelaide United.

After seeing in the New Year, I decided I would make the effort to try and watch the Adelaide United vs Perth Glory fixture live on BT Sport with the programme scheduled to begin at 6.00am UK time.

I didn’t end up going to bed until just after 2.00am as it was New Year’s Eve so I knew it was going to be a tall order to be up for the live broadcast but I still set my alarm clocks for between 5.30am and 6.00am with the intention of watching the game live whilst also putting the game on record in case I slept through the mentioned alarms.

With alarms going off every few minutes, I eventually came round at 6.15am and was awake enough to realize what was going on and that I needed to get the TV on to watch the game. I wasn’t far behind the live broadcast starting but very happy I had recorded it so I could tune in “As Live” and only be around 15 minutes behind the live show.

Whilst sitting up in bed with just my bedside lamp and light from the TV screen trying to make me more awake, the first observations I noticed were how nice the weather was in Australia and how I am sure we could all do with a nice holiday in warmer climates with early thoughts and plans in progress to join fellow Impetus writers at the Women’s World Cup in 2023, something for us all to look forward to in what will hopefully by then be a less pandemic hit world but we can only take a week or even a day at a time and see where the world takes us.

Anyway, back to the game in hand and it was also noticeable at the very nice facility the fixture was taking place at with Coopers Stadium hosting this exciting clash between the Reds and Perth Glory, in what was to be the first of a doubleheader with the men in action following the A-League women’s contest.

**Above:** Perth Glory’s Gemma Craine (left) battles with Adelaide United’s Nanako Sasaki. **Photo:** Perth Glory.

This was to actually be just the second time I have ever tuned in to any ALW action with the former being around a year ago during lockdown when I also watched a Perth Glory game.

In the early stages of the game, it was noticeable that Adelaide seemed to have more energy and intensity, although I understand this was probably to be expected with Perth Glory having had a few weeks since their last fixture.

I was impressed with how the Perth Glory defence stood firm however and they were putting in superb effort and commitment to stay level.

The two stand-out players for me from each team were Chelsea Dawber for Adelaide with a brilliant first-half brace and Susan Phonsongkam for Perth Glory who looked very lively and made the visitors first-half goal which saw Adelaide have a narrow 2-1 advantage at the break.

The second half began and followed a similar pattern to the first with Adelaide dominating but a very hard-working Perth side gave it everything particularly in defence which was standing up well to the Adelaide attack.

**Above:** Alana Jancevski, who scored Perth’s penalty. **Photo:** Estybs Photo Supplied to *Impetus* by Perth Glory.

Alana Jancevski’s penalty early in the second half set up a great contest with Perth drawing level and then having to use all their effort and energy to try and keep Adelaide out.

The words of advice from the Adelaide bench and the talks during the drinks break clearly had an effect as they seized their opportunity’s well and finally make the most of one of their many corners when McNamara headed home to make it 3-2.

The highlight of the second half was still to come when Emily Condon scored a beautiful free-kick from 20 yards out to seal Adelaide’s 4-2 win.

This was a very watchable game and one I was certainly pleased to get up for. A deserved win for Adelaide who did all the basics right, were clinical, had the required cutting edge, and made the most of their set-pieces.

Perth may feel the scoreline was harsh but they will improve I am sure as the weeks now go on and a regular run of fixtures hopefully resumes. From a personal point of view, I certainly enjoyed the game and look forward to continue learning about the A-League Women and setting that alarm for more games.

Darrell Allen is Impetus‘ grassroots women’s football writer.

Impetus Achievers Awards

With three games and late drama, Round Five of the A-League Women had plenty to enjoy. Our writing team covering the competition Ben Gilby, Kris Goman, and Kieran Yap are joined this week by Catherine Paquette to hand out our awards for the week (3/1/22).

Above: Mackenzie Hawkesby – the choice of Ben, Kris, and Kieran as player of the week. Photo: Jason McCawley/Getty Images via Illawarra Mercury.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Ben: Mackenzie Hawkesby – coming back to your hometown and hitting a hat-trick is the stuff of dreams, and it banished the memories of a frustrating Sydney derby for her and her team.

Kris: Mackenzie Hawkesby for the hat trick and continued dominance. The goals weren’t the greatest I’ve ever seen, but in the context of a 5-0 win and playing in your hometown, it tips it over the line. Kudos to Chelsie Dawber for two incredible goals though.

Kieran: Mackenzie Hawkesby. She has been excellent all season but could not find the net in the Sydney derby. Wellington were unlucky to face her next because she was absolutely ruthless and decided the game with a first-half hat-trick.

Catherine: Katrina Gorry for her incredible continuing return to form from maternity.

COACH OF THE WEEK:

Ben: Garrath McPherson. The first four rounds were beyond frustrating for Brisbane Roar with late goals denying them each time. Yet McPherson kept his team believing and growing when it would have been easy to have confidence issues. Both McPherson and Roar were rewarded for their belief in the most ironic way possible – scoring late goals to turn around a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 win at Melbourne Victory.

Kris: Ante Juric for the continued success with Sydney FC. Although they took the foot off the pedal in the second half, the first half was exceptional and if not for the heroics of Alfeld, the score would have been much higher. The team is well organized, deep, and making the right decisions. Juric is all over it.

Kieran: Adrian Stenta. Up against a strong Perth side with significant weapons, Stenta backed his team to outscore them, and fans were rewarded with some entertaining football and brilliant goals.

Catherine: Ante Juric for continuing the unbeaten streak.

MOMENT OF THE WEEK:

**Above:** Brisbane Roar players celebrate with Katrina Gorry (far left) after her goal yesterday. **Photo:** Brisbane Roar.

Ben: Katrina Gorry’s goal. An absolute rocket from a player that has done it before and will do it again. Add the celebration and the fact that baby Harper was there to see it too and there’s no better moment of the week.

Kris: Katrina Gorry had a great game for Brisbane Roar with an assist and a goal and their first win for the season. Coming back after having a baby, scoring, and particularly the celebration gets the moment of the week.

Kieran: Katrina Gorry’s equalizer, like a good fireworks display, it happens quite often but it’s always pretty spectacular. Her celebration was the icing on the cake.

Catherine: Mackenzie Hawkesby’s hat trick.

Roar Of Celebration After First Victory

Melbourne Victory 2-4 Brisbane Roar

By Kieran Yap (2/1/22)

Above: Brisbane Roar celebrate Katrina Gorry’s goal that brought them level after being 2-0 down. Photo: A-League Women

Chaos and quality defined the game as Melbourne Victory hosted Brisbane Roar.

Brisbane arrived at AAMI Park in search of their first win of the season and sitting only above Wellington Phoenix on the table. Victory was humbled by a 5-1 loss to Melbourne City and fans expected a response.

The hosts took the lead before they had a shot on goal. Jessie Rasschaert was guilty of an awful back pass that was too hard, too high, and too wide of rookie keeper Mia Bailey. It sailed into the net on the fifth minute to make for a difficult start for The Roar.

**Above:** Battling it out in a the midst of a crazy, dramatic game at AAMI Park. **Photo:** A-League Women

Brisbane created the clearest chances. Katrina Gorry started and was involved at every opportunity in midfield. Larissa Crummer would have been disappointed not to score when she was played through only to be thwarted by Maizals in the Victory goal.

Melbourne extended their lead through Lynn Williams in another contentious moment. Amy Jackson’s corner kick swung in and bounced around off heads and shoulders before crossing the line by a microscopic margin.

**Above:** Melbourne Victory’s second goal – microscopically over the line? **Photo:** Melbourne Victory

Nevin knocked it over just to be safe but the goal was credited to the American striker. Victory held the lead into half-time but would have felt lucky to be two in front.

The champions were less than full strength as they have been all season. Alex Chidiac and Casey Dumont were missing and Melina Ayres has still yet to feature as she nurses a hamstring injury.

Amy Jackson started as a centre-back and the first half looked to be a much more settled Melbourne Victory compared to the previous week.

They defended slightly deeper in preparation for the threat posed by the pace of Crummer and Shea Connors and for the first half it worked.

The second half began with Victory in the ascendancy but although their midfield was combining well, clear chances were hard to come by. Despite their early errors and sometimes rushed passing. Brisbane’s defence contained Williams, Catherine Zimmerman, and Lia Privitelli.

**Above:** Brisbane Roar defender Annabel Haffenden keeps a close eye on Melbourne Victory’s Catherine Zimmerman.
**Photo:** Brisbane Roar.

The most dangerous-looking Roar player was Katrina Gorry who is getting back to her best. Her brilliant first touch had never deserted her but as the season has gone on she has been able to be more involved more often.

In a sign of the times, Brisbane could only name a bench of four players. Gorry, who had previously been restricted to a half of football or slightly more would be needed for as close to a full shift as possible.

Gorry’s was the driving force behind Brisbane’s first goal. She hit a long-range shot that dipped and bounced in front of Maizels. The Victory keeper could not keep hold of the ball and when it bounced from her grasp Crummer was on hand to finish easily.

**Above:** Larissa Crummer, whose goal got Brisbane Roar back into the game. **Photo:** Brisbane Roar.

The game changed in the second half as Victory’s midfield was removed. Kyra Cooney-Cross saw red for a sliding tackle on Crummer. The reaction of the stadium and the players suggested that a yellow card was expected.

When Alanna Murphy was substituted, Victory were without one of their best performers so far. The new recruit is still just 15 years old, however, and a full 90-minute game may be something she is building towards.

Gorry took advantage of the added space in midfield to score a contender for goal of the season. She scores these goals fairly routinely, but they are still impossible to get used to. 30 yards out with the game on the line is the perfect situation for Brisbane’s number 10. She lined up and struck it beautifully. Maizels could only watch the ball fly over her head and under the crossbar. It is the sort of goal that Gorry is known for and few others can provide.

At 2-2, both teams kept trying for the win. But as Melbourne surged forward to restore their lead Brisbane hit them on the counter-attack. Ayesha Norrie clipped a ball over the top for Nathalie Tathem to square for Shea Connors.

**Above:** Shea Connors – rewarded for another impressive performance with a goal. **Photo:** Brisbane Roar.

Brisbane’s American striker stayed composed and scored in the 90^th minute to take the lead. It was her third goal in as many games. Connors is on an increasingly strong run of form and when she gets close to goal she gets results.

The result was sealed when Norrie scored a late fourth for the visitors. The ball was played to her on the edge of the area by Crummer and the Brisbane captain fired her shot into the net. It was a worthy end to another great game by Norrie.

The first three games of the season saw Brisbane falter at the end of matches after strong starts.

This week they started horribly but ended with the win in a much-preferred reversal of fortunes.

**Above;** Nathalie Tathem and Jessie Rasschaert celebrate an incredible win after the final whistle. **Photo:** Brisbane Roar.

Victory are without a win in two matches. They will lose Kyra Cooney-Cross for at least one week and perhaps longer if she is called into the Matildas squad as expected.

Could this be the beginning of a Roar resurgence? They have an in-form forward in Connors and a midfield with quality and depth. In every match so far they have struggled to stay composed in defence but in Round Five, they got better as the match wore on.

This win had been a few weeks coming and they celebrated accordingly after the match.

For the home side, a troubled season just got more difficult.

Teams: MELBOURNE VICTORY (4-1-4-1): Maizels, Nevin, Jackson, Bunge, Doran, Murphy, Williams, Barbieri, Cooney-Cross, Privitelli, Zimmerman. Substitutes: Iermano, Markovski, Robers, Varley (GK), Withers.

Scorers: Rasschaert (OG) 6′, Williams 26′.

BRISBANE ROAR (4-1-4-1): Bailey, Rankin, Haffenden, Rasschaert, Margraf, Norrie, Connors, Hecher, Gorry, McDougall, Crummer. Substitutes: Clough, Kitano, Tathem, Worth (GK).

Scorers: Crummer 59′, Gorry 86′, Connors 90′, Norrie 90+6′.

Referee: Isabella Blaess.

Attendance: 605.

Red Hot Dawber’s Brace Seals Win

Adelaide United 4-2 Perth Glory

By Ben Gilby (1/1/22)

Above: Perth Glory’s Gemma Craine (left) tangles with Adelaide United’s Nanako Sasaski. Photo: Perth Glory.

Adelaide United sent Perth Glory to their first defeat of the season in a match that swung one way then the other in humid conditions at Coopers Stadium.

Reds head coach Adrian Stenta gave first starts to returning hero Dylan Holmes and American Kayla Sharples. Fellow countrywoman Cyera Hintzen was given her Perth Glory debut and Susan Phonsongkham came into the eleven from the kick-off for the Western Australians. Lisa De Vanna was missing from Alex Epakis’ squad.

Adelaide started strongly, focusing their attacks along both flanks. The left was particularly productive in the early exchanges with Chelsie Dawber combining with Fiona Worts along that side.

**Above:** Dylan Holmes slotted back into place in the Adelaide United line-up. **Photo:** Adelaide United.

Holmes was busy from the off, providing strong cover at the back and working hard to minimize the threat of Alana Jancevski. Whilst Gemma Craine was at the heart of Perth’s offensive threat, Emily Condon and Sharples were putting in the hard yards to attempt to nullify the Derbyshire-born star. Phonsongkham was also buzzing around, earning plenty of possession and driving hard to create.

United were ahead in terms of possession, but couldn’t find the final ball to penetrate the five-strong Perth backline, and Brisbane Roar could provide the details on what happens when you fail to do that against Alex Epakis’ side.

Perth came agonizingly close to making their South Australian hosts pay with 20 minutes on the clock. Sarah Carroll was tripped by Hayward on the left. Kim Carroll floated a ball in which eluded the heads of everyone before dropping to Phonsongkham who got away from her marker Nanako Sasaki to stretch out and direct the ball against the left-hand post with Hintzen unable to get a follow up on it.

With half an hour on the clock, with chances really at a premium, Adelaide got their first effort on target when Condon’s corner on left was met by Worts who got up well, but her header landed comfortably into Morgan Aquino’s arms.

However, just two minutes later, United made the breakthrough. Condon broke through the midfield, getting the better of Kim Carroll and Mie Leth-Jans before finding Dawber in space on the left-hand side of the box. The locally born striker doesn’t miss from there and her shot across Aquino put Adelaide ahead.

**Above:** Adelaide United celebrate Chelsie Dawber’s strike. **Photo:** Adelaide United

The hosts dialled up the pressure forcing a succession of corners leading up to the half-time interval. Adelaide were pushing up with real pace whenever Perth had possession to force errors.

Despite spending quite a bit of time on the backfoot in all three games this season, Perth have a habit of being able to hit back and take chances when necessary. With three minutes of the half left. Jancevski and Phonsongkham put together a quick exchange of one-touch passes along the right to bypass would-be defenders. The latter’s curved ball into the box was perfectly weighted to roll into the path of Hintzen who shot home a first-time effort on her debut between Grove’s legs.

However, in stoppage time at the end of the half, Phonsongkham lost possession just outside her own box, Adelaide made the visitors pay the ultimate price. Sasaki played a ball to Dawber with the outside of her foot and the ever-dangerous South Australian saw off Kim Carroll and rifled a shot into the top right-hand side of the net before Liz Anton could get a block in.

**Above:** Chelsie Dawber drives home a shot. **Photo:** Adelaide United.

Dawber had two chances to complete her hat-trick within moments of the second-half opening. The closest was the second opportunity. Substitute Deborah-Ann de la Harpe played a short pass to Phonsongkham, but the former Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder had her pocket pinched by Holmes who combined with Worts to play a ball across to Dawber who was unmarked, but Anton got a block on the shot.

Adelaide came close once more shortly afterward as teenage defender Ella Tonkin, a SA NTC product, got up between Anton and Rigby but directed her header wide of the left-hand post.

It took Perth seven minutes to weather the Adelaide storm, but crucially for them, they were able to score when the chance came. Craine was found in the box on the far left-hand side with her back to goal. A combination of Sharples’ knee and thigh made contact with the striker’s back in a needless challenge which gave referee Rebecca Mackie no option but to award a penalty.

Jancevski stepped up and hit a shot that was initially blocked, but agonizingly for Annalee Grove, it rolled out of her grasp and over the line, with the 18-year-old scoring her second goal in three games this season.

**Above:** Adelaide United debutant Kayla Sharples had an eventful game. **Photo:** Adelaide United.

Sharples was lucky to avoid conceding another spot-kick five minutes later when she looked to pull Phonsongkham by the shirt in the box. Perth were now having their longest spell of offensive pressure and Grove had to be alert to push away Phonsongkam’s shot from the left-hand side of the box.

Hintzen came agonizingly close shortly afterward as she took one touch and rifled a left-footed effort against the underside of the bar. The American did find the net later after being played through by Craine, but the effort was correctly ruled out for offside.

After a drinks break, Worts was responsible for Adelaide’s first chance in 20 minutes when the striker got a shot away under the close attention of Kim Carroll which was powered over the bar.

With thirteen minutes to go, and at the ninth attempt, an Adelaide corner finally got its reward. Worts stepped up on the right and curled a sensational ball in which left Aquino in doubt whether to stay or come towards it and Matilda McNamara was able to come running through the middle of the Perth box unmarked to head home.

Within four minutes, matters were settled when Emilia Murray earned a free-kick on the edge of the box under the close attention of Jancevski. Condon stepped up to the left of centre, just over 20 yards out, and curled her shot into the far corner.

**Above:** Fiona Worts (right) makes contact with Tash Rigby. **Photo:** Adelaide United.

Within moments, Adelaide thought they had scored again when Worts got away and fired home, but in the build-up, the Reds’ striker’s elbow made contact with the face of Perth captain Tash Rigby and rather than a goal, Worts received a yellow card.

The overall scoreline was harsh on Perth who hit the woodwork twice, but Adelaide reaped the rewards for producing an offensive display which was arguably their best of the campaign.

Adelaide United’s two-goal hero Chelsie Dawber said: “I scored last time against Melbourne City and it’s good to get a few more goals. It’s a good result. We had most possession. The thing is we need to be taking our chances.”

**Above:** Two goalscorers contest possession – Perth Glory’s debutant Cyera Hintzen (left) and Adelaide United’s Matilda McNamara. **Photo:** Perth Glory

Perth Glory head coach Alex Epakis recognized that his team was not quite at their best.“We were good enough at times, but there were times when we weren’t. It was an inconsistent performance.

“I believe that not playing competitively for three weeks meant we didn’t have the edge we needed to manage the game from start to finish. The times we did play well, I really liked what we did and we were effective in phases.

“We are going to focus on that and eradicate the pressure we put on ourselves with cheap, silly turnovers. We know we can better.”

Teams: ADELAIDE UNITED: Grove, E.Hodgson, Tonkin, McNamara, Sharples, Sasaki, Holmes, Condon, Hayward, Dawber, Worts. Substitutes: Templeman (GK), Stanbury, Omiya, Varley, Murray.

Scorer: Dawber 32′, 45+2′, McNamara 77′, Condon 81′.

PERTH GLORY: Aquino, S.Carroll, Leth-Jans, Anton, K.Carroll, Rigby, Jancevski, Phonsongkham, Hintzen, Craine, Lowry. Substitutes: Newbon (GK), de la Harpe, Sakalis, Cain, Hooks.

Scorer: Hintzen 42′, Jancevski (pen) 53′

Referee: Rebecca Mackie.

Attendance: 1,660.

Hayes’ Achievements Recognized in New Year Honours

Above: Emma Hayes has received royal recognition for her incredible success at Chelsea. Photo: Getty Images via Oxford Mail (1/1/22).

Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours.Hayes was given an MBE for her services to football in the Queen’s 90^th Birthday Honours in 2016 and will now be bestowed an OBE for the same reason later this year.

Since being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) five years ago, Hayes has added a raft of trophies to her name, starting by lifting the FA WSL Spring Series title in early 2017 and going on to win the Double that May. Hayes also welcomed the birth of her son soon after Chelsea’s FA Cup final victory.

Further silverware followed in 2020 as the Blues clinched the Continental Tyres League Cup and were crowned the Barclays FA Women’s Super League champions. Although the league ended prematurely due to Covid-19, it was decided by the FA that Hayes’ undefeated side were winners, based on a points-per-game system. Hayes was named the 2019/20 WSL Manager of the Season after guiding the Blues to a brilliant unbeaten domestic campaign of 12 victories and three draws.

Last season, she led the Blues to their most successful season to date with an impressive domestic quadruple win, taking home the Barclays FAWSL title, Continental Cup, and Community Shield, and most recently winning the rescheduled Vitality FA Cup in front of over 40,000 people at Wembley.

Chelsea also made it to their first Champions League final last season and achieved a record-breaking 32-game unbeaten streak in the FA WSL. Unsurprisingly, Hayes was once more named the FA WSL Manager of the Season in 2020/21, and she was also inducted into the FA WSL Hall of Fame this year.

Hayes penned a new deal in July 2021, committing her future to the club, and during the summer she also garnered critical acclaim for her expert analysis as a television pundit during the delayed Euro 2020 tournament.

Upon hearing the news, Hayes commented: “It was a huge shock to hear I had been awarded an OBE. It’s an unbelievable honour for me and my family and a privilege I take very seriously.

“I would like to thank everyone who has worked with me across my career. I am fortunate and extremely lucky to have represented a fantastic football club and an amazing group of people over these past ten years.

“It’s been an unbelievable ride so far, transforming from an amateur outfit to one of the top five clubs in Europe and I hope we’ve helped to pave the way for future generations to come. I couldn’t have done it without the support, and I will be forever grateful to each and every one of them.

“A special big thanks to my mum and dad and wider family for their unwavering support throughout. This is for you.”

Chelsea Chairman, Bruce Buck also commented on the achievement: “On behalf of everybody at Chelsea Football Club, I would like to congratulate Emma on this incredible honour she is receiving.

“Since joining us over a decade ago, Emma has not only transformed the women’s team here at Chelsea but has also continued to pioneer the way for the women’s game and inspire young girls across the country.

“It’s great to see Emma’s hard work and dedication both on and off the pitch recognized, and we are very proud of all of her impressive achievements over the past 10 years.”

The Norfolk Women’s Football Scene in 2021

Darrell Allen reviews the last twelve months across the county’s clubs and leagues.

Above: Martin Francis and his Mulbarton Wanderers team celebrate success in the Norfolk Women and Girls Challenge Cup earlier this year. Photo: Mulbarton Wanderers FC (31/12/21).

The year began for Norfolk Football began as it did for the rest of the country as we were plunged into the third National Lockdown on 4th January. Football was on hold for many weeks after as the beginning part of the year was just filled with rumours and speculation about what the return of football would look like and when indeed it would recommence.

It was decided by the government in late February that organized sport could return from Monday 29th March and further discussions were then held about local leagues, and what if any cup competitions would look like.

It was deemed and widely supported that there was not enough time to complete the season and none of the leagues re-started, which was largely the picture across the country. Instead, it was decided County Cup and other competitions would return and this would be in the form of the Norfolk Women’s Cup which recommenced at the Second Round stage and two separate competitions also run by the Norfolk Women and Girls League; a Challenge Cup and a Challenge Vase competition. Wroxham and Wymondham Town also had an additional competition as the Eastern Region League set up a Challenge Cup format.

Wroxham didn’t make it out of the group phase so, it was Wymondham Town who faired best in the Eastern Region Challenge Cup winning their group phase and entering the finals day which was played at Haverhill Rovers FC between the winners of the four groups in the Eastern Region Challenge Cup. Those winners were Wymondham Town, Royston Town, Bedford, and Cambridge City Development.

Cambridge City Development beat Wymondham Town and Royston Town beat Bedford in the semi-finals to set up a Royston Town vs Cambridge City Development final. The day ended with a 6-5 win for Royston Town on penalties. Not the day local side Wymondham Town hoped for, having to settle for victory over Bedford in the third-place play-off.

**Above:** Royston Town lift the Eastern Region Challenge Cup. **Photo:** Darren Gilham.

Locally this competition was regarded as much more low-key than the usual league fixtures but it was a way of getting football up and running again and the League should be applauded for doing so.

The Norfolk Women’s Cup restarted on Sunday 18th April with the second round stage. North Walsham Angels won 7-2 at Horsford, Sprowston beat Bulldogs 19-0 and Mulbarton Wanderers beat Fakenham Town 10-1. Norwich City, King’s Lynn Town, Wroxham and Wymondham all received byes as well as Tavern who’s opposition Red Rose forfeited the second-round tie.

Sunday 2nd May saw the Quarter-Final ties taking place. Norwich City beat Wymondham Town in the day’s big tie 1-0, Mulbarton caused a massive upset winning 1-0 at Wroxham, Sprowston beat North Walsham Angels 4-0 and the game of the day saw Tavern narrowly beaten at home 4-3 by King’s Lynn Town.

Due to tight deadlines, the semi-finals took place the following Sunday with Norwich City thrashing King’s Lynn Town 7-0 and Mulbarton Wanderers winning 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Sprowston to set-up a Norwich City vs Mulbarton Wanderers final.

The final took place on Wednesday 19th May 2021 at the Norfolk FA Headquarters, the FDC in Bowthorpe. Due to Norwich City being a step four side and Mulbarton Wanderers being step seven, it was a one-sided final which was to be expected with Norwich City running out 7-0 winners. A hat trick from Kathryn Stanley was the highlight of the night, although Mulbarton should be praised for their never say die attitude and willingness to never give up. This is installed by head coach Martin Francis who later in the summer won the Norfolk FA Coach of the year award which was fully deserved.

In the Norfolk Women’s and Girls league competitions, Mulbarton Wanderers made up for their county cup final defeat by tasting success in the challenge cup final on 27th June winning 2-1 against Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers. In the Vase final on 30th June, Sprowston beat Fakenham Town 4-1.

That was the 2020/2021 season restarted and finished in a couple of months with various fun cup competitions, but attention quickly turned to 2021/2022 as excitement and anticipation built ahead of the start and return of all our much-loved leagues. Here is a rundown of what has been happening so far this season.

Norwich City – The FA Women’s National League Division One South East

**Above:** Norwich City pictured after winning the Norfolk Women’s Cup Final. **Photo:** Norwich City WFC.

Step Four Norwich City, the highest placed team in Norfolk have had a difficult season in the FAWNL Division One South East. Despite positive new signings in Freya Simmonds and Mollie O’Callaghan from local rivals Wymondham Town, it was a difficult start to the season for the Canaries losing their first three games and shipping 15 goals in the process against Billericay Town, London Seaward, and Enfield Town. Form came back in September with a very creditable 1-1 draw at AFC Wimbledon before a 2-1 home win over Actonians and a 4-1 away success at Kent Football United which enabled Shaun Howes’s team to climb the league. It has been a disappointing run since with five successive league defeats which leaves them third from bottom. Norwich City excited the Women’s FA Cup at the second round stage losing 5-1 at Stoke City after beating Wymondham Town 2-0 in Round One. Norwich City begin 2022 with a home fixture against London Seawood at The Nest on Sunday 9th January.

Wymondham Town – Eastern Region Premier Division

**Above:** Wymondham Town’s Katie Knights (right) in action. **Photo:** Neil Dady.

Step Five Wymondham Town can be very proud of the way they have started the 2021/2022 season. They came out of the blocks firing with four consecutive wins to start the season against Bedford, Colney Heath, St Ives Town, and Luton Town. A slump in late September saw them beaten on the road at Royston Town and handsomely 4-0 at King’s Lynn Town on back to back Sundays. Since those two defeats, they have been absolutely untouchable taking 19 points from a possible 21 in the league with noticeable success in the local derby away to Wroxham with Becca Russell and Katie Knights scoring the goals to seal a midweek derby victory under the Trafford Park floodlights and a huge three points on 28th November beating Bedford 3-2 at Ketts Park, gave them a big lead at the top of the table and sees them sit on 31 points, six points clear of second place Royston Town having scored an impressive 45 goals in 13 games and look to be clear favourites to take the Eastern Region Premier Division title and a place in Step Four next season. Wymondham reached the First Round proper of the Women’s FA Cup losing 2-0 to Norwich City at Ketts Park on 14th November having won 10-0 at Haverhill Rovers in the qualifying rounds to set up that tie with their Norfolk rivals.

Wroxham – Eastern Region Premier Division

**Above:** Wroxham celebrate a goal in their opening day win over Luton Town. **Photo:** Ben Gilby

Step Five Wroxham hit the headlines in the summer and rightfully so with some incredible transfer business as manager Rebecca Burton brought in Alice Parker from Norwich City and Amber Cantwell from Cambridge United, both were added to an already talented squad. Two transfers that hit the headlines across East Anglia and beyond and a signal of intent that Wroxham meant business heading into 2021/2022. A flying start to the season was expected and Wroxham absolutely delivered with five wins from the five and a place at the top of the table by 12th September. A 4-2 win over Luton Town on the opening day was followed up by a 3-2 win at Haringey Borough, a big 5-2 win in the local derby on August Bank Holiday Sunday at Trafford Park vs King’s Lynn Town followed by an away doubleheader success with a 3-1 win at Bedford and a 4-1 win at St Ives Town made it an incredible start to the season and Wroxham were the team that everyone was talking about.

Unfortunately, four successive league defeats followed against Wymondham Town, Royston Town, Bowers & Pitsea, and Colney Heath before a point away to King’s Lynn Town in an entertaining 1-1 draw on 21st November stopped the run of defeats. The fixture calendar has not been kind to Wroxham with large breaks between fixtures but hope will be that once 2022 arrives with a regular run of matches, the Yachtswomen will start climbing the league again. With many home games to play all is still salvageable for Wroxham and don’t be surprised if we see them finishing in the top three of the division at the end of the season. Wroxham exited the Women’s FA Cup at the 3rd Qualifying Round stage losing 3-2 to Luton Town.

Kings Lynn Town – Eastern Region Premier Division

**Above:** Jodie Hopkins (right) in action for King’s Lynn Town at The Walks earlier this season. **Photo:** King’s Lynn Town.

By far and away Norfolk Football’s success story of 2021, surprising everyone apart from perhaps themselves. After getting promoted to Step Five, I will be totally honest and say I expected King’s Lynn to struggle to stay up. How wrong I was and I am very happy to be wrong. Managed until the last few weeks by the very highly regarded Joe Simpson, King’s Lynn have played all their home games at the men’s clubs stadium at The Walks and it has certainly increased the appeal and awareness of the side off the pitch.

On the pitch, they have done themselves very proud. Spearheaded by captain Tiffany Foreshaw and vice-captain Jodie Hopkins. King’s Lynn sits in an incredible third place in the league on 20 points after 13 games, having won five, drawn five, and only lost three. After a narrow opening day defeat at home to Haringey, Kings Lynn picked up a creditable 1-1 draw at Bowers and Pitsea before a Bank Holiday thumping 5-2 at Wroxham. It was September that saw King’s Lynn go on a rampage, winning three of the next four games, responding to that Wroxham defeat in stunning fashion beating St Ives Town 5-0, before an away success at Dunstable. A disappointing 4-1 loss at Bedford, September ended with a wonderful 4-0 win over Wymondham Town before back to back 2-2 draws at Colney Heath and at home to Luton.

November saw King’s Lynn take seven points from nine with an important late penalty securing a 1-1 draw with Wroxham sandwiched in between two very noticeable away wins at Royston Town and Haringey Borough. Their last game of the year was a 1-1 draw at St Ives Town. Manager Joe Simpson left after this game and we look forward to seeing if King’s Lynn can continue their excellent progress and the foundations Joe has laid.

With many home games to play once 2022 arrives, hopes are high that King’s Lynn can continue their excellent season and finish in the upper reaches of the division. Don’t rule out a Norfolk top three come the end of the season with Wymondham, King’s Lynn, and Wroxham all having favourable fixtures in the second half of the campaign. In the FA Cup, King’s Lynn Town exited at the 3rd Qualifying Round stage losing to Step Four Cambridge United 3-0 at The Walks after a 5-1 win at Suffolk side Brettvale in the second qualifying round.

Norfolk Women and Girls League (NWGFL – Step 7 and 8)
Division One:

**Above:** Thetford Town and Thorpe St Andrew applaud at their recent fixture in memory of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. **Photo:** Darrell Allen.

So far in 2021/2022, teams have played between five and nine matches. The league is led by Mulbarton Wanderers who have won seven from seven and sit proudly at the top on 21 points. Martin Francis once again proving why he is the coach of the year. The division’s other unbeaten team is Thetford Town who sit just two points behind Mulbarton having won six and drawn one of their seven games so far under David Skipp and Stuart Terry. A notable date for the diary is 13th February when Thetford travel to Mulbarton for the top-of-the-table clash and if both teams are still unbeaten going into that it is one all eyes are sure to be on.

Bungay Town, Fakenham Town, and Long Stratton make up the next places with Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers occupying 6th. It is worth keeping an eye on Dussindale in the New Year as they have only played five games and would expect to be higher up the league once they catch their games up.

In the second half of the league, Stalham and Beccles sit on a creditable nine points with Sprowston on seven. The bottom two currently are Thorpe St Andrew on three points and North Walsham Town are rock bottom after eight losses from eight. Certainly, all to play for at both ends of the table.

Division Two:

In Division Two it is Caister who lead the way, on 21 points having played eight, won seven, and lost one so far. An excellent start to the campaign from Sophie Gillett’s team who continue to excel in their first season. Hot on their heels are KLSC just two points behind who were the only team to beat Caister so far this season. Gorleston are a very good third, just a further two points back on KLSC, and worth noting that fourth place Shrublands are unbeaten with four wins and two draws from their first six games. UEA sit fifth in their first season in the NWGFL and Horsford sixth. In the bottom half of the league Freethorpe, Red Rose, and Bulldogs all have six points, FC Viking & Valkyries have three and Loddon United are bottom of the pile having lost seven from seven. Like with Divison One, it’s certainly all to play for at both ends of the table.

Thank you for your continued support of my work and I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year.