Bristol City v Aston Villa Photographer Ryan Asman Aston Villa are off the mark in the Women's Super League after two late goals over Bristol City. An own goal off of Megan Connolly followed by an Ebony Salmon special sealed the deal and earned the Villans three points for the road.

Pernille Harder Chelsea's saving grace as the Blue's beat Juve 2-1 in second group stage match. UWCL: Juventus v Chelsea Pernille Harder Chelsea's saving grace as the Blue's beat Juve 2-1 in second group stage match. via Chelsea Women Twitter Back Match Analysis 14 October 2021 By Footy Scribblers Before kick-off, Juventus had a stunning lightshow. Lights bounced off fans and seats in the Allianz stadium and it was a beautiful sight. A prequel to some 90+ minutes that would leave Chelsea and Emma Hayes with more questions than answers. Let's get this out of the way early. The decision to back 3 with wingbacks instead of the flat back 4 they switched too later on, isn't one of the things to question. Stay with me here. I'm not saying the formation worked to the best of it's potential in the game. I'm saying, it's not Emma's decision to set up in a 3-4-3 that is hindering Chelsea. It's her decision to stick to certain intricacies hidden within the formation. Against Joseph Montemurro's Juventus those intricacies were exposed. Chelsea named a pretty much standard and expected line up. 3-4-3 with what most would agree is their strongest possible XI. Before we dive into criticising the bad bits, let's try and understand why the Blues' boss sticks to this formation with all the shaky performances. ● Chelsea don't really have the fullbacks to play a back 4 effectively. With Maren Mjelde still not fit, and Jonna Andersson experiencing a slow start, it simply won't be as effective. Jess Carter and Niamh Charles are both potential RBs but neither are natural defenders (more on Jess in a minute) and as the UWCL final showed that just won't work. ● Playing with wingbacks allows Erin Cuthbert and Guro Reiten get into the team at once without sacrificing one of the attackers. Both of whom are very crucial (rightly or wrongly but more on that later) to how Chelsea have played so far. ● It allows the front trio of Harder, Kerr and Kirby to be more free and fluid while offering solidity behind them, or at least it's intended too. What really happened vs Juventus particularly in the first half? Why did last year's finalists look so uninspiring? Chelsea started the game very energetic. Constantly pressing and closing down Juventus players in their own defensive third. (Chelsea have 3 players trying to win the ball back with a quick counterpress) But as the game wore on, Chelsea's biggest issue became more glaringly apparent. The midfield. With the 3-4-3 formation Emma Hayes deployed Chelsea had 2 midfielders centrally against 3 in black and white. It was a numerical mismatch that really stifled the visitors. To make matters worse, Montemurro obviously asked his attackers to back of Chelsea's back 3 instead of pressing them. This led to a host of issues. ● First Juve's front 3 were now almost always blocking off all passing lanes into the midfield duo of Ji and Leupolz. That meant central progression was near impossible. (Juve's attackers are almost man marking Ji and Leupolz. In this sequences Carter brings the ball out, realises no option is available then passed back to Bright who loses it and Juventus spring a quick counter) (Again, the front 3 aren't really pressing so the midfield had literally 6 Juve players against 3 for Chelsea) ● Second, it forced Chelsea to almost always go wide in build-up and try to create from there. That meant crosses. 21 of them. Unsurprisingly only 3 connected. ● Thirdly, it caused Chelsea to have almost no chance to create from the centre. A problem Chelsea compounded by Ji and Leupolz being too flat and almost on the same horizontal line in the first half. (Ji has the ball, Leupolz doesn't make herself an option and stands on the same line without any movement and Ji passes it backwards) Chelsea's backline somehow contributed to this. Either by instruction or skillset, none of the centre backs, particularly the outside pair of Eriksson and Bright, carried the ball forward enough. It's a huge issue. The back 3 always stays as a 3. There's no threatening progression coming from them. Bright and Eriksson would pass to the wingbacks and hang back rather than offer an option or would ignore space to drive forward into and pick a safer pass. It meant the team was disjointed. Just what Montemurro wanted. Gama for Juventus actually looked like exactly what Chelsea needed at centre back. She was constantly getting forward and carrying the ball once she saw an opening. At one point, she was calling for the ball to be played through to her when she was trying to beat the offside trap. Because Juventus defended in a compact 4-3-3, it felt like they had a box of 6 around Chelsea's midfield at all times. They didn't seem particularly bothered by the possibility of Chelsea putting in crosses from wide areas. Rightly so. Gama dominated her box. Speaking of crosses, they were a nightmare for the London club. Deep early crosses in particular. It's how the Juve equalizer arrives eventually. The early crosses took advantage of Jess Carter's lack of height and natural defensive instinct. Once Chelsea were out of shape a quickly released ball would do the trick. Here's some different occasions where crosses were played early by the Old Lady to varying degrees of success. One led to the goal, one to a significant penalty shout, another to a header off target. It wasn't all bad from Hayes' women. Individually, Jess Carter and Pernille Harder were bright spots. Jess in particular was oddly pulse controlling. Twice she used her pace to stop Juve attackers from getting clear cut chances 1v1 with Berger. She displayed some very measured passing over long and short distances. Of all Chelsea's players she was probably the one who looked sharp in the most moments. Harder as well was solid even before her goal. She was the one who with her intelligence started to drop into the midfield to help Ji and Leupolz. She was popping up in very influential areas in the attacking third as well and performed her now weekly routine of sparing Chelsea's blushes. As a team, the second half was much better done. Tiny tweaks made the 3-4-3 work better. Ji was pushing up higher and Eriksson was bringing ball out more often. The switch to a 4-3-3 showed that as a viable option at least for certain games. There was also the professional last 15 minutes. The players saw out the game and closed it out very well. And so, on a night where Chelsea got 3 points in Turin, Emma Hayes would board her flight knowing she has decisions to make. Back 3, stick or twist? Risk the back 4 without the fitting fullbacks? Her team has had to struggle and earn their results of late. One of the world's best tactical minds has work to do. Knowing the Blues' boss, a solution is imminent.

Chelsea v BK Hacken Photographer Ryan Asman Chelsea were held to a nil-nil draw at Stamford Bridge in their midweek UWCL clash against BK Hacken. Despite efforts on both sides, deadlock could not be broken.

Reading boss Kelly Chambers reflects on the season as the WSL's final weekend looms Back “Someway, somehow we are still in the fight” says Chambers ahead of deciding finale Reading boss Kelly Chambers reflects on the season as the WSL's final weekend looms Getty 25 May 2023 By Finley Chung Saturday will see the end of another WSL season with this one set to have a thrilling climax and most notably at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. The task for Reading is simple, the Royal’s need a victory to stay in the WSL and hope Leicester lose their game. There is. Just one issue however, Reading’s opponents, are Chelsea who are one win away from the title, two points above Manchester United. This sets up a thrilling final day clash at the Select Car Leasing Stadium and boss Kelly Chambers says her side are still in it. “I’ve said it to the girls a fair few times recently to be honest, we’re still in it, somehow and in some way we are still in it and we’ve got one game to go so we’re all in it together. "We have to believe it’s going to happen, if you don’t there’s no point stepping out there on Saturday. We have to leave everything out there. If on the day we are beaten by the better team I can accept that, but what I can’t accept is not giving our all on Saturday.” With relegation a real possibility for the Royals, having been in the WSL since 2014 and Chambers herself having spent 21 years at the club as a player, Director of Women’s and Girls Football and since 2015, the manager of the side. Chambers insists the sadness might not be easy to keep in. “Yeah, it’ll be a sad and upsetting day. I’ve been at the club for 21 years and I’m quite an emotional person as it is, so let’s hope that doesn’t come out too much on Saturday. I’ve built the Women’s side up to where it is and there’s no hiding away from the fact that it will be a sad day for me and for every body connected with the club.” If Reading do fall short, it is not lost on the manager either that the clubs current financial situation could well be the reason we see them drop of of the top division of Women’s Football in England, “Yeah, the bottom line is that and there is no hiding from it. You can look at other teams in and around us and what their player budget is and what else they were given in January. "We simply just don’t have that and people have said that year on year we perform miracles here to stay in the league for as long as we have." The Royals survival hopes took a massive hit last weekend as they were soundly beaten by a Beth England inspired Spurs 4-1, with Chambers however seeming a positive from the game, the return of Deanne Rose from injury, “She gives us a completely different dimension to the squad that we haven’t had all season. Everybody would agree that what we saw against Spurs is what we’ve missed this season so we are super grateful to have her back, however we do have to look after her as a player returning from a long term injury,” Whatever happens on Saturday, Reading will now that they have given everything to their survival bid on the final day. News

Bunny Shaw delights as Man City earn a 3-0 win over Spurs Back Match Report WSL: Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City Bunny Shaw delights as Man City earn a 3-0 win over Spurs Manchester City Women 24 October 2022 By Paul Donegan Manchester City beat Tottenham 3-0 at Brisbane Road on Saturday lunchtime to get their second win in a row in the WSL. Khadija Shaw gave City the lead just before half time, and the Jamaican international added her and the visitors second shortly after the break. Lauren Hemp scored the third in the second half to round off what was a comfortable win for The Citizens. Lauren Hemp had the first chance of the game but her header was saved by Rebecca Spencer. At the other end, Ellie Brazil almost dispossessed Ellie Roebuck on edge of area. The Tottenham forward went down with a nasty looking injury and there was a long delay whilst she was treated and stretchered off. We wish Ellie a speedy recovery. Shaw had a shot blocked before Esme Morgan headed just wide from a Chloe Kelly free kick in the 18th minute as City went close to going ahead. Hemp put a dinked effort narrowly wide of the post in the 25th minute as the away side continued to put on the pressure. Spencer pushed away a long range effort from Deyna Castellanos, and Laura Coombs sent an effort well over after scramble from corner. The home sides first chance came when a deep free kick found Amy Turner but her shot was straight at the goalkeeper. The offside flag was up in any case. Yui Hasegawa saw her effort deflected wide before the visitors opened the scoring in the 41st minute. Alex Greenwood put in a corner which Shaw headed in past Spencer. Ash Neville, making her 50th WSL appearance for Spurs, put an effort over at far post from a cross just before the interval. Shaw made it 2-0 in the 47th minute when her low strike from 25 yards found the bottom corner of the net. The goals in this match means she is now top goalscorer in the WSL this season with 5 goals and has scored 14 goals in 13 starts for City since signing last summer. Kerstin Caspasij’s cross was cleared by Molly Bartrip before it reached Shaw in the 61th minute. Kelly’s shot from the edge of the area was deflected over four minutes later as The Citizens went looking for a third. Shaw put an effort wide from six-yards in the 69th minute as she went looking for hat-trick. Spurs did have three opportunities within three minutes with Neville unable to get onto a low cross in the 70th minute, Turner shot well over, and Spence’s shot from 20 yards drifted over as the home side looked to get back into the game. Kelly saw her low shot from 12 yards saved easily by Spencer in the 76th minute. Seconds later, Manchester City did score a third when Hemp twisted and turned past a Tottenham defender on the edge of the area then sent a low shot into the net. In the 80th minute, Shaw had a shot from 12 yards saved, and then Hemp sent an effort over. Both sides made a number of substitutes in the last 10 minutes which disrupted the flow of the game. City did have a couple of chances in stoppage tine to score a fourth but Kelly shot just wide after getting onto a lovely through ball, and the same player then shot at the goalkeeper. The win lifts Gareth Taylor side up to fifth position in the league (before Sunday’s matches) whilst Tottenham drop a position to eighth. Spurs next match is next Sunday when they travel to Brighton & Hove Albion in the WSL. Manchester City next two games are at home, against Blackburn Rovers in the Conti Cup on Wednesday evening then Liverpool in the WSL next weekend. Line ups Tottenham Hotspur (4-5-1): Spencer, Turner, Bartrip, Zadorsky (c), Ale, James, Summanen, Spence, Neville (Ubogagu 87’), Bizet (Karczewska 86’), Brazil (Naz 8’) Unused substitutes : Korpela, Pearse, Cho Booked – Neville 45’+5 Manchester City (4-3-3): Roebuck, Casparij (Ouahabi 86’), Aleixandri, Greenwood (c), Morgan, Hasegawa, Castellanos (Angeldahl 81’), Coombs (Losada 81’), Kelly, Shaw (Fowler 81’), Hemp (Blakstad 87’) Unused substitutes: MacIver, Stokes, Houghton, Raso Goals – Shaw 41, 47, Hemp 76’ Booked – Kelly 56’ Referee – Emily Heaslip Attendance – 1,888

Arsenal Women have announced their second January signing as Austrian international Laura Wienroither. Back Laura Wienroither joins The Arsenal Arsenal Women have announced their second January signing as Austrian international Laura Wienroither. Arsenal WFC 17 January 2022 By Josh Bunting Wienroither who is 23 years old, joins the Gunners from Frauen-Bundesliga side TSG 1899 Hoffenheim who played Arsenal in the Champions League group stages. 23-year-old defender has 12 caps for her country and is an international teammate of Viki Schnaderbeck and Manuela Zinsberger. The defender can play as a right-back or as a centre-back ,so brings a versatile nature to the north London club. The 23-year-old helped Hoffenheim record back-to-back third-place finishes in the German Bundesliga in 2019-20 and 2020-21. Wienroither is Arsenal's second January signing ,following the capture of striker Stina Blackstenius, who joined as a free agent after leaving Swedish club BK Hacken. On signing for the club she said ““It’s an incredible feeling for me. I’m really happy to be here and to have the opportunity and I’m looking forward to being with the team. When I first heard about Arsenal’s interest I couldn’t believe it, and I still can’t believe it!” Jonas Eidevall went on to explain “It’s excellent news that we have signed Laura. We’ve been very impressed by her defensive performances this season, both at club and international level and we believe that she can make a big contribution here at Arsenal.” Head of Women’s football Clare Wheatley said “She is a player that we have been tracking for some time and it’s fantastic that she is now here with us. Despite being only 23, Laura already has significant experience in both the Frauen-Bundesliga and at international level, so we have no doubt that she will make an important contribution to the team.” She could make her debut for the Gunners on Wednesday in the Continental Cup against Manchester United at Meadow Park. News

The Lionesses are inspiring the next generation, but what about the rest of us? Here is my letter of thanks for all they have done for me. To the Lionesses Thursday, 25 November 2021 By Charlotte Stacey The Lionesses are inspiring the next generation, but what about the rest of us? Here is my letter of thanks for all they have done for me. Women's Football Weekend at The Hive. Often, in the women’s game, we hear the phrase “these players are inspiring the next generation”. Absolutely, they are. But I cannot help arguing the limitations of these words, the affectations of women’s football and its players resound through the ages. The influence of women’s football, on a personal level, is not something I’ve been able to readily articulate. But as I tuned into a WSL game recently, a segment featuring Foudys and Manchester Laces founder, Helen Hardy, gave me the perfect starting point, “I don’t think the Lionesses realise the impact they have on people like me.” Hearing Helen’s words forced me into an overdue conscious moment of reflection. Casting back to just over two years ago as England fell at the last hurdle at the World Cup, I note the resurgence of that long-buried gut feeling, I recognise the animated version of myself that only feelings of elation and despair of innate belief can draw, I face the stark bearing this tournament has had on me. How football, the game that, for a long time, barely formed a thought has become a means I live and breathe. As a child, I cannot tell you how many “England” themed Birthday parties I had. Complete with kits, flags, bunting, cake - the lot. It was established from a fairly young age that football was my “thing”. Not that I was a good football player by any means. Quite a terrible one as it turns out. After being shoved in goal when playing with the neighbours, and only ever being used as a last-minute field sub for the primary school team, it became quite clear that I probably wasn’t going to become the next David Beckham. I use David Beckham as an example here because, at the time, men’s football was all I knew. Women’s football was not easily accessible and certainly not visible. In fact, the only exposure I had to women’s football was a family friend who, then, played for Charlton. Being a painfully shy child, I never pushed to go and see Charlton play, nor did I ever approach said family friend. In fact, it was only a few weeks ago (some fifteen years later) that I mustered the courage to initiate the very first conversation with her. It sounds ridiculous, I know, that a grown woman should have to “muster” anything to merely speak to someone she has known of for over half of her life. But when you have been ‘in awe’ of somebody an arm’s length away, and their sheer talent, for such a long time, you fall victim to habitual feelings of inadequacy. How can I even think about asking her about her career when I haven’t even kicked a ball for years? Who am I to bother her? What will she think if I run out of things to say? As is usually the case, our talk was incredibly enjoyable and she, rather remarkably, was pleasantly surprised to find out I had been to see her compete in her latest FA Cup round. This is where twinges of slight regret surface. Regret that I had never felt the confidence to speak to her before, regret that somewhere between the dawning teenage years and early adulthood football took a backseat, regret that I gave up. Often, in the women’s game, we hear the phrase “these players are inspiring the next generation”. Absolutely, they are. But I cannot help arguing the limitations of these words, the affectations of women’s football and its players resound through the ages. The influence of women’s football, on a personal level, is not something I’ve been able to readily articulate. But as I tuned into a WSL game recently, a segment featuring Foudys and Manchester Laces founder, Helen Hardy, gave me the perfect starting point, “I don’t think the Lionesses realise the impact they have on people like me.” Hearing Helen’s words forced me into an overdue conscious moment of reflection. Casting back to just over two years ago as England fell at the last hurdle at the World Cup, I note the resurgence of that long-buried gut feeling, I recognise the animated version of myself that only feelings of elation and despair of innate belief can draw, I face the stark bearing this tournament has had on me. How football, the game that, for a long time, barely formed a thought has become a means I live and breathe. As a child, I cannot tell you how many “England” themed Birthday parties I had. Complete with kits, flags, bunting, cake - the lot. It was established from a fairly young age that football was my “thing”. Not that I was a good football player by any means. Quite a terrible one as it turns out. After being shoved in goal when playing with the neighbours, and only ever being used as a last-minute field sub for the primary school team, it became quite clear that I probably wasn’t going to become the next David Beckham. I use David Beckham as an example here because, at the time, men’s football was all I knew. Women’s football was not easily accessible and certainly not visible. In fact, the only exposure I had to women’s football was a family friend who, then, played for Charlton. Being a painfully shy child, I never pushed to go and see Charlton play, nor did I ever approach said family friend. In fact, it was only a few weeks ago (some fifteen years later) that I mustered the courage to initiate the very first conversation with her. It sounds ridiculous, I know, that a grown woman should have to “muster” anything to merely speak to someone she has known of for over half of her life. But when you have been ‘in awe’ of somebody an arm’s length away, and their sheer talent, for such a long time, you fall victim to habitual feelings of inadequacy. How can I even think about asking her about her career when I haven’t even kicked a ball for years? Who am I to bother her? What will she think if I run out of things to say? As is usually the case, our talk was incredibly enjoyable and she, rather remarkably, was pleasantly surprised to find out I had been to see her compete in her latest FA Cup round. This is where twinges of slight regret surface. Regret that I had never felt the confidence to speak to her before, regret that somewhere between the dawning teenage years and early adulthood football took a backseat, regret that I gave up. I identify that 2019 World Cup semi-final between England and the USA as a turning point. There I was, watching a group of women I essentially had no knowledge of kick a ball around field, but all at once, in those wildly stressful 90 minutes, it almost felt as if the world depended on it. There, right there. Perhaps my love of football was never really lost. Perhaps I had just never found the right football for me. Going from that point to where I am now has felt like a natural progression. I knew then women’s football was going to be a part of my life, from the moment that final whistle blew, it was never a question. The conundrum was how. Harbouring a childhood anxiety that has never really shaken, only morphed, finding a local team to play for was a no go. The Lionesses only played every so often so that wasn’t going to suffice, and I had absolutely no idea about the domestic leagues or how to find out anything about them. It wasn’t until a few months later, in early January 2020, when I had done my research and subsequently discovered the FA Player that things clicked. Realising a large contingent of the Lionesses then played for Manchester City, I began to watch their games regularly. Quickly, I picked up on an issue that commentators kept raising regarding Keira Walsh. Walsh had been the bearer of a heavy load of criticism for her performance at the World Cup. But, for some reason, this didn’t sit well with me. To this day I cannot tell you why I felt the urge to do so, but I knew I had to write about it. That’s exactly what I did. Opened up a word document and wrote a piece unpicking the reasons why this criticism of Walsh felt harsh. Why, for me, it was unjust. Not really knowing what to do with the finished article, I dusted off my dormant Twitter account, screenshotted the word document and posted it online to my 45 followers. Miraculously, a relative of Walsh’s found it and forwarded it on to her. Via the relative I received a message of thanks and a thumbs up. To say I was stunned is an understatement. It is the same heart in your mouth, swelling of gratitude I still get now with any player engagement. That thumbs up gave me the little surge of confidence to carry on. That thumbs up that Walsh likely never thought about again, as horrendously clichéd as it sounds, changed my life. I then began regularly writing about players and posting them to Twitter in the same manner I did with the first. I began to follow inspiring women’s football accounts such as Girls on the Ball, SheKicks, FAWSL Full-Time, Her Football Hub, followed supporter’s clubs, journalists and independent creators to learn as much as I could. I started to tag platforms, players and clubs in my posts. After a few months I was invited to write for The Women’s Football Magazine and Since 71 Blog and I perpetually thank the editors at both for believing in me and my work enough to publish it. Again, I cannot give you a concrete reason as to why I felt the need to continue writing. But I imagine, similarly to others, it is something to do with that stubborn resolve to draw attention to those who deserve it most. The players and the sport that, in my mind, deserve the same amount of coverage as its male counterpart does, perhaps even more so. Knowing my endlessly racing mind would expect more, there came a point when I decided that it was time that I branched out a little further on my own. I created ‘On Her Side’ during lockdown when time was abundant. Having just about figured out Twitter, building a website proved to be a bit of a challenge, but eventually a passable webspace was formed. On Her Side was launched last September, and I have to say, I was genuinely overwhelmed by the response. With On Her Side, the focus was professional women’s football in England. That is where my interest lies and it is where my knowledge exists, so that was the logical inception. I wanted to create a space that offered people who are interested in the game the very basics of these leagues, clubs and players. Enough information for the unfamiliar to be able to begin to enjoy the game without feeling lost. A strong stance on the national team was also always a given. The Lionesses are my team, they always will be. In time, the goal was, and still is, to extend On Her Side to the National leagues and to incorporate content across the whole women’s pyramid. But further than this, just as my intent is to feature players, it is also to celebrate other independent content creators, writers, artists, photographers and sellers. To offer them a platform in the same respect that one was offered to me. Going back to full-time work after lockdown, and knowing my writing time would be severely cut-back, I still wanted to ensure that On Her Side highlighted every club from the WSL and Championship. Gradually I enlisted the assistance of a few wonderful graphic designers and we now present Wallpaper Wednesdays across social media channels. This has allowed me to not only provide information on players, but to showcase these incredible artists’ work too. As you may have guessed, the guilt of offloading graphics to other people wasn’t going to be something I dealt with well, so out came the photoshop tutorials. However, I do not feel I am anywhere near achieving any of these goals in the slightest. There is a constant nagging figure lurking in the peripheral telling me there is so much more to be done. A relentless battle that runs rife between what is wanted and what is realistic. Everything I produce is done so voluntary and unfortunately, I cannot always spare the time or the expenses to cover the game as I would really like to, as well as the game deserves to be covered. It is during these times of frustration that I begin to question my place to be attempting coverage in the first place. I am nothing more than a glorified fan. To clubs and players, nothing more than a mild irritant; to my fellow writers and creators, a ham-fisted intruder, and to those who have the misfortune to now know me, an unorganised and haphazard communicator. Stemming, I guess, from a fear of letting people down, I struggle to ask for help. My head tells me that if I don’t open up On Her Side to other people, then they cannot be disappointed. If I do not ask questions in press conferences, then I cannot make a fool of myself. If I keep everything close and it crashes and burns, the only person it will affect is me. Rationally I know these thoughts are stunting everything I am trying achieve. Rationally I know all too well that the only person who stands in my way is myself. But to have even got to the point in which I might consider asking a question in a press conference is an individual win. And this is what women’s football has given me. Without women’s football I would still be lurking on the edge of family events, desperately wanting to ask the friend about her career, held back only by crippling self-doubt. Women’s football has introduced me to new people from all around the world, allowed me to learn from them, to discuss opinions with them and to forge real connections based on a mutual interest. These are people whom I now consider to be friends, even if the opportunity to meet them face-to-face hasn’t yet arisen. Women’s football has given me confidence, focus, a solid ice breaker in new situations. It has given me opportunities I never imagined I would ever be fortunate enough to have. To have my work viewed by professional outlets, to contribute to a book, to become a part of a larger community. It has made me feel again, and I know that I would be in a far worse place without it. Aside from group photographs with Pernille Harder and Niamh Charles, and aside from one who graciously tolerates me every now and again in her DM’s (and accepts my eccentric gift giving habits), I have never met a player, never spoken to one face-to-face. But I hope that one day I will, and I hope on that day I have the nerve to say thank you. Women’s football is not perfect, and it is always not the all singing-all dancing family experience it is often marketed to be. But it is special. It has helped me in ways I will not ever be able to fully express. I am thankful to those who have plugged away off their own back for so long, and to the players and staff of years previous, that have gotten the game to where it is now. I tip my hat to each and every one of them. It is because of them that girls I have taught in my day job now have the chance to play properly. That they come and find me years after they have left, beaming with excitement, to tell me that they’ve made the school football team or that they are training with a local club. To me, that is special. My own hope is that any contribution I give can go some way to helping the game on its way. I will continue to try to be objective, to be fair and to celebrate all clubs with equal enthusiasm. But to be open enough to acknowledge to myself that I will falter, I will get it wrong and that I will, sometimes, have preferences, I am human after all. I want to learn as much as possible, to produce my very best and to earn my place in the community. To refocus and endeavour to loosen my grip in opening up On Her Side to anyone who wishes to exhibit their own work, as was initially intended. A semi-final and a thumbs up, that’s where this started. And whether this journey leads to something more or if this is all it will ever be, I realise that actually, it doesn’t really matter. For I owe women’s football, and the Lionesses in particular, a great debt. They have given me purpose, and for that I will be forever grateful.

Aston Villa midfielder Remi Allen suffers ACL injury at the end of the season Back Remi Allen picks up injury Aston Villa midfielder Remi Allen suffers ACL injury at the end of the season The FA 22 May 2022 By Charlotte Stacey Aston Villa’s Remi Allen has ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and misses the remainder of the season. The 31-year-old midfielder is due to undergo surgery in the coming weeks. Allen, who joined from Leicester City last summer, has scored five goals in 22 games in her first campaign with Villa. News

It was a welcome return for Laura Wienroither at Meadow Park as the Gunners beat Bristol City 5-0 Back Match Report Debuts and returns: Arsenal are victorious over Bristol City It was a welcome return for Laura Wienroither at Meadow Park as the Gunners beat Bristol City 5-0 Arsenal Women 15 April 2024 By Paul Donegan Arsenal were convincing 5-0 winners over struggling Bristol City on Sunday evening at Meadow Park in the Women’s Super League. Beth Mead and Alessia Russo scored two each whilst Ella Powell put the ball into her own net for the Gunners other goal. The visitors played with a back five, and one of these, Amy Rodgers, made a good tackle to stop an early Arsenal attack. Arsenal did take the lead in the 7th minute when Caitlin Foord cut in from the left and saw her effort hit the post but Mead was there to put the rebound into the net. Brooke Aspin blocked a Steph Catley effort behind for a corner in the 11th minute. From the resulting corner, the ball found Victoria Pelova on the edge of the area, she took a touch and sent a shot crashing off the crossbar. Lotte Wubben-Moy intercepted a through ball from Ffion Morgan before it could reach its target in the 18th minute as the Robins looked to attack. Stina Blacksteinus was denied by a good save from Fran Bentley when she shot at goal a minute later. Russo saw a shot saved shortly after, then Blackstenius was just unable to get her foot on a low cross as the home side looked to add a second. In the 25th minute, Arsenal captain Kim Little, who had a fantastic game, sent a thunderous shot from just outside the area narrowly over. A few minutes later, Russo’s shot from 20-yards was easily claimed by Bentley. Some nice build up from Arsenal finished with Pelova shooting wide on the half hour mark. Mead made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute when after her initial shot had been blocked on the line, she fired in the rebound from close range. Two minutes later, it was 3-0 when Catley’s cross from the left side deflected off Powell and looped over the goalkeeper into the back of her own net. Bristol City’s Morgan saw an effort go well over in the 37th minute with what was their first attempt at goal of the match. City’s defence was having difficulty clearing the ball at times as Arsenal put pressure on. Sarah Stratigakas saw a header go just wide via a deflection, then Wubben-Moy was again there to stop a cross from the visitors as the end of the first half approached. Emily Fox had the Gunners first shot of the second half in the 51st minute but this was easily gathered by Bentley, then Mead shot over. At the other end, Catley made an important tackle as Emily Syme was threatening the Gunners goal before Sabrina D’Angelo kept out Amalie Thestrup’s effort. In the 59th minute, Russo scored Arsenal’s fourth with a shot from the edge of the area that was too powerful for Bentley to keep out. Both Mead and Little forced the visitors goalkeeper to make saves as the Gunners looked to extend their lead further. In the 68th minute, Bentley made a brilliant save when she tipped over Fox’s effort from the edge of the area. Northern Ireland’s record goalscorer Rachel Furness came on as a substitute for Bristol City after a spell out injured. There was a scramble in the Arsenal penalty area following a Robins corner before the ball was cleared. Second half substitute, Katie McCabe, passed to Russo who shot into the back of the net from just inside the area to score her second of the night and Arsenal’s fifth in the 73rd minute. Russo was looking to score a hat-trick but her powerful shot in the 77th minute was blocked by the foot of Aspin. Russo then dinked the ball wide four minutes later as she went close again to scoring her third. Laura Wienroither came on in the 81st minute to a great reception for her first appearance since rupturing her ACL last May. 17-year-old Katie Reid came on a bit later to make her senior Arsenal debut. The Gunners had the final chance of the match when Blackstenius was denied by Bentley, whose saves had helped keep the score down. Arsenal remain in third position in the WSL, six points off top spot but nine points clear of fourth with four games left so looking good to qualify for the UEFA Women’s Champions League next season. Bristol City stay bottom, seven points from safety with the same amount of games left and not having won in 13 league games. Line-ups Arsenal (4-2-3-1): D’Angelo, Fox (Wienroither 81’), Williamson (Reid 87’), Wubben-Moy, Catley, Pelova, Little (c), Mead (McCabe 63’), Russo, Foord (Lacasse 63’), Blackstenius Unused substitutes: Zinsberger, Goldie, Lia, Goals – Mead 7’, 32’, Powell (o.g.) 34’, Russo 59’, 73’ Bristol City (5-4-1) : Bentley, Powell (Bull 69’), Rodgers, Aspin, Connolly (c), Napier, Morgan, Syme (Furness 69’), Stratigakis (Layzell 69’), Thestrup, Evans (Ward 79’) Unused substitutes: Yanez, Struck, Clark, Jones, Slocombe Referee – Lisa Benn Attendance – 3,565

They Don't Teach This by Eni Aluko They Don't Teach This They Don't Teach This by Eni Aluko Eni Aluko: 102 appearances for England women's national football team. First female pundit on Match of the Day. UN Women UK ambassador. Guardian columnist. First class honors law degree. Now an inspirational author. They Don't Teach This steps beyond the realms of memoir to explore themes of dual nationality and identity, race and institutional prejudice, success, failure and faith. It is an inspiring manifesto to change the way readers and the future generation choose to view the challenges that come in their life applying life lessons with raw truths of Eni's own personal experience. Available to buy: https://www.amazon.co.uk/They-Dont-Teach-Eniola-Aluko/dp/1529112850/ref=d_pd_sbs_sccl_2_4/257-3022985-0041206?pd_rd_w=YxKRu&content-id=amzn1.sym.b3680bff-f077-48e1-82e2-187909445cc9&pf_rd_p=b3680bff-f077-48e1-82e2-187909445cc9&pf_rd_r=MB06SSD6DNMKTJMZJGMW&pd_rd_wg=3q2mA&pd_rd_r=60e070ce-d748-43c8-92b0-b4383011aef4&pd_rd_i=1529112850&psc=1

Arsenal's number 3 signs personal new deal with childhood club Back Lotte Wubben-Moy – a true Gooner Arsenal's number 3 signs personal new deal with childhood club Arsenal FC 7 May 2022 By Charlotte Stacey Arsenal centre-back Lotte Wubben-Moy has signed a new contract with the club for an undisclosed term. The 23-year-old returned to North London in September 2020 after a spell playing in college football in the States and has since made 61 appearances and scored five goals for the Gunners. Adding her own personal touch, Wubben-Moy’s new contract also has a clause pertaining to the players commitment to working closely with Arsenal in the Community. Wubben-Moy commented, “it’s a commitment to the club and it’s a commitment to Arsenal, the community that it’s active in and to my life as a whole, because that’s what Arsenal is – it’s my life.” News

England vs The Netherlands Photographer Adam Mitten The Lionesses made a huge comeback at Wembley Stadium as they beat the Netherlands 3-2 in the UEFA Nations League.