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International Round-Up

The last week has seen a large number of international games around the world. Ben Gilby rounds up the action.

A busy pre-Olympic spell of international action began on Thursday 10^th June when Japan produced a dominant 8-0 win over Ukraine.

Two goals each from Yuzuho Shiokoshi and new Arsenal signing Mana Iwabuchi (pictured above) set the Games’ host nation on their way. Further strikes from Saori Takarada, Hina Sugita, Mina Tanaka (penalty) and Yuka Momiki completed the rout.

Slovakia earned an impressive 1-0 win over Chile, who are in the same group as Team GB at the Olympics. Patrícia Hmírová’s strike just after the half hour mark was the difference.

Italy were another European nation who achieved a fantastuc result – seeing off a Netherlands side without Vivianne Miedema, 1-0. Cristiana Girelli’s penalty after 14 minutes sealed the victory.

Ben Gilby’s in-depth analysis of Australia’s 3-2 defeat in Denmark can be read by clicking here

Sweden celebrated Caroline Segar’s incredible achievement of making 214 appearances for her country – drawing level with Therese Sjögran at the top of the charts. Five hundred spectators were allowed into the stadium in Kalmar and saw BK Häcken’s in-form striker Stina Blackstenius grabbed the winner with 66 minutes gone.

Scotland returned from Northern Ireland with a narrow 1-0 win over Kenny Shiels’ understrength side. There was a great atmosphere at Seaview with five hundred fans watching Northern Ireland for the first time since their incredible qualification for the European Championships.

**Above:** Caroline Weir – scorer of Scotland’s winner against Northern Ireland. **Photo:** Dunfermline Press.

The Scots put the home side under pressure from the off as Claire Emslie put an effort wide at the near-post. She also hit the bar with effort later on in the opening half.

Birmingham City’s youngster Chloe McCarron had a free-kick which landed on the top of the Scottish net.

The deciding moment came with twelve minutes left. Cliftonville’s Toni-Leigh Finnigan made contact with Christie Murray in the box and a penalty was awarded. Up stepped Caroline Weir to dispatch the spot kick and Scotland left with the win.

Spain continued their excellent run of form with a straightforward 3-0 win over Belgium in Alcorcón. The Spanish were absolutely dominant, with 74 per-cent of possession and had 11 shots on target compared to just one for the Belgians.

Mariona Caldentey put the Spanish ahead just before the break before Alexia Putellas doubled the advantage from the spot after 50 minutes. Aitana Bonmati completed the scoring with 15 minutes left.

France earned a 1-0 win over Germany in Strasbourg thanks to a strike from Kenza Dali after half an hour.

Friday 11^th June saw a further four games. First, in Cartagonova, Brazil swept aside Russia 3-0. Two goals from Bruna Benites Soares either side of half time were added to by Andressa Alves da Silva’s strike nine minutes from the end.

Canada, who will face Team GB in the group stage of the Olympics, played out a 0-0 draw with the Czech Republic.

Finland and Poland were involved in a dramatic clash in Pinatar, Spain. The Finns built a 2-0 lead with two goals in as many minutes. Eveliina Summanen put them ahead with 23 minutes on the clock and Karolina Klabis’ own goal doubled their advantage shortly afterwards. Dominika Grabowska got Poland a lifeline just before the hour mark and Ewa Pajor completed the comeback with less than a quarter of an hour to go.

The Republic of Ireland recovered well after a tough first half in their visit to Iceland. The home side built a 2-0 lead within the opening fifteen minutes through goals from Agla María Albertsdóttir and Alexandra Jóhannsdóttir. Vera Pauw’s side struggled to get their passing going in windy conditions, and Dagný Brynjarsdóttir made it 3-0 before half-time. Goals from Heather Payne and Amber Barrett made things more respectable from an Irish perspective.

Portugal will take a lot of comfort from their defensive performance against the USA in a match that the World champions only won by a single goal late in the second half. Despite dominating the entire game, the USA’s sole converted effort came from Sam Mewis who headed Christen Press’ corner into the roof of the net. The USA had 26 shots on goal and earned 15 corners but Portugal worked extremely hard to stay in the game throughout.

**Above:** Jassina Blom – scorer of Belgium’s winner against Luxembourg. **Photo:** worldfootball.net

In the sole match played on 12^th June, a much changed Belgium side, playing their second match in 48 hours, squeaked past minnows Luxembourg 1-0. The Belgians totally dominated the match with 72% of possession, 27 shots on goal compared to just one for Luxembourg and 11 corners. Despite this, they only had Jassina Blom’s ninth minute strike to show for their efforts.

On Sunday 13^th June, Japan continued their goal-laden warm up spell for the Olympics with a 5-1 win over Mexico in Toshigi. Mana Iwabushi put the Japanese ahead on 36 minutes and it remained 1-0 until the break. Less than sixty seconds after the re-start, Mina Tanaka doubled Japan’s advantage. Mexico, who put in a fantastic effort throughout which saw them muster 46 per-cent of possession and have seven shots on goal, got back into the game just three minutes later when Alison Gonzalez scored. Sadly for the visitors, Yuka Momiki restored Japan’s two goal advantage four minutes later. Momoka Kinoshita and Jun Endo completed Japan’s tally in the last seventeen minutes.

Tunisia returned from Jordan with a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Hazim Lamti (34) and Ala Hamdi (81).

Latvia had a difficult first half at home to Estonia, conceding four goals in less than half an hour. Lisstte Tammik (16), Berle Brant (28), Kairi Himanen (43) and Mari-Liis Lillemäe (45). Renāte Fedotova got a goal back for the Latvians in the final minute of the game.

**Above:** Berle Brant – on target for Estonia in Latvia. **Photo:** Playmaker.

Lithuania gained a 2-0 win over Faroe Islands with Rimantė Jonušaitė (16) and a penalty from Ugnė Lazdauskaitė in the 78^th minute sealing the win.

Malta won the battle of the minnows against Montenegro thanks to a strike just after the half hour mark from Jade Flask.

Despite going behind to a ninth minute strike from Croatia’s Izabela Lojna, Slovenia eventually ran out comfortable 4-1 winners. Two goals from in three minutes before half-time from Mateja Zver (41) and Lara Prašnikar (44) put the home side in front. Second half efforts from Zver (58) and Dominika Čonč completed the win.

In the day’s other game, Costa Rica made a fast start against Guatemala. Raquel Rodriguez gave them the lead after a quarter of an hour with Gloriana Villalobis making it 2-0 on 33 minutes. Gloria Aguilla gave Guatemala some hope just before the break, but Melissa Herrera’s strike after 64 minutes sealed the win for Costa Rica.

On 14^th June, the United States swept aside Jamaica 4-0 in Houston. It took just 23 seconds for the World champions to go ahead when Rose Lavelle played in Carli Lloyd in the six yard box. The USA legend took a touch and swept in home past Sydney Schneider, becoming the oldest ever goal scorer for her country at the age of 38 years and 332 days.

It was 2-0 after just seven minutes when Christen Press went down in the area and a penalty was awarded. Up stepped Lindsay Horan to net. Margaret Purce scored only her second international goal just after the 20 minute mark when she shot home at the near post after Press played her in.

It took until stoppage time at the end of the second half for the USA to get a fourth and it came courtesy of Alex Morgan. Sam Mewis chipped a ball towards Morgan around the penalty spot region for the former Spurs player to head home.

Italy gained another victory – this time against Austria, but they had to work very hard to achieve it.

Angelica Soffia put the Italians ahead after just three minutes but Nicole Billa levelled ten minutes later. It remained level until the early stages of the second period when Soffia hit her and Italy’s second (53). Back came Austria though with Carina Wenninger’s equaliser. With a quarter of an hour left, Elena Linari grabbed the winner from the spot.

Russia gained an impressive 1-0 win against Finland thanks to Nadezhda Smirnova’s goal on the hour mark.

**Above:** Russia’s Nadezhda Smirnova, match winner against Finland. **Photo:** worldfootball.net

Brazil and Canada played out a 0-0 draw.

15^th June was a busy night of action with some quite incredible results.

It is fair to say that no-one predicted the result of Netherlands’ clash with Norway in Enschede. The Scandinavians fielded a regular side, but were, incredibly completely taken apart 7-0 by the Dutch.

Vivianne Miedema put the Netherlands ahead on the quarter of an hour mark and Sherida Spitse made it 2-0 ten minutes later. It was a spell of three goals in seven minutes which totally transformed the outlook.

Jill Roord (51), an Ingrid Moe Wold own goal (53) and another strike from Miedema (57) took the tally to five. Shanice van de Sanden (73) and Danielle Van de Donk (84) completed the rout.

It was a night to forget for the Norwegians who could only muster five shots on target compared to the Netherlands’ 15.

Chile came away from Germany with a superb 0-0 and also managed to earn as many shots on target as their hosts.

Sweden and Australia battled out a 0-0 draw – for Ben Gilby’s match analysis, click here

Costa Rica swept aside Guatemala, going one better in their encounter on 13^th June with a 4-1 win. Three goals in 20 minutes decided matters in the first half. Shirley Cruz (15), Stephanie Blanco (32) and Cristin Granados (36) put the hosts in the driving seat. Andrea Alvarez (76) got one back for Guatemala before Diana Saenz completed the scoring with seven minutes left.

**Above:** Aitana Bonmati (6) and Marta Cardona (18) in celebratory mood after another great win for Spain. **Photo:** Diego Souto (Getty Images).

Spain continued their excellent run with a 3-0 win over Denmark. Aitana Bonmati put the hosts ahead in Alcorcón in first half stoppage time. Patri Guijarro doubled their advantage mid-way through the second period before Bonmati completed matters four minutes from time. It was a dominant performance from the Spaniards who mustered 19 shots to Denmark’s one.

Wales went down to a 1-0 loss to Scotland at Llanelli when Erin Cuthbert took advantage of Welsh keeper Laura O’Sullivan’s error which gave the Chelsea star an open goal to shoot into after a poor attempted pass to a team mate on the hour mark.

Cuthbert came close earlier when her effort came crashing back off of the crossbar. Her FAWSL team-mate Sophie Ingle, playing in midfield came closest for the Welsh.

The Republic of Ireland went down to their second defeat in four days against European Championship qualifiers Iceland in Reykjavik. This reverse means that Vera Pauw’s side have now lost their last seven games. The Irish were far more solid in defence that in the first encounter, allowing the home side just opportunity in the first half when Berglind Björg Þorvaldsdóttir’s effort was saved by Irish keeper Courtney Brosnan at the near post.

Amber Barrett was one of Ireland’s best players, sending an effort wide of the post. Megan Connolly also let fly with a ferocious shot from 30 yards, which Icelandic keeper Cecilía Rán Rúnarsdóttir pushed round the post.

Ireland would rue these missed opportunities as Þorvaldsdóttir put Iceland ahead. Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir doubled the Icelandic side’s advantage with ten minutes to go.

**Above:** Berglind Björg Þorvaldsdóttir’s goal put Iceland ahead against the Republic of Ireland. **Photo:** @berglindbjorg.

The final game of the international period saw USA take on Nigeria. Once again, the World champions dominated the game with 72 per-cent possession and made more than twice the number of passes than the Nigerians. However, they found it difficult again to convert possession and chances into goals. The USA scored in stoppage time at the end of each half with Christen Press netting just before half time and Lynn Williams at the end of the match.

A Caribbean Diary Part One

In this, the first of a regular series of articles for Impetus, James Thomas, the newly appointed head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago women’s national team, speaks to Ben Gilby about his footballing journey and how he aims to take the Caribbean nation to the World Cup in 2023.

**Above:** James Thomas, in his previous coaching role in the Welsh Women’s National Performance Centre. **Photo:** John Smith/Same Old Smith Photography – FAW.

James Thomas’ coaching career started at the age of 16 at Cardiff City FC and has taken him to the USA, several top level English clubs and international set-ups for both England and Wales. He is now in the early stages of an exciting opportunity on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago.

“I started coaching at Cardiff City on a work experience placement for their Football in the Community scheme assisting with, and then delivering sessions at local schools, clubs and school holiday camps. This developed into a job for me and I spent about nine years working within the community scheme and Centre of Excellence at the club. During this time I also spent a season working with the Football Association of Wales, and their Girls South Wales Centre of Excellence. I went on to spend three years working in Southern California coaching at various clubs with Girls teams predominantly. When I returned from the US I had a spell as a coach for Manchester United working on their Soccer Schools program.”

“After a couple of years out of the game, I took a role working within the England Women’s & Girls Elite Talent Pathway as U16s Head Coach at their South West England Advanced Coaching Centre (ACC) in Bristol. I spent 3 years at the ACC and this led to an opportunity to join Bristol Academy WFC (now Bristol City WFC) initially as a Head Coach of the U14’s, but during my time there I also held roles as Assistant Coach of the U20’s WSL Development Squad, that featured players such as Lauren Hemp, Aimee Palmer, Flo Allen, and Lily Woodham all of whom have gone onto careers in the WSL and internationally.

“My last role at Bristol City was as Head Coach of the WSL Academy & 16-19 College programs whilst also being part of Willie Kirk’s staff in and around the first team environment.”

“In 2018 I was given the opportunity to join the Wales Women’s National Team staff and during my 3 years with the FAW, I was fortunate enough to work across a variety of roles with the U17/19 and Senior National Teams including Coach, Assistant Coach and Analyst. I also had the opportunity to be Head Coach for an experimental U16 UEFA Development Tournament that was held in Slovenia in 2019. I also spent three years working as a coach within the Women’s National Performance Centre. Outside of my commitments with the FAW, I also held the role of Assistant Manager of Cardiff City Ladies FC, who compete in the FA Women’s National League.

From working with the FAW to now taking over as the head coach of Trinidad and Tobago is a huge jump. James explained how it came about.

**Above:** James gets a point across during Wales Women’s Performance Squad Training. **Photo:** John Smith/Same Old Smith Photography – FAW

“I had been thinking for the past 12 months or so about what the next step in my development as a coach should be, and when the changes within the FAW Women’s staff started happening at the beginning of the year with staff leaving I felt that the time for me to take the next step. Although I had remained at the FAW, I felt this was the right time for me to move onto a new role that would challenge me.

“The position with Trinidad and Tobago was advertised in January, and it immediately took my interest as the standard of players they have is very good and felt that my experiences and thoughts on the game could add value to them as a national team and as I said I was looking for a challenge and challenges don’t come much bigger than trying to qualify for a FIFA World Cup!

“They had 195 coaches from around the world apply for the job, so I knew I was in for a tough challenge, but was confident that my experiences and ideas would stand me a good opportunity of progressing through the process of multiple interviews and shortly after I was contacted by the General Secretary of the National Association to formally offer me the role, which I of course accepted there and then.

“I have just relocated to the islands full time. We are launching a National Performance Program and this will see us working with the domestic players three or four times a week, so it is essential I am there full time to make sure I can control that program and to set the standards I expect of the players and staff within the environment.”

“Additionally, I have already started looking at players in Europe who have Trinidad and Tobago heritage to see if they could be added to the mix and there are a couple on the radar already.”

James outlined his plans for his first weeks and months in the job. “As far as the National teams are concerned, we are working right now on the organising camps and hopefully four friendly games ahead of our World Cup qualifying campaign with starts in November.

**Above:** Promotional artwork for the Trinidad & Tobago National Team. **Photo:** Trinidad & Tobago Football Association.

“The immediate goal is to implement a game model that will afford us the best chance of success in the qualifying campaign. The players have a ton of ability and potential, and are great athletically, but from what I’ve seen from the previous games I have watched there has been a lack of organisational structure within the team. My job and the job of my staff is to add a lot of coaching detail to the team’s game plan.”

With more places than ever before available for World Cup qualification, James confirmed that a major goal would be to make it to the tournament with the Caribbean side.

“Of course, it will be tough and we have a lot of work to do in a relatively short space of time, but that is the challenge now for the players and staff – to learn the game plan inside out so that we are able to hit the ground running come qualifying in November.”

James ended by considering what he wanted his legacy to be for women’s football in Trinidad and Tobago.

“I want to be able to look back and be proud of the work we have done and the legacy I have left. Not just in terms of the Senior National Team performances, but also the impact on the development of the game domestically.”

Impetus will be following James Thomas’ progress with Trinidad and Tobago with regular interviews over the coming months as the team embark on the road to the 2023 World Cup.

Well Organised Defence, Now To Solve the Kerr Conundrum

Above: Chelsea team-mates Sam Kerr and Magda Eriksson contest possession in Kalmar. Photo: Mia Eriksson.

Sweden 0-0 Australia

By Ben Gilby

A Sweden side who fielded a team which is likely to be considerably different from the one that they take to the Olympics, were held 0-0 by a well organised Australia in Kalmar.

It would also be fair to say that the Scandinavians will probably deploy a different formation and tactics when the two team meet in the Games on 24^th June in Saitama.

The match was a celebration of legendary star Caroline Seger who played her 215^th international match, becoming the most capped European footballer of all time, male or female.

After conceding 13 goals in their three previous games under Tony Gustavsson, the Matildas were far more solid defensively throughout. Once more they lined up with a back three, but the extra time in camp since the previous friendly with Denmark last Thursday had clearly resulted in greater understanding and solidity.

There were several changes in the Australian starting line-up as Teagan Micah made her debut in goal, midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross made her first start and Emily Gielnik came in for Caitlin Foord.

Sweden started strongly and mustered 80% possession in the opening twenty minutes, but they found the Matildas defence hard to breach and when they did, Micah was in good form between the sticks.

This was the key difference from the previous games against Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark where Australia conceded at least once when under early pressure. The dam held and the Matildas confidence grew noticeably.

The presence of Gielnik was offering more of a threat up front and this change also resulted in Kyah Simon being more prominent in dangerous positions. She came close just after the half hour mark when Sam Kerr crossed in from the right and the Blacktown born forward hit an effort just over.

**Above:** Emily Gielnik, who had an influential evening for the Matildas. **Photo:** Mia Eriksson via @TheMatildas

However, Tony Gustavsson still hasn’t really solved the conundrum of how to use Kerr effectively. The Chelsea star was having to drop deep or come wide in a bid to gain possession. At the moment, defences are finding it all too easy to nullify her threat and the Matildas need to use the five week period between now and the Olympics to work out how to get the best out of their superstar.

Kerr never stopped trying and did come the closest to scoring when Gielnik played her in wide on the left. The Western Australian cut in and unleashed a vicious effort which crashed back off of the bar.

Kyra Cooney-Cross had a very decent first start. Once the 19 year-old starlet got up to the pace of the game, she looked calm and composed on the ball and looking to make dangerous passes. This will be the first of what will certainly be countless starts in the green and gold over the coming decade.

Ellie Carpenter was hugely impressive coming forward once more. Seger found it increasingly challenging to live with the Cowra born star’s pace.

Hayley Raso put in a sterling shift defensively as well, keeping Madelen Janogy at arm’s length for much of the game. This did though reduce Raso’s potential for trademark surging runs forward, but the Queenslander had another impressive game.

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd was prominent for the Swedes and Kosovare Asllani fired in a shot into the side netting in the second half when squaring a pass could well have resulted in a goal.

With five minutes left, a Swedish corner rebounded off the bar, but with Australia bringing more defenders on – including Laura Brock replacing Kerr, who had ice taped to her thigh – the home side couldn’t break through.

Immediate concerns surrounding Kerr seem misplaced as the striker has regularly had ice applied to the same area since hitting a hat-trick against West Ham United in December for Chelsea. Similar concerns for her FAWSL team-mate Magda Eriksson, who had to leave the pitch with ice on her calf in the first half have also been downgraded thanks to Swedish team doctor Mats Börjesson who has stated that he believes she will be fine for the Olympics.

**Above:** The Australia team who played Sweden in Kalmar last night: *Back Row:* Clare Polkinghorne, Teagan Micah, Steph Catley, Emily Gielnik, Emily Van Egmond, Kyra Cooney-Cross. *Front Row:* Tameka Yallop, Sam Kerr, Kyah Simon, Hayley Raso, Ellie Carpenter. **Photo**: @TheMatildas

Teams: SWEDEN: Falk, Ilestedt, Berglund, Eriksson, Roddar, Angeldahl, Asllani, Seger, Rytting Kaneryd, Blomqvist, Janogy. Substitutes used: Kullberg, Blackstenius, Björn, Rolfö, Curmark, Jakobsson.

AUSTRALIA: Micah, Catley, Polkinghorne, Carpenter, Yallop, Cooney-Cross, Van Egmond, Raso, Kerr, Gielnik, Simon. Substitutes used: Kennedy, Nevin, Fowler, Brock, Luik.

Attendance: 500 (Covid restricted crowd).

Lots to Celebrate For Chorley

Chorley Women FC Reserves 9-1 AFC Mossley

By Janet Mitchell

**Above:** Chorley Reserves celebrate their Cup Final win in the GMWFL Premier Division Cup Final. **Photo:** John Shirras.

The two teams competing in yesterday’s Greater Manchester Women’s Football League Premier Division Cup Final have played each other twice over the last few weeks, both teams winning their home fixtures so the game was nicely poised.

The match began evenly with both teams having half chances in the first few minutes. Grace Mills looking very dangerous down Chorley’s right and Mossley’s number eight looking dangerous down their left. The deadlock was broken around the 10 minute mark, excellent footwork from Jade Foster and a deft touch from Ellie Cartwright allowed Valentine to shoot calmly past the Mossley keeper 1-0.

Mills then went close minutes later but couldn’t convert. It was Mossley’s turn to go close with a great drive from the left but Amelia Knowles in the Chorley goal made a fabulous diving save to the left. Mossley’s number eight was looking lively again minutes later but this time her attempt just flew over the bar. A cracking cup tie was emerging and it was end to end stuff. However just before the drinks break Ellie Fitton scored a bullet header from a Mills corner for 2-0.

Mossley came out firing on all cylinders and had the first chance after the drinks break, a low cross from the right this time and somehow Knowles in the Chorley goal pulled off a point blank save when it seemed the striker must score. In the next 10 minutes, both teams had half chances, substitutions were made for both teams as the heat played a factor but it was Chorley sub Chloe Drury who made the biggest impact, a low cross from her to Mills saw her get the goal her performance deserved and Chorley went in 3-0 at the break. A truly entertaining first half and some really good football on display from both teams.

**Above:** Ellie Fitton celebrates scoring one of her three goals for Chorley in the Cup Final. **Photo:** John Shirras.

Shortly into the second half a free kick from Mills was converted by Fitton, her second headed goal of the game and Chorley began to dominate. Haase who had come on at half time unfortunately sustained a knee injury early in the half and was forced off the pitch. Mills again went close after she stole the ball on the half way line and let fly from 20 yards with a terrific strike that thundered against the cross bar. Shortly after another Chorley corner was headed in by Drury from close range for 5-0.

Darby, Williams & Valentine were working hard in the Chorley midfield not allowing Mossley to have as much of the ball, Abbey Smith and Hannah Derbyshire were outstanding in defence allowing Mossley very few chances. Mills scored her second of the game to make it 6-0, calmly converting after good build up play through the midfield.

Chorley made it 7-0 minutes later when Captain Fitton popped up in the penalty area to tap in her hat trick after good work from Cartwright and Shirras on the right. Mossley to their absolute credit never gave up but Knowles was in outstanding form and stood tall in a one on one to protect Chorley’s clean sheet.

Just after the drinks break Cartwright made it 8-0 with a cool side footed finish into the corner. Mossley kept going but Chorley remained resolute at the back with Worthington and Brooke sweeping up any danger. Williams then scored an absolute cracker from all of 25 yards to make it 9-0 before in the last moments of the game Mossley got the goal their performance and hard work deserved, a lovely finish from the right as the game finished 9-1.

A fantastic first half from both teams, the first goal of the second half was always going to be crucial and Chorley went on to dominate in the second. A thoroughly entertaining cup final with both teams playing some excellent football at times but on the day Chorley were more clinical with their chances and very much deserved their win.

It’s been a really difficult season for the Reserves in particular as the rules around Covid affected them more than the first and U18s. Since the re-start it’s fair to say they’ve had mixed results and performances but you cannot fault the effort and performance on show today. A special mention for manager Andy Thornhill who stepped in part way through the season and that’s never easy, the girls did him and the club proud today.

**Above:** Chorley U18s celebrate after sealing the Greater Manchester Women’s Football League U18s championship. **Photo:** @ChorleyWomenFC

The Cup win was the icing on the cake for the Club this weekend as on Saturday, Chorley U18s finished their season with their tenth win in ten games and celebrated being GMWFL U18s Champions.

The future looks bright for the Club, who from next season will have three open age women’s teams;

Chorley’s Development Team will compete in the North West Regional Division One North

Chorley Reserves will compete in the FAWNL Reserve Northern Division.

Chorley’s first team will continue to compete in the FAWNL Division 1 North

First Team Manager Ben Gooden said ‘’We feel it’s a great time to join the club, we’ve restructured in order to develop the players the best we can by providing competitive football in the right environment. We are excited already for next season.’’

Trials for all three teams are confirmed for Sunday 20^th June 2021 and Sunday 27^th June 2021 at Coppull United FC, for more information please check out @ChorleyWomenFC on Twitter or get in touch with the club.

Artwork: Graphics by PW.

Four More Added As Perth Aim For Glory

Perth Glory have continued their squad construction for the 2021/22 W-League season by re-signing a further three players and announcing the arrival of Young Matilda Aideen Keane.

The club first revealed just over a week ago that long-serving defender Sarah Carroll had re-signed. The versatile 26-year-old debuted for Glory back in 2011 and has become one of the club’s greatest ever servants in the intervening ten seasons, racking up more than 80 appearances and featuring in three Grand Finals.

With the Glory squad taking shape rapidly ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, Carroll is excited at the prospect of representing her hometown club once again.

“The environment and culture that head coach Alex Epakis built last year with the group is very positive,” she said.

“He has big aspirations for the group, the club and the direction in which he wants to go and I believe in what he’s trying to instil into the group.

**Above:** Sarah Carroll – back for another season in Perth purple. **Photo:** Perth Glory FC

“It’s definitely something that I want to be a part of. In terms of looking forward to next year, Alex has had more time to put his spin on things this year and he’s working really hard to put together a quality team that can compete and is capable of success.

“I’m really happy to be involved again and hopefully we can see Perth back up there and competing strongly with the rest of the league.”

Epakis, meanwhile, feels that Carroll’s experience and versatility will again make her an invaluable member of the Glory squad.

“I am really happy to have Sarah return for next season,” he said, “She brings a fantastic demeanour and conducts herself as a benchmark professional on and off the field.

“Sarah will be important in using her leadership to help to maintain our culture and ensure that the younger players continue to transition well into the team. “She has the capacity to play in a number of positions and I know I will be able to rely on her to do whatever job is needed for the team week in, week out.”

Earlier this week, the club made ensured that they kept more of their exciting young talent in WA when they confirmed that highly-rated teenagers Isabella Wallhead and Abbey Green have re-signed with the club.

**Above:** Isabella Wallhead in action for Perth Glory last season against Melbourne City’s Rhali Dobson. **Photo:** Tom McCarthy.

The duo, both aged 18, continued their development last season with defender Wallhead starting four games and making a further three appearances as a substitute and attacker Green producing two lively cameos off the bench before injury unfortunately brought her campaign to a premature end.

The Perth locals, who went head-to-head with their respective NPLW WA sides Hyundai NTC Women and Murdoch University Melville FC last week, are excited at the prospect of donning the famous purple once again in 2021/22.

“I’m thrilled to be signing again for Glory and can’t wait to see what this season brings us,” said Wallhead. “Although we faced many hurdles last season, the camaraderie between the players and staff was amazing to be a part of.

“It allowed me to be more confident in my abilities knowing that the team would have my back. “I was beyond happy last year to get the game-time I did and can’t wait to continue improving in the coming season.”

Green was equally delighted: “I’m also really excited to get the opportunity to play again this season. Everyone’s determined to have a more successful season this year and prove ourselves as a team which I’m grateful to be a part of.”

**Above:** Abbey Green – looking to put a tough 2021 behind her with another year at Perth Glory. **Photo:** Perth Glory FC

Epakis, meanwhile, is confident that both players are capable of making a major contribution to the Glory cause in the upcoming campaign.

“Bella showed last season that despite her age, she can go toe-to-toe with strong opposition players. “She developed throughout the course of the season and we are happy to have given her another opportunity to be able to continue to represent her home State.

“Bella will have the ability to further grow and develop within the environment and have the opportunity to learn from senior players. She is a player with a great skill-set and I can’t wait to work with to her find another level in her game next season.”

“The same applies to Abbey who unfortunately sustained an injury early in the season which kept her off the field for the majority of the year. It was disappointing, as she certainly would have played a part in helping the squad. Nonetheless, she is now fully recovered, fit and extremely determined to represent Glory again.

“As a WA local, Abbey certainly brings the effort and desire to ensure her home club is ready to compete strongly in the competition next season and I am excited to see how she performs. I’ll be ensuring that she gets the right support and coaching to really showcase her ability.”

Then at the end of the week came the announcement that another young star was moving to the club, this time from New South Wales in the shape of Aideen Keane.

**Above:** Perth Glory announce the arrival of Aideen Keane. **Photo:** Perth Glory FC

The 19-year-old Young Matildas representative gained her first taste of W-League football with Western Sydney Wanderers last term and is currently starring for Northern Tigers in the NPL NSW.

Keane, who has scored four goals in ten appearances for the Tigers this season, is relishing the prospect of playing her part in what she believes is a very exciting project currently underway at Glory.

“I’m really excited to be there because I think it’s the best place for me to get a chance to show what I’m made of,” she said.

“I think I’m going to get the opportunities at Glory and be able to develop into the best player I can be and show that off. I really want to try and solidify my spot in the team and just do as much as I can for the team to be in the best position we can be to win games and make the Finals.”

Glory Head Coach Alex Epakis, meanwhile, feels that Keane’s all-action playing style makes her a perfect fit for the group which he is assembling.

“Aideen is a fantastic addition to our squad and I am really happy that she has decided to call Glory home for next season. Her youth international experience to date shows that she is a player of immense promise and is highly regarded.

“She is such a blockbuster player who has very intense actions and movement with and without the ball and she will certainly add attacking qualities to our team in the front third. Our attacking style of play is going to be a key aspect for us as a team next season and having Aideen ensures that we have great attacking options to really bring that dynamic type of play to life. I know she works extremely hard and she will certainly be a strong and competitive presence within the team.”

“Furthermore, Aideen has made the move to Perth because she believes in the vision that we are heading in and feels that she can play a part in helping us achieve our goals as a club. I know that she is extremely hungry to keep improving her game and has a really strong mindset in terms of helping the team as well as individually refining her own skill-set. I am really excited to have her as part of the Glory family.”

Those sentiments were echoed by Perth Glory CEO Tony Pignata.

“Alex is building a dynamic, hungry and talented squad for next season,” he said, I’m confident there will be a very competitive Glory side in 2021/22.”

Mixture of Pain and Promise For The Matildas

Above: Ellie Carpenter competes with Rikke Marie Madsen. Photo: Football Australia.

Denmark 3-2 Australia

By Ben Gilby

The Matildas remain very much a work in progress as they produced a performance which mixed promise with pain in Horsens on Thursday evening.

Australia began the game with high energy and seized control of the midfield from the off playing a rapid fire passing game with confidence. There was creativity on both flanks, but it was always going to be tough with a starting formation that saw Sam Kerr play as a lone striker.

The Chelsea superstar did have some opportunities in the first forty-five. Early on, she turned Simone Boye Sørensen and forced a good save from Lene Christensen.

However as time went on, Kerr became increasingly isolated. Kyah Simon was often located very wide, occasionally even outside the attacking rampages of Ellie Carpenter from right-back with Hayley Raso occasionally popping up in the same channel. Therefore, Denmark were able to swamp Kerr with defenders to nullify her threat.

Just after the twelfth minute mark came the first sign that all was not right with the defensive set up. As the Danes attacked, it became increasingly apparent that there were often three Matildas defenders at the back with acres of space between them which the home side took advantage of.

**Above:** Emily Van Egmond – won her hundredth cap for the Matildas in Denmark on Thursday. **Photo From:** Football Australia.

The defensive set up also became hindered with a calamitous six minute period of indecision. With a quarter of an hour played, the Danes earned a free kick on the right which was whipped high into the box. Raso and Emily Van Egmond both went to head it clear, both missed it and in the resulting panic, Tameka Yallop reached out a leg in an attempted clearance but could only direct it past Mackenzie Arnold and Denmark were ahead.

Four minutes later and again, the Australian defensive formation was split too far apart as the Danes could pick a hole to attack. They earned a corner which led to more chaos at the back as three opportunities to clear the danger were missed and Rikke Sevecke, who looked to be offside, finally forced the ball into the net but the goal was given. There was anger that the goal was allowed, but the Matildas had too many chances to clear the danger before the ball finally found the net.

It became 3-0 after an unfortunate error of judgement from Arnold when a fiendishly curling cross came back off the woodwork at the near post and the West Ham goalkeeper could only end up helping the ball over her own line.

This was the nadir, but the positives all flowed from here on in. Australia re-took the midfield and began to re-assert themselves offensively, albeit despite Kerr still being shackled by the Danish defence and Caitlin Foord surprisingly not involved much on the ball.

Going into this match, the Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson did admit that “We only have three days together before the first game against Denmark…is it going to look perfect? Probably not.”

**Above:** Mary Fowler, seen here battling with Denmark’s Rikke Sevecke, had a positive second half. **Photo:** Henning Bagger/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP.

Some positive changes were made by the coaching staff and the impact they made were clear. Mary Fowler, the 18 year-old striker from Cairns who plays her football in D1 Arkema with Montpellier made a real impact. She was busy, industrious and linked up well with Kerr, allowing the Western Australian to have more of an influence on the game. Later on in events, Emily Gielnik came on for Raso and offered another outlet which added to the threat of Fowler and Kerr.

A combination of the Matildas having claim to the midfield, a more cohesive attacking formation and the #NeverSayDie spirit, saw a promising second half which means that the squad can go into Tuesday’s game in Kalmar with Olympic group rivals Sweden in good heart.

Not everything was perfect in the second half, if we were being ultra picky, Kerr was caught offside too many times and Ellie Carpenter coughed up possession occasionally, but one was left with the impression that the coaching staff and players had learned from the inefficiencies of the first half and were striving to put it right.

Fowler’s contribution was rewarded with her first goal for her country – and it was a real rocket of a shot. Clare Polkinghorne’s stoppage header ensured that the score line took on a more realistic hue.

**Above:** The Matildas team that took on Denmark in Horsens: *Back row:* Kyah Simon, Aivi Luik, Mackenzie Arnold, Emily Van Egmond, Clare Polkinghorne, Steph Catley. *Front row:* Ellie Carpenter, Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso, Sam Kerr, Tameka Yallop. **Photo:** Football Australia

Teams: DENMARK: 1) Lene Christensen, 5) Simone Boye Sørensen, 3) Stine Pedersen, 11) Katrine Veje, 4) Rikke Sevecke, 13) Sofie Pedersen, 10) Penille Harder, 24 Kathrine Møller Kühl, 12) Stine Larsen, 17) Rikke Marie Madsen, 14) Nicoline Sørensen.

Substitutes used: 7) Sanne Nielsen (for Boye Sørensen), 15) Frederikke Thøgersen (for Sevecke), 21) Caroline Møller (for Harder), 27) Luna Gevitz (for S. Larsen), 19) Janni Thomsen (for Madsen).

Scorers: Yallop OG 15, Sevecke 21, Arnold OG 21.

AUSTRALIA: 18) Mackenzie Arnold, 3) Aivi Luik, 4) Clare Polkinghorne, 7) Steph Catley, 21) Ellie Carpenter, 10) Emily Van Egmond, 13) Tameka Yallop, 17) Kyah Simon, 20) Sam Kerr, 9) Caitlin Foord, 16) Hayley Raso.

Substitutes used: 11) Beattie Goad (for Luik), 8) Courtney Nevin (for Catley), 14) Alanna Kennedy (for Yallop), 23) Mary Fowler (for Simon), 19) Kyra Cooney-Cross (for Foord), 15) Emily Gielnik (for Raso).

Scorers: Fowler 87, Polkinghorne 90+2.

The Swedish Scene

@DandalBs returns with all the latest news from within the Swedish game – we have stories from the International camp as well as our regular Damallsvenskan and Elitettan round-ups plus more transfer and injury news.

NATIONAL TEAM NEWS:

**Above:** Stina Blackstenius celebrates after scoring Sweden’s winner against Norway on Thursday. **Photo:** SVT.se

Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson called up 25 players for Sweden’s friendlies against Norway (last Thursday) and Australia (next Tuesday). There were no surprises in the selection. Very few, if any, who are not named will be on the 18+4 Olympic roster. Nathalie Björn and Emma Berglund were recalled to the national team for the first time since 2017. Among the other players selected were Hedvig Lindahl, Magda Eriksson, Kosovare Aslani, Fridolina Rolfö and BK Häcken’s in form striker Stina Blackstenius.

One player who missed the Norway game on 10^th June was forward Lina Hurtig due to “family reasons”. It is still unclear if she will be available for selection for the game against Australia match on 15th June too. Mimmi Larsson was been called up as a replacement.

The Norway match resulted in a 1-0 win for Sweden in front of 500 fans in Kalmar. The match saw Caroline Seger’s record-equalling 214th appearance for her country. In form striker, Stina Blackstenius finished off a good Swedish attack.

DAMALLSVENSKAN:

This was the first set of matches this season where fans were allowed into stadiums as coronavirus restrictions were lifted slightly across the country.

The first game to be played in front of fans was Linköping’s clash with Hammarby. It had been reported that 200 of the 500 tickets available had been snapped up by travelling Hammarby fans. The match itself ended in a 3-3 draw. Emilia Larsson put the visitors ahead after just four minutes before Sofie Bredgaard levelled just under a quarter of an hour later. A spell of two goals in five minutes either side of the half hour mark saw each side score once more as Emma Jansson re-stored Hammarby’s lead momentarily but Sofie Bredgaard levelled once more. Six minutes into the second half, Nilla Fischer put Linköping ahead for the first time, but just after the hour mark, Matilda Vinberg wrapped it up at 3-3.

Rosengård‘s 100% start to the season stopped at seven wins after they were held 0-0 away to Kristianstad long suite. A tough, physical match took place with few scoring chances. There was also a good display of goalkeeping by both teams’ custodians. There were over 300 people in the stadium.

A somewhat contentious penalty kick just five minutes from time ensured that Vittsjö defeated Växjö 1-0. Fernanda Da Silva scored from the spot. Växjö are usually a strong side defensively, but they are suffering up front, scoring only two goals in eight games. It was to the delight of the 282 fans at Vittsjö.

**Above:** Djurgården’s match winner, Daniela Zamora. **Photo:** Fotbollskanalen.se

Djurgården gained a vital 1-0 win over Eskilstuna United thanks to a goal from Daniela Zamora after 35 minutes. This win for Djurgården ended a run of six straight defeats, in front of a crowd of 500 fans.

AIK earned a great 2-0 win over KIF Örebro. Thanks to goals from Honaka Hayashi after nine minutes and Rusul Kafaji’s strike a quarter of an hour later settled the game. Örebro were slightly hard done by, but the Solna based side scored two good goals in front of 382 supporters.

BK Häcken failed to take advantage of Rosengård’s first dropped points of the season when they could only draw 0-0 with Piteå and consequently stay five points behind the league leaders.

Round Nine Fixtures:

Växjö v Djurgården

Piteå v Hammarby

BK Häcken v AIK

KIF Örebro v Kristianstads

Eskilstuna United v Linköping

Rosengård v Vittsjö

ELITETTAN

Round Eight Results: Umeå IK 1-0 Sundsvalls DFF, Borgeby FK 0-0 Mallbackens IF Sunne, Jitex Mölndal 1-0 IFK Kalmar, Älvsjö AIK FF 1-0 Lidköpings FK, Bollstanäs SK 0-1 Morön BK, Alingsås FC United 3-1 IFK Norrköping, IF Brommapojkarna 0-2 IK Uppsala.

The table remains unchanged as the top four all won and are separated by just three points. Leaders IK Uppsala remained two points clear at the top after a 2-0 win over IF Brommapojkarna thanks to two goals from Moa Öhman. Umeå IK saw off Sundsvalls DFF only due to a single goal from Elvira Fjällström. Villemo Dahlqvist’s sixth-minute strike was enough to ensure that Morön BK saw off strugglers Bollstanäs SK. Fourth placed Älvsjö AIK FF remained in the promotion hunt thanks to Marie Segerholm’s goal that ensured victory over Lidköpings FK.

Round Nine Fixtures: Älvsjö AIK FF v IF Brommapojkarna, Lidköpings FK v Mallbackens IF Sunne, Morön BK v Umeå IK, IFK Kalmar v Borgeby FK, IFK Norrköping v Bollstanäs SK, Jitex Mölndal v Alingsås FC United, Sundsvalls DFF v IK Uppsala.

NEWS ROUND-UP:

German website http://sportsbuzzer.de says that Barcelona is likely to be the destination for Fridolina Rolfö when she leaves VfL Wolfsburg. Rolfö herself denies to that any transfer is completed, but it is expected to go through before the Olympics.

Kristianstad‘s young star Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir, who missed her sides’ last three matches due to a knee injury, played thirty minutes in their 3-1 loss to Hammarby last weekend.

Less positive news surrounds Eskilstuna United‘s Halimatu Ayinde, who was hurt in the match against BK Häcken a fortnight ago. It has been revealed that she suffered a severe ACL and meniscus injury and faces a long spell on the sidelines.

The Swedish transfer window doesn’t open until 15 July, but Vittsjö have already announced the signing of 17 year-old Sweden U17 captain Klara Nyberg from third tier side Själevad.

**Above:** Hanna Bennison in action for Sweden against Norway on Thursday has had a big week – an international cap, graduating high school and announcing she’s open to moving abroad. **Photo:** Sydsvenskan.se

Eighteen year-old midfield talent Hanna Bennison, who finished high school this week and is only coming off the bench for Rosengård, has started to think about moving clubs. She confirms Everton’s interest, but there are other English and German clubs too. She played an impressive role in Sweden’s 1-0 win over Norway on Thursday. National head coach Peter Gerhardsson was very pleased with her performance against Norway and let her leave the camp to go home for a champagne breakfast and everything that goes with a Swedish high school graduation. “I hope she’ll have as much fun as I had”, Gerhardsson said.

Hammarby‘s Madelene Janogy has been named Damallsvenskan Player of the Month for May.

Rosengård midfield wizard Jelena Čanković, has signed an extension of her contract until 2025. Boss Therese Sjögran is “incredibly happy and proud” over Čanković’s extension.

Harriet Meers: Loving Life at Wroxham

In our final catch up this season with Wroxham Women’s Harriet Meers, who Impetus are proud to sponsor, Ben Gilby finds out how the defender got on in her first matches for the club over the past month or so.

**Above:** Harriet (centre) shields the ball in the Norfolk Cup tie against Mulbarton Wanderers. **Photo:** Cyan Fullbrook.

It’s been a rollacoaster ride of a season for 21 year-old Wroxham defender Harriet Meers. She signed for the club in December just before the country went into lockdown again (see Wroxham Prepare to Return To Action and Harriet Meers: Lots To Look Forward To in 2021) which meant it would be three months before she would have an opportunity to train and then play for her new team.

Finally, the club were in a position to play their first game post lockdown in the Eastern Regional League Challenge Cup group stage tie against Cambridge City Development on 11^th April – a game that would see Harriet make her debut.

“It was nerve-wracking!” Harriet reveals, “I definitely didn’t expect to start the game. I thought I might get a few minutes, but didn’t think I’d get the full ninety! It was a tough game, none of us had played for such a long time. I’d never played for the team before, I’d also never played at that level before. So, going into the game we thought it would be a tough one and I do think that on another day the score line would have been very different and gone in our favour.

With their second group tie away to AFC Dunstable the following weekend, Harriet took us through how the team went about putting things right ahead of that match.

“We were disappointed after the Cambridge loss and Bex (Burton, head coach) put on an analysis session in the build-up. We looked through the key plays from the game, what we did and what we could have done differently. That was really helpful for me as I hadn’t played alongside the other defenders before, so it was good to be shown who does what, where and when. So, for example I was going to play more as a sweeper and the centre back I played alongside was going to attack the ball. That analysis session then got put into practice on the Wednesday and Friday at training and when it came to the game itself, we smashed it.”

That game saw Harriet retain her starting position at the heart of the Wroxham defence.

“We were really powerful from the whistle. We were relentless and chased down every ball. Everyone put a stint in and it was a game that left everyone feeling really good afterwards. Everyone was buzzing and it was nice to have drinks after the game as a group as it almost made you think that the last few months of lockdowns hadn’t really happened!”

With Wroxham’s Eastern Regional League Challenge Cup games behind them, attention then moved to the Norfolk Cup with the Yachtswomen drawn against Mulbarton Wanderers, two leagues below them in the Quarter-Finals.

“That was a tough game on the day and a frustrating one for us all. What we tried to do wasn’t working. We didn’t play at our best, we didn’t play to the standard that we’d been trained to do. We win and lose together as a team. We all left feeling pretty miserable, but we know what that feels like now and don’t want to feel like that again, and that’s important.”

Whilst the results may not have gone the way Wroxham would have wanted across the three games, these were the highest level matches that Harriet had ever played in during her short footballing career.

**Above:** Harriet (far right) in the Wroxham dressing room before the game against Mulbarton Wanderers. **Photo:** Cyan Fullbrook.

“The first game was really difficult. I didn’t expect to start it. I was driving to the game in the morning and saw the team sheet released and thought ‘Oh God!’ I was very nervous and played very nervously for pretty much the whole game. It was hard not really know what to do in certain situations. It was tricky. But the analysis session we had afterwards – I can’t say enough how much that helped and I focused on what Bex wanted from me.

“The second game against Dunstable, I definitely improved. The things I had to work on was to create angles, looking at playing out from the back and not shying away from the ball and getting confidence on the ball. Getting the win also boosted the confidence.

“I definitely think that as a player I am improving already. I’ve only had three games, but when the confidence comes I think I can only get better. The opposition is a lot tougher, but it’s also more exciting. It’s nice to go into a game and not know what’s going to happen.”

Harriet’s season didn’t end with the Norfolk Cup tie against Mulbarton Wanderers as she’s been back in the University of East Anglia (UEA) team for their recent games against Wymondham Town (who are in Wroxham’s tier five division) and Norwich City CSF.

“The games with UEA have actually been harder because I had got used to the players around me at Wroxham and what they want and then I was back at UEA where we hadn’t played together for ages. The team has lost a lot of players who were doing this semester from home due to Covid.

“We had two games, against Norwich City CSF which we won and Wymondham who beat us. I actually enjoyed the Wymondham game more because it was a challenge. You have to gel as a team though. UEA have so many individually brilliant players but they’ve got to work together. Next season if things return to normal, we can gel again and improve.”

Playing at tier five for Wroxham and at BUCS level for UEA means that Harriet has a very busy training and playing schedule on top of her Biomedicine studies. She gave an insight into what the physical demands are like.

“It is tough. There’s two training sessions a week for Wroxham and up to three with UEA plus games. Physically, as a defender, my legs are always bruised. It’s great though. I wouldn’t change it. I miss it so much already now the season is over.

“Wroxham ended after the Mulbarton game and there’s nothing I want to do more than go back and start training there again. I can’t wait to get back.

“I’ve got a few exams at the moment that I need to get out of the way. I need to maintain my fitness and improve it if I can. I want to work on ball skill and that will improve me so much when we come back.

“I just want to carry on with Wroxham and get a good season with no cancellations!”

That is a sentiment that we all echo. It’s been great following Harriet’s first steps as a tier five footballer and we look forward to following Wroxham’s progress again next season.

A Deal With The Devil That Sold Out The Fans

by Terri Westgate

Newly promoted FA Premier League club Norwich City have caused huge controversy this week by announcing a major sponsorship deal with a gambling company which uses images of women that were common place in the 1970s. Terri emphasises just how offensive and what a retrograde step the club’s announcement was.

**Above:** Norwich City FC – who have just announced a major sponsorship deal with a company who represent women in a demeaning manner.

I started attending football matches back in 1990, with my first visit to Carrow Road to watch my local team Norwich City in the old First Division. I was a fresh faced 16-year-old and stood on a terrace amongst a mostly male crowd. Back in those days anytime a young woman walked in front of the stand she was serenaded with a chant of “Get your t*ts out for the lads”. I was often mocked for only being interested in looking at players legs (something to this day I have never understood, why would you stand in the cold for two hours on a January afternoon to look at legs?). A few years later I was accosted by supporters of my own team on a train, who declared I knew nothing about football and demanded I explain the offside rule. Although I was angry, to this day I am proud that I managed to contain myself enough to give an accurate description before leaving for another carriage.

This not uncommon behaviour put some people off going to football, and fed into the negative stereotype of fans that prevailed. I persevered partly because I was defiant that I wouldn’t be kept from something that brought me so much joy, and partly because I was surrounded by casual sexism in my everyday life. I grew up in the 1980’s when page three models were national stars and the advertising industry was awash with misogynistic imagery and straplines. I had been told many times that I couldn’t do something “because I was a girl”, and as I reached puberty I became acutely aware of how I would be sexualised by the world, and how I had to change my behaviour and even my clothes to safely navigate the world.

None of this will surprise any woman; recent research has shown that nearly all women (97%) have experienced sexual harassment. However, things have got better at football since the 1990s as clubs have worked with fans to eliminate sexist and homophobic chants, to make grounds more inclusive. My club Norwich have worked with many fan groups making sure everyone who wants to cheer on the Canaries feels welcome. As a result, the newly promoted team has an above average percentage of season ticket holders who identify as female. Famously we are also part owned by a woman, which is a rare thing still in the beautiful game.

On Monday 7^th June 2021 the club announced their new sponsorship deal, yet another online gambling firm – which in itself has many issues. However, within minutes of watching the glitzy intro video fans started to visit the website and social media accounts of the new partner – BK8, and what they saw shocked. It was a sea of photos of young women in sexualised imagery, to the point that you had to work hard to even know that BK8 had anything to do with gambling. Impetus has decided specifically not to reproduce any of these photos as they are a completely unacceptable depiction of women.

That a company in 2021 was using promotional tactics that would be at home in The Sun from the last millennium was appalling. But that a self-proclaimed “family club” had chosen to be associated with the brand was confounding. Supporters of all genders and ages began to express their disgust and disappointment with a growing ferocity on Twitter. Local and national media picked up the story, and fans’ disapproving voices were across the news. Emails to the club were publicly posted, and an almost united opposition to the deal was expressed.

But how did it come to this? If the supporters had found this content within minutes, then the club must have been aware of it. It is a multi-million-pound deal that would have been weeks, if not months, in the making. All kinds of checks and legal proceedings will have happened before anything was signed. And yet still it went ahead, without the club even asking for any content to be removed.

This means that they were aware and decided the money involved was worth the risk. Norwich City are a self-funding club. They have no billionaire backer with cash to burn, unlike most of their Premier League rivals. They have to generate money to be able to invest in players, and the gap between the Championship and the top flight means that survival is no longer achieved with a canny boss and a young and upcoming squad. You have to spend big. If you don’t have the reserves to compete in the transfer market you either have to risk a large debt (which can go disastrously wrong, ask Bolton Wanderers’ fans) or you have sell yourself to the highest bidder.

Norwich City has made the decision that money is king, and either underestimated the backlash or figured they can ride it out. The thing about football fans is we are incredibly loyal, and the majority of Canaries supporters have already paid for their season ticket for the upcoming campaign. The only likely financial hit is a drop in shirt sales, and that might only be a dent in comparison with the size of this contract.

However, the damage done to the relationship with the supporters is not so easily repaired. Norwich is a community club; in recent years it has had open communication with the fans who have turned out in numbers and worn their colours with pride. So much good work was undone on Monday, all the progress made since the 1990’s has been undermined.

So, I ask myself, is promotion worth it? All that joy and elation at winning the league is deflated with the realisation that our club had sold its soul, and the values it had previously professed now seem superficial. Our majority shareholders have said they are guardians of club, rather than owners. Right now, they have failed in those duties, they have taken their eye off the ball and brought our beloved club into disrepute.

Terri Westgate is a Norwich City fan who writes a regular column for the Eastern Daily Press and regularly appears on BBC Radio Norfolk talking about the team.

Laight Goal Decides Close Encounter

Pride Park 1-0 Chesterfield Development

By Boot Room

**Above:** Izzy Ely on the charge for Pride Park against Chesterfield. **Photo:** Shaun Hardwick.

The Ladies welcomed Chesterfield Development to Moorways on Sunday. Pre-match heavy drizzle left the pitch wet on top, but as the rainclouds disappeared the temperature rose and the sun put in an appearance, drying out the surface and making it a warm and muggy afternoon.

After being stretched by injuries and other commitments last week, we had the relative luxury of four substitutes yesterday – which considering the warm and humid conditions was just as well – although two were combining the warm up with a late fitness test!

The game attracted a large crowd, easily our biggest of the season, perhaps tempted by the prospect of some good football and a close game, after the previous meeting between the sides ended in an equaliser for Chesterfield and a winner for Pride Park both coming in time added on.

If that was the case, they won’t have been disappointed, as both sides played some good football that was easy on the eye.

The visitors got the game underway and made a bright start to the game. The Pride were a little slower into their rhythm, but it was the home side who had the first sight of goal; Annie Laight’s shot going wide. Summer Evans burst through a little after the quarter hour and just beat the keeper to the ball, but was brought down by the netminder’s momentum. The referee took a moment of thinking time before pointing to the spot.

Tash Allderidge took responsibility and placed her penalty kick to the keeper’s right, but too close to the keeper, who was able to get down and gather the spot kick in.

The majority of the play was taking place in the middle third, as both teams tried to assert themselves, but with neither able to truly do so. Chesterfield had a sight of goal just before the half-hour, but couldn’t find the target.

Pride Park finished the half strongly, starting with the opening goal after 31 minutes; Maja Znamirowska playing a diagonal ball for Annie Laight, who allowed it to run across her, and calmly waited for the right moment (which, from the touchline seemed to take an age!) before striking an excellent shot across the keeper and into the far side of the goal. It was a fine finish by a player in form – that’s three in three, and five in the last six games.

**Above:** Annie Laight, Price Park’s match winner, gets a ball in against Chesterfield. **Photo:** Shaun Hardwick.

The goal brought added impetus to Pride Park, with Annie testing the keeper twice within a couple of minutes of the goal. As half-time was approaching we won a corner on our left. The ball was delivered into the box, and first Hannah Kwiatek and then Annie Laight had close range efforts blocked.

The second half started with Maja Znamirowska going close within a minute of the restart, and a minute later Jade Howell collected a Chesterfield shot. There were a number of good opportunities to extend our lead, with Eliot (twice), Beth Jones (twice), Otty Baker and Maja Znamirowska all bringing saves out of the Chesterfield keeper. Two of those, and particularly a save from Beth Jones, were exceptional.

Chances also fell to Beth Jones, Izzy Ely, Maja Znamirowska and Tash Allderidge, but their shots were off target.

There were approximately five minutes left to play when Jess Page went down with an ankle injury at one end of the pitch, play continuing and Beth Jones also injuring her ankle in a challenge at the other end of the pitch. Neither were able to continue, so there was a reshuffle required for the five minutes, with Tash Allderidge dropping into the back four. There was one opportunity for Chesterfield in time added on but the striker pulled her shot wide.

It could and should have been a more comfortable winning margin, and but for the Chesterfield ‚keeper it probably would have been. It’s encouraging to have kept another clean sheet – the defensive unit stuck to their task well again, and but for one occasion in the second half, defended very well – and there is something particularly satisfying about a 1-0 win.

Goals have been noticeably harder to come by since lockdown, a combination of players missing through injury, or returning to match fitness, and the results of games have – with one notable exception – been relatively close, with teamwork and tactical discipline being important attributes in those results. Annie Laight took her goal well yesterday, and with the number of chances created, there’s a sense that at some point the goals will start to flow again.

The season comes to its end with next week’s final fixtures – a double header against Belper Town. The first game will kick off at 10.30am, with the second game to follow at approximately midday – to fit in with the TV schedules for the Euros!