Chelsea's Millie Bright and Aggie Beever-Jones look forward to England's upcoming matches against France Playing alongside England idols is "what dreams are made of!" says Beever-Jones Back Chelsea's Millie Bright and Aggie Beever-Jones look forward to England's upcoming matches against France Lionesses Thursday, 30 May 2024 By Aimee Logan A first full day in the camp for the Lionesses began with a training session out in the rain. All called up players were out on the field to be a part of the full training session ahead of their double header, this camp, against France both home and away. The teams haven’t faced each other since a friendly back in 2021 where France sealed a 3-1 victory. The typical English weather couldn’t stop the squad getting stuck into the training session. First onto the field was Beth Mead and Millie Bright who were evidently eager to get started with day two of camp. Bright returns to the England roster after her long-time out with a knee injury: she hasn’t been in a Lionesses camp since October last year. Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh have had to switch from the sunny Spain to the miserable England weather, but this didn’t dampen their spirits. The pair are on a high after they became back-to-back Champions League winners at the weekend with their club Barcelona. Bright was asked about how significant this was and stated that ‘it’s a massive achievement for both of them.’ She also reflected that ‘they’re too humble’ to still be celebrating the huge achievement at the England camp. Bright praised Bronze for her consistent success in the competition saying that ‘ no matter what team she plays in she always seems to come out a winner’ just because ‘that is her mentality’. With the retirement of Rachel Daly, Bright was missing ‘her right arm’ this camp and now has to find more people to ‘annoy’ now Daly is not with the Lionesses. Bright reflected, though, that the squad is looking to progress and develop as a team. ‘Everyone’s got that mentality to push each other’ she said. Bright hasn’t had the best season with injuries having been out with a knee injury for several months. ‘It’s definitely been the most tasking period for myself’ she reflected, but ultimately ‘that’s football’ the centre-back confirmed. Playing a team twice in quick succession isn’t common in football. Bright spoke about the possible threats that the developing French team have but also reflected that ‘there’s things we (England) can do to put the threats on them’, ‘we don’t go out for anything other than wins.’ There were some new faces in the Lionesses squad. Aggie Beever-Jones earns her first senior call up while Missy Bo Kearns, Jessica Naz and Lucy Thomas have been called up, for the first time, ‘on standby’ in case of any injuries. Beever-Jones’ senior international debut has been discussed all season because of how she has performed, domestically, for Chelsea. Bright and Beever-Jones play with each other at Chelsea and have got to know each other well this season. Bright described the youngster as a ‘great addition to the squad’, ‘super humble’ and a ‘ real good character’ that will help the Lionesses team thrive. Beever-Jones also spoke to the press about the feelings surrounding her first senior call up. She had plenty of praise for club captain Millie Bright, ‘me and Millie get on really well’, ‘she’s always looked after me’, ‘she’s someone who I’ve always looked up to’ and ‘she’s a great person before anything else.’ The young forward was also asked about what it would mean to make her senior debut, ‘ it would be a pinch me moment’, she described. I asked Beever-Jones about what it would be like to play with some of the people she has idolised growing up, ‘its what dreams are made of!’ She spoke about some new friendships she had gained since being a senior, ‘a ll the girls have been so welcoming, especially Georgia (Stanway).’ ‘ The quality in Europe is unmatched’ but because of ‘the quality in the team’, Beever-Jones knows that England can push to be the best in Europe once more. She constantly praised her new teammates, ‘every single one of these players is world-class’ and ultimately reflected that she is ‘ delighted to be here’ as it is something she ‘always knew (she) was capable of.’ The Lionesses are taking international football back up north to Carrow Road for their first game against France. Aggie Beever-Jones told the media that the team ‘want it to be sold out’ so that the fans can get behind the Lionesses on their Euros campaign.

Information on every team that competes in the Barclays Women's Championship, the second tier of women's football in England. Barclays Women's Championship The Women's Championship (WC) is the second division of women's football in England. It consists of twelve teams with one spot for promotion and relegation each season. Click on the badges below to find out more about each team.

Ground Guide Watford By Paul Donegan This ground guide for the Orbital Fasteners Stadium is from when I went and watched Watford play their first match of the season there (previous ones played at Vicarage Road) against Sunderland on 14th November 2021 in the FA Women’s Championship. Normal warning that things might be different from this if you decide to visit there to watch a match. Address Kings Langley, WD4 8JE Location and Ground History Kings Langley is in Hertfordshire, near junction 20 of the M25 (then up the A4251 and through the village if driving and coming from that way). It is about 20 miles north west of central London, about 5 miles north of Watford and 3 miles south of Hemel Hempstead. The ground opened in 1997 when Kings Langley FC moved there and it has a capacity of 1,900. Watford have played at Kings Langley since 2017. Getting There The closest station to the ground is Apsley which is about a 20 minute walk away whilst Kings Langley station is about 30 minutes walk in the other direction and going through the village. Both stops are on the same line which runs between Euston station in London and Milton Keynes on Sundays (stopping at Watford) and there is one train an hour to both stations. The railway line actually passes the ground between the two stations. The 501 bus runs hourly on Sundays (runs between mid morning and early evening) and passes the ground (Coniston Road stop). It runs between Watford and Aylesbury. The car park at the ground is not available for the public to park in on matchdays so it is either using car parks in the village (10/15 minute walk away) or street parking near the ground. If walking from the stations or village, there is only a pavement on one side of the road at certain points so the walk may involve a bit of crossing over the road (including at near the ground where the pavement is on the opposite side). Tickets Tickets are available to buy online up until 5pm on the Friday before a Sunday match. You do need to do the ‘normal’ creating an account with the club if you haven’t bought tickets from them before. The ticket comes as an attachment on the confirmation email which I printed off and showed at the ground. Tickets are also available to buy on the day of the match from inside the clubhouse at Kings Langley (at a table near the entrance) and these cost the same as if bought online. Cash or card payment is accepted. Buy Tickets https://tickets.watfordfc.com/en-GB/categories/home-tickets The Stadium The turnstiles and clubhouse/dressing rooms are in a corner of the ground, straight in front of you as you go in off the road. I went in through the bar and down some steps and showed my ticket to a steward there. On one side of the ground, there is some uncovered terracing with a covered seated stand (all seats are unreserved) further along. With some scaffolding poles holding up the roof along the front as well as people walking past, there can by an obscured view of the pitch. The end to the right of this side (entrance end) is uncovered flat standing whilst at the other end, there is a small covered seated stand behind the goal with the rest of the end being uncovered flat standing. The opposite side has some covered terracing in the middle with the dugouts either side of this though this side was not open to the public as it was part of the red zone. The camera position is on the roof above the terracing. There are toilets near the turnstiles and in the bar. This is a ground/clubs that are very welcoming for you to take dogs (as long as kept on leads) along with some bowls of water and biscuits left for them near the entrance. Food and Drink There is a burger van inside the ground near the entrance. Not a big choice of food with burgers/cheeseburgers costing £3.50 and hot dogs £3. Hot drinks cost £1 and cold drinks £1.50. Not the biggest bar either but there is some outdoor seating available. Alcohol is not allowed to be taken into the actual ground. Cash and card are accepted in the bar and at the burger van. There is a pub between the ground and Apsley station and in Kings Langley village, there are a some shops, cafes, takeaways, pubs etc. Merchandise I didn’t notice any Watford merchandise available to buy at the ground (I might have missed it though) but paper programmes are available to buy from inside the clubhouse (same place as where you buy tickets) which cost £3 and again you can pay by cash or card. The programme has 44 pages and probably the best I have seen at any WSL/Championship club this season so far.

Mia Fishel and Lauren James earn the Blues their first three points of the season in 2-1 win over Spurs Back Match Report Chelsea delight at Stamford Bridge in WSL opener Mia Fishel and Lauren James earn the Blues their first three points of the season in 2-1 win over Spurs Chelsea FC Women 1 October 2023 By Finley Chung A dream debut for Mia Fishel as goals from the Chelsea number 2 and Lauren James saw The Blues start their WSL title defence with a win. Martha Thomas pulled one back for Spurs in the last quarter of an hour, but despite a encouraging performance from Robert Vilahamn’s side on his WSL managerial bow, Both Sjoeke Nusken and Mia Fishel were handed their first Chelsea starts for the club following their respective moves from Eintracht Frankfurt and Tigers UNAL. Ashley Lawerence was named on the bench for the first time in Chelsea blue, with Annie Nouwen back on the Chelsea bench, following her loan last season to AC Millan. New Spurs manager, Robert Vilahamn named Grace Clinton, Martha Thomas, Olga Ahtinen and Luana Buhler, four new signings in his starting eleven, goalkeeper Barbora Votikova named amongst the substitutes. After an impeccable minutes silence observed by all inside Stamford Bridge in memory of Maddy Cusack, Drew Spence got the game underway for Spurs. It was the visitors who had the first foray forward as Celin Bizet got in down the right hand side, but her cross was superbly seen behind by Jess Carter. Robert Vilahamn’s philosophy was clear to see early on, he had Spurs looking to play their way out of any situation early on, but it was Chelsea who had the first shot of the match, with Lauren James’ daisy cutter well kept out by Becky Spencer in the Spurs goal. From the resulting corner, Molly Bartrip was well placed on the line, to ensure Jess Carter’s header didn’t give the hosts an early lead. Spurs were keeping the ball well and summer signing from Manchester United, Martha Thomas went close, finding a gap in-between Millie Bright and Carter after a brilliant ball through from Drew Spence. The very next Chelsea attack saw a brilliant curling effort from Lauren James graze the top of the bar. A crucial intervention from Sophie Ingle was then required as Evelina Summanen looked to find Martha Thomas after a mix up at the back from Chelsea, but the Blues Number 5 got back to spare her teams blushes. Another flowing Spurs move starting with Spencer in goal, floating the ball out to Spence who then slid it wide for Bizet but the latter’s ball was a poor one when trying to find Thomas and allowed Zecira Musovic to come and collect well in the Chelsea goal. Chelsea showed their threat from set pieces around 23 minutes in, but Guro Reiten’s corner was met by Sjoeke Nusken, but her effort was straight at Spencer in the Spurs goal. The Blues showed their clinical edge on the 27th minute, with Mia Fishel, the Chelsea fan from childhood, getting infrtont of Luana Buhler to nod the ball home, past the despairing Spencer and put the reigning champions ahead. The goal owed so much to Niamh Charles, breezing past Celin Bizet a bit too easily for Spurs’ liking in the build up to the goal. Spurs looked for the instant reply as Olga Ahtimen found fellow new signing Martha Thomas who drove inside on her right foot, but the Scot’s effort lacked any real power and was an easy take for Musovic. Charles and Reitien were causing Spurs all sorts of problems down the left hand side, constantly looking to combine and cause habit at every opportunity and it was their neat work, which brought about a corner that ended up with Maren Mjelde’s low effort being straight at Becky Spencer. Chelsea were purring and Lauren James displayed great skill to breeze past her marker advancing into the box, but her low left footed drive arrowed a few yards wide of Spencer’s left hand post. Spurs and particularly Martha Thomas were desperately unlucky not to level the scores in first half added time, first being denied by Musovic who spread herself well at the feet of the Scottish international, who’s leader was then cleared off the line by Millie Bright in the last action off a gripping first half in West London. Half Time - Chelsea 1-0 Spurs The hosts had the first chance of the second half and predictably it came down their left side, but Niamh Charles’ low effort was well held by Spencer. They went close again two minutes later, with yet another Lauren James curler beating Spencer, but crashing down off the underside of the bar and away, with Spencer being called into action again to deny Chelsea, but Spurs just couldn’t clear their lines and a lovely ball into the middle found Lauren James who made no mistake, sliding the ball home to double Chelsea’s lead. Moments before, Guro Reiten’s effort looked to have crossed the line, but wasn’t given, however Chelsea’s number 10 made no mistake to make Spurs pay. Spurs must’ve been ruing their luck as to how they hadn’t scored, as Grace Clinton saw her curling effort superbly kept out by Musovic in goal, before Ashleigh Neville was again denied by the Swede in goal. The attacks kept coming as Chelsea motored up the other end and Lauren James was denied another goal by the strong hands of Spencer in Spurs’ goal. Fran Kirby was then brought on to a hero’s reception at Stamford Bridge after a torrid, Injury ridden campaign last term in place of Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, with the impressive Sjoeke Nusken also being withdrawn after a solid debut in Chelsea blue, being replaced by Melanie Leopolz. Vilahamn made his first role of the dice, bringing off former Chelsea player Drew Spence and Olga Ahtinen for Asmita Ale and Jess Naz. Naz had a brilliant impact latching onto a loose Chelsea ball , with her centre finding Martha Thomas, who somehow hasn’t opened her Spurs account today, as her effort sailed high and wide of Musovic’s right hand post. Celin Bizet’s solid shift came to a close on the 71st minute, as she was replaced by Moroccan international Rosella Ayanne. With 15 minutes to go, Spurs finally got their reward for their huffing and puffing, Grace Clinton’s shot wasn’t held by Musovic and Martha Thomas finally managed to smuggle the ball over the line to halve the deficit and bring about a nervous air amongst the home fans at Stamford Bridge. In the immediate aftermath of the goal, Ashley Lawerence was introduced for her Chelsea debut, along with Jessie Fleming, replacing goalscorer Lauren James and Guro Reiten respectively. Jess Naz once again made an impact down the left, after a low ball found her free at the back post, but her low curling effort was well saved by Musovic. Jelena Cankovic was then brought on to add some steel and bite in the middle of the park for Chelsea in the games last knockings, replacing Maren Mjelde. Chelsea almost crowned it off in fantastic Chelsea style, with Melanie Leopolz volleying a Fran Kirby cross goanward, but her effort grazed the Spurs crossbar. The blues thought they had wrapped the game up when Cankovic prodded the ball past Spencer, but her effort was chalked off by the assistant referee’s flag, putting the game back in the melting pot. As seven added minutes went up at the end of the second half, Spurs brought off Grace Clinton for Kit Graham and you could feel the tension around The Bridge with the cushion only being one goal. But the reigning champions got their title defence off to a winning start, seeing out added time and sealing the three points in a 2-1 win over Spurs. Full Time - Chelsea 2-1 Spurs Goalscorers; Chelsea - Fishel 28’, James 51’ Spurs - Thomas 76’

Lewes took on Crystal Palace at The Dripping Pan on Sunday afternoon in the FA Women’s Championship. Back Match Report FAWC: Lewes v Crystal Palace Lewes took on Crystal Palace at The Dripping Pan on Sunday afternoon in the FA Women’s Championship. Paul Donegan 15 March 2022 By Paul Donegan Crystal Palace had the first chance when Bianca Baptiste run through but Lewes goalkeeper Tatiana Saunders rushed out to block with her legs with the rebound falling to Siobhan Wilson who sent a chipped effort towards goal which was headed clear. In the 7th minute, Lewes had their first chance when a lovely cross field ball found Paula Howells and her low cross was just put behind by Palace’s Aimee Everett. Palace hit the post in the 14th minute when Baptiste chipped the goalkeeper but saw her effort come back off the woodwork and go behind. Lewes then created a number of opportunities with Amelia Hazard being unable to get her head on Howells cross and Georgia Timms having a shot blocked and the rebound being put well over by Izzy Dalton. Dalton went closer in the 20th minute when she sent an effort towards goal from halfway inside the half that just went wide. Wilson saw her shot from an angle held by the Lewes goalie in the 21st minute as both sides continued to look for the first goal. Two minutes later, Lucy Porter hit the post for Lewes but the assistant already had her flag up for offside. Lewes then had another chance minutes later when Ellie Mason saw her header go just wide via a slight touch off a Palace defender. Palace had the next attempt when Coral Haines saw her shot from just inside the area deflected narrowly wide. Palace had a few more half chances before the break as well as having Charley Clifford and Wilson booked late in the half. Somehow, it was 0-0 at half time. Lewes started the second half on the front foot with Timms having her low shot saved by Emily Orman in the 47th minute. Two minutes later they took the lead when Lucy Porter took a lovely touch to control the ball just outside the area and put the ball into the corner of the net with the outside of her boot. Lewes continued to press with Timms seeing an effort from a corner deflected into Orman’s hands in the 52nd minute. Lucy Ashworth-Clifford put in a dangerous cross that no one could get on the end of and Howells put a shot from distance wide as they dominated the early stages of the second half. Lewes did score a second in the 57th minute when a Howells cross was only cleared as far as Izzy Dalton whose low shot found the back of the net from about 12 yards out. Lewes went looking for a third with Ellie Hack heading wide and Ashworth-Clifford and Howells both shooting well over. Palace were reduced to 10 players in the 70th minute when Siobhan Wilson received a second yellow card after committing a late foul. They actually had their first chance of the second half after that when Baptiste sent a shot over from outside the area. In the 81st minute, it was Lewes who had the next opportunity when Porter’s cross went right across the penalty area to Rebecca McKenna who shot just wide. Both Ashworth-Clifford and Dalton saw shots blocked in quick succession in the 8 rd minute. As the match reached the 90 minute mark, they broke quickly and Heidi Logan hit the post with the ball bouncing away. Some good defending by Lewes restricted Palace to half chances at best in the latter stages of the game. Freda Ayisi had two attempts in added time for Lewes when she had a shot saved and then saw an effort deflected onto the crossbar. An impressive second half from Lewes saw them take the three points and continue their fairly good home form this season. Teams Lewes: Saunders, McKenna, Hack, Mason, O’Rourke, Hazard (Cross 78’), Dalton, Ashworth-Clifford (Longhurst 89’), Howells (Logan 78’), Porter (Ayisi 84’), Timms (Noble 84’) Unused Substitutes: Salgado, Cousins, Cordier, Hartley Goals – Porter 49’, Dalton 57’ Crystal Palace: Orman, Johnson, Waldie, Pearse, Clifford (Barton 60’), Everett, McLean (Sibley 84’), Haines (Hennessy 84’), Wilson, Baptiste, Farrow (Sharpe 60’) Unused Substitute: Smith Booked – Clifford, Wilson Sent Off – Wilson 70’ (Second booking) Referee – Jack Packman Attendance - 465

Manchester United's Ella Toone on facing Northern Ireland, playing at Wembley and having teammate Alessia Russo back in the England Squad. Ella Toone: Making Memories at Wembley Back Manchester United's Ella Toone on facing Northern Ireland, playing at Wembley and having teammate Alessia Russo back in the England Squad. Girls on the Ball Wednesday, 20 October 2021 Charlotte Stacey The Lionesses head to Wembley Stadium on Saturday to play Northern Ireland in their first ever competitive match at England’s infamous ground. Saturday’s fixture marks Toone’s second time playing against Northern Ireland over the past year. The first was an event to remember as Toone made her senior debut and etched her name on the scoresheet with the Lionesses for the very first time. This time around, the occasion bears significantly bigger for Toone, as she sets her sights on making her mark at the home of English football in front of fans. “It’s huge. Obviously, I’ve never played at Wembley before, this is my first time, so it’s going to be even more special. The girls have spoken a lot about Wembley and how amazing it is and I just can’t wait to step out on to the pitch in front of all the fans as well.” “That’s what you dream of when you’re younger. Going out to those big stadiums and playing in front of big crowds, so I’m really excited for Saturday. I don’t think I’ll be too nervous because we’re just there to play football at the end of the day, that’s what we do and that’s what we love. So, I’m going to embrace every little moment that I can and enjoy the moment.” Toone is joined by four Manchester United teammates, the largest number of United compatriots to be selected for an England camp. Marc Skinner’s Red Devils have enjoyed a decent start to their season with certain individuals clearly impressing the Lionesses new boss, Sarina Wiegman. Goalkeeper Mary Earps and fellow midfielders, Lucy Staniforth and Katie Zelem are amongst the cut, but Toone shared that she was particularly pleased to have forward Alessia Russo back on board. “She’s my best friend so to have her on camp’s been really nice. She deserves it, she’s had a bit of a tough time over the last year with injuries. But she’s been great, worked really hard and bounced back from it.” Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Toone expressed her eagerness to remain within the senior squad leading up to next year’s Euro’s yet was wise to the importance of consistency at a domestic level. “I know that I just need to keep performing for Manchester United,” noted the 22-year-old, “then hopefully I’ll keep on getting picked for camps and getting more minutes.” However, regarding the immediate future, Toone is looking forward to getting stuck in and soaking up all that Wiegman imparts. “It’s really exciting for the team, and for me as well, that we’ve got Sarina now. We know she’s a great manager and she’s achieved a lot. We just can’t wait to keep playing under her and learning from her. These two games will be massive again and we can’t wait to put on big performances.”

SheBelieves Cup 2020: England v Japan 8th March 2020 By Charlotte Stacey After a disappointing start to the tournament, losing 2-0 to the USA, the Lionesses would be looking to put a few things right in their match against Japan. Having to take stock and go back to the drawing board, Phil Neville was under pressure to select a side that would make an impact early. After choosing a starting line-up that was perhaps not the best suited to the high press of the USA, Neville made six changes for the Lionesses second fixture. A youthful forward three consisting of Lauren Hemp, Beth England and Chloe Kelly would hopefully see a pick-up in pace up front. Although an inexperienced top line, having three standout WSL players lining up together was surely not going to hurt England’s chances. A midfield made up with the spirit Georgia Stanway, the vision of Keira Walsh and the creativity of Jordan Nobbs, looking likely to support the forward three well. Getty Images At the back, perhaps a more robust defensive line. Starts for Rachel Daly and Demi Stokes, alongside the more consistent pairing of Steph Houghton and Millie Bright. A start for pegged number one Ellie Roebuck in goal; real opportunity for Roebuck to show what she can do after Carly Telford’s outstanding performance on Friday. Looking at the line-up, it was perhaps a much more comfortable selection for supporters to get behind. Yet, even with this, the Lionesses would need to graft to take a win against this competent Japanese side. Donning their berry blush kit, the Lionesses lined up in New Jersey to try their hand once again. A quick start for Japan saw them test their luck with a shot just fifteen seconds after kick off. But fast to react, Hemp gave England their first chance of the match the other end three minutes in. A slightly sloppy start for both sides. Japan taking the upper hand quickly again, the Lionesses left too much space with a moment of untidy defending, meaning Roebuck had to get a strong hand on the shot to send it wide. The first half on the whole was pretty evenly sided, with nothing much to separate the two sides in terms of possession and chances. Both sides making promising attacks but neither one taking advantage of their position. The Lionesses finishing ball not managing to hit the target, and Japan’s long shots not quite hitting the mark. England perhaps looking the more likely to score towards the end of the half, patiently building up for that opening. Yet it remained all square at half time. Getty Images A change in tempo was needed from either side to get things moving to start the second half. A mistake at the back by Sugita saw Walsh manage to send a ball England’s way, yet with a tight angle to work with England could not finish it. At the other end, a well timed reverse ball saw Japan with possibly their best chance of the match; Houghton dealt with the threat well and sent it packing. A triple change at the hour mark saw the Lionesses take on a more experienced formation. Toni Duggan, Leah Williamson and Nikita Parris coming into the fold and making an immediate impact. Parris drawing a foul in a dangerous area; the set piece delivered well by Duggan, yet once again the Lionesses not able to make anything from it. Japan were certainly not willing to go down without a fight, and a looming danger presented by Tanaka saw Bright and Houghton have to make a number of blocks in succession. England and Stanway off, Ellen White and Lucy Staniforth on, the Lionesses were now hungry to break the deadlock. Another mistake at the back by Japan handed the ball to Duggan, who swiftly slid the ball into the box to White. White’s clinical finish prevailed once again, absolutely proving why she is so dangerous in an England shirt. The Lionesses took the lead at 83 minutes. Their opening goal looking to open the floodgates, the Lionesses did threaten more heavily in the final few minutes, yet they could not convert any more chances. Full time whistle blown, Japan – 0, England - 1. A much calmer performance from the Lionesses today, yet perhaps still not quite as organised as one would have hoped. The starting front three saw plenty of the ball which is hopeful, their team mates managing to provide them with the service to attack. Unfortunately, both England and Hemp missed chances that domestically perhaps they would have scored, however the gravitas of the occasion should be considered in this instance. International football is a step up from club level, even for players with such form. Defensively a much more settled display, Bright and Houghton not leaving an awful lot for Roebuck to do, especially during the second half. Yet Roebuck stepped up valiantly when needed. Duggan and Nobbs proving to be the Lionesses standout players today, excellent movement and accurate passing consistently seen from both. Duggan in particular lending herself to a number of the Lionesses attacks. Overall, a more settled game for England, who were possibly unlucky in being caught out a number of times with Japan playing them offside. A much better keep of possession and an entirely improved cohesive unit compared with their last game. But more work needed to be done in finishing in the final third. Perhaps not the most convincing win, but an important one nonetheless. Now calls the time for the Lionesses to amp it up in preparation for their next game, against a rather devilish looking Spain.

Carly Telford replaces Karen Bardsley as the second goalkeeper on the Team GB roster. Team GB News Telford Gets the Call Carly Telford replaces Karen Bardsley as the second goalkeeper on the Team GB roster. via Getty Images By Charlotte Stacey Cheslea goalkeeper Carly Telford has been called up to replace OL Reign's Karen Bardsley. Bardsley suffered an ankle injury earlier this month after being named in the eighteen player Olympic squad. Bardsley had already been out of the game for nearly two years after becoming injured in the 2019 World Cup and had only recently returned to the field. Team GB head coach Hege Riise announced that Telford woul take Bardsley's place skipping over reserve goalkeeper Sandy MacIver. Everton's number one MacIver remains on the reserve list and will still travel to Tokyo with the squad. The decision to name a goalkeeper player that is not on the reserve list has divided opinion. It is clear that Riise is prioritising experience to build her squad, however this move does allow one to question the thought process Riise took in naming her reserves. The point of a reserve list is to use it as an actor would use an understudy and so Telford's selection paints it somewhat redundant. Telford has a proven herself time and again both domestically and internationally having made 27 appearances for England. Telford took the number one spot in the World Cup after Bardsley's injury and played two out three games during the 2020 SheBelieves campaign., asserting herself of one of the Lionesses standout players. Team GB will play their first match of the Olympics against Chile on Wednesday 21st July at 8:30am (BST).

Thoughts on: Fran Kirby Thoughts on: Fran Kirby Kirby Back 8 October 2020 By Charlotte Stacey SuperFran. Mia Eriksson With unexpected circumstances keeping her from playing the majority of the 2019/20 season, it has been nothing but joyous to see Chelsea and England forward Fran Kirby back on the pitch. In late 2019, Kirby was diagnosed with pericarditis, an inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart. After suffering from a debilitating illness, some may have understandably taken the option to ease themselves back into the swing of things. Yet in true champion fashion, this has not been the case for Fran Kirby. With an ostensible hunger, Kirby has returned this season looking, arguably, fitter and stronger than ever, conveying one very clear message; this is where I want to be. Fran Kirby possesses a raw footballing talent; a gift that no amount of injuries or illnesses can deny. Yet, wise to the fact that talent can only take you so far, Kirby is not one to rest on her laurels. She puts in the work tenfold to ensure that her spot in a starting eleven is earned and not simply given. Kirby’s fine dribbling agility and intelligent combination play quite aptly earned her the nickname “Mini Messi” back in 2015. Kirby, then playing for Reading, became the first second-division player to receive a senior international call-up to represent Mark Sampson’s Lionesses in the 2015 World Cup. When accounting Kirby’s game, it is easy to understand how she came to acquire such a commendation. Perhaps most effective in the number ten role, with the freedom to roam, Kirby expertly bridges the midfield with the forward line. Kirby’s vision paired with her stellar passing ability, notably with through balls, often shifts things into gear. Her complete skill on the ball lurches her teammates onward, with those around her well in the know that when the ball is at Kirby’s feet, you best get moving. Sitting behind out-and-out forwards, she teases defenders into compact positions, allowing her teammates to find space beyond a now staggered defensive line. Drawing the opposition in tight is a game Kirby likes to play. A close marker, or two, is not a problem. Here, where others may, quite literally, run into trouble, is where Kirby finds her stride. In one foul swoop she is able to decoy even the most proficient of defenders whilst simultaneously springing an attack. Back to the goal, collect the pass, take a touch on the half turn, send the ball forward; a staple Kirby move. Dave Winter However, this is not to say she cannot operate quite comfortably in other areas. Kirby is flexible with her positioning and does not lose any of that darting creative flair or dictation of play when frequenting other parts of the pitch. Playing on the wing she fires in crosses with a venom; as a centre forward, she can pot goals just as easily as she assists with them. Yet, whichever job she is ultimately tasked with, there is no doubt that it will be undertaken with perfection firmly in her sights. With an apparent desire to better herself in every game, Kirby certainly does not give herself an easy ride. But it is this exuding passion for improvement that has led her to the very top. A road that has not been the plainest of sailing by any means. Throughout her career Kirby has had to overcome her fair share of obstacles. As well as professional injuries, personal anguishes have taken their toll. At a young age Kirby sadly suffered a bereavement that almost stopped her footballing career before it had even begun. Then after her diagnosis of pericarditis last year, Kirby admitted, that once again, she was close to hanging up her boots for good. Quite honestly, on both occasions, it would have been difficult to find a single person who would have blamed her. Of her own volition, Kirby has always been honest about the hand she has been dealt, openly discussing the effect these events have had on both her physical and mental health. Frank with her approach, Kirby takes the rough with the smooth, never sugar coating her recoveries or her hardships. Her candidness in tackling stigmas and breaking silences, without her possibly even realising, continues to make a true impact further afield. Many express a profound gratitude for Kirby’s sincerity; a gentle arm around the shoulder when facing difficulties of your own. With all this in mind, it is clear that Kirby has an awful lot to give, on both sides of the touchlines. And so, it stands to reason that “Super Fran” may not quite do her justice. Fran Kirby: the epitome of exceptional.

Thoughts on: Alex Greenwood Thoughts on: Alex Greenwood Greenwood Back 9 June 2022 By Charlotte Stacey Alex Greenwood: The Saving Grace Girls on the Ball Despite placing third in the league and winning a Champions League spot, Manchester City had a turbulent 2021-22 season. The Manchester giants were plagued with injury early in the campaign and subsequently, albeit harbouring a number of internationals within the squad, played a number of subpar matches. Nevertheless, there were standout performers for City across the term. These include Lauren Hemp, Georgia Stanway, but perhaps most of all, Alex Greenwood. Greenwood joined City in 2020 after a yearlong stint with French champions Lyon. During her time overseas, Greenwood won the quadruple of trophies, including the French League and the prestigious Champions League. Prior to this, Greenwood circulated between a number of clubs, including playing for Everton and Liverpool, as well as captaining Manchester United and now Manchester City. Greenwood’s moves have proved controversial for some and have seen her become something of a pantomime villain during certain derby matches. However, if players wish to be at the very top of their game, to win trophies and experience the highest level of women’s football, unfortunately loyalties must occasionally be broken. As they say, for some, variety is the spice of life. Greenwood’s experience playing at different levels and in different leagues has abetted in becoming a well-rounded yet refined defender. One that simply should not be omitted from any starting eleven, so much so that in the frankest of terms, Manchester City would not have achieved the bronze bill without Alex Greenwood. In particular, this season, Greenwood has been the underpinning prop that has grounded, not only the backline, but the entire City line-up in every single league match. It has been Greenwood that has anchored a floundering City ship in choppy and uncharted waters. Leadership is not an attribute that comes naturally to all, but Greenwood has stepped into these shoes with professionalism and poise in the absence of other senior players. Whilst she may not be overtly vocal, Greenwood has the communication skills to organise and convey her expectations. Further to this, Greenwood leads by example and generally keeps a level head under frustrating circumstances, she has a composure that encourages those around her to adopt the same approach. Getty By trade, Greenwood has typically operated as a left back owing to her desire to tank forward and her weapon of a left foot. However, over the past two seasons we have seen Greenwood convert into a left sided centre back, a position that she has taken to remarkably well. Moving across to central defence comes with its challenges. The role requires a disciplined defensive acumen and a consciousness of the movements of fellow centre halves. In comparison, as a fullback, Greenwood assumed a more pressing and offensive duty. But Greenwood has managed to pull of a seamless merging of the two and develop into a rather layered defender. Defensively, Greenwood continues to iron out the kinks and has shown great growth in positional aptitude. Her starting position is, more often than not, optimal in allowing her enough time to break up play and block off channels. The quality of Greenwood’s pressures on opponents who are in possession also shows improvement, demonstrating a use of physicality to a greater strength than previous years. Nevertheless, what sets Greenwood apart is her quality on the ball. Being gifted with exceptional technical abilities, however, is not the be all and end all, and players need to utilise this with good decision making. Fortunately, she pairs this raw skill with an equally profound vision and anticipation. Greenwood is, without doubt, an exquisite reader of the game. It is this combination that makes Greenwood so integral to Manchester City, whose style of play is focussed more on the application of accurate passing and build-up as opposed to being over-reliant on quick-fire transitions. Greenwood is able to distribute the ball any which way over the pitch with incredible precision, often finding City’s primary attackers in the first instance. She has ended this campaign as the player who has made the most passes into the final third, the most progressive passes, as well as achieving the highest progressive passing distance in the league. Her days of playing as a fullback have not been quashed and Greenwood uses these now ingrained traits to elevate her game further. She remains a player who likes to take control, step out and drive the ball herself. Placing first in the league for the number touches of the ball with 2213 this term, it is interesting to note that over half of these have taken place within the middle third. Using this evidence, it becomes apparent that Greenwood is not only tasked with serving as City’s lead centre back, but also their principal playmaker. Greenwood was the target of 1664 passes and successfully received a whopping 98.3% of these, furthering the notion of her significance. One final attribute that cannot be overlooked is Greenwood’s deliveries from dead balls. Greenwood has long been viewed as a set-piece specialist and for good reason, her ability to direct a corner or free-kick is quite extraordinary and will continue to be a huge asset to City as other ball technicians Caroline Weir and Georgia Stanway depart. Internationally, Greenwood has come up through the ranks having played in U-17, U-19 and U-23 squads before making her senior debut in 2014. Most recently, Greenwood has secured herself as a permanent figure in Sarina Wiegman’s favoured line-up and this looks set to continue as England host the Euro’s this summer. Greenwood offers a preferable technical balance to compliment partner Millie Bright’s no-nonsense defending. Having Greenwood play primarily as a centre back with England also allows Wiegman to use Greenwood, Bright and Leah Williamson simultaneously, along with defensive midfielder Keira Walsh. This central square affords the Lionesses a solid core equipped with security, accuracy and creativity. Greenwood should indeed be commended for the domestic season she has had with Manchester City. In what has been an uncertain period, she has remained the reliable constant for both teammates and supporters alike. Looking forward one only hopes she is able to showcase the very best of her game on the international stage and beyond; a talent such as Greenwood deserves celebration from the masses.

Sarina Wiegman’s second camp in charge of the Lionesses has drawn to a close, but what have we learned so far? Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses: What Have we Learned? Back Sarina Wiegman’s second camp in charge of the Lionesses has drawn to a close, but what have we learned so far? Girls on the Ball Friday, 29 October 2021 By Charlotte Stacey England have now played four of their World Cup qualifying games for the 2023 tournament and find themselves top of the group with four clean sheets and a mammoth 32 goal difference. In September, Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses took on North Macedonia at St. Mary’s Stadium in which they enjoyed the first of their large scorelines with an eight-nil victory. They then travelled to Luxembourg and earned a similar success with a thumping ten-nil win, which included two goals apiece from centre backs Alex Greenwood and Millie Bright. October’s international break arrived and the Lionesses went on to host Northern Ireland in a historic night at Wembley Stadium. Beth Mead became the first women to score a hat-trick at the infamous ground, which was made even more impressive as she achieved this feat within a fourteen-minute period. Bethany England took the total to four and the Lionesses first competitive fixture at Wembley wrapped up favourably. In their most recent game against Latvia, England once again reigned supreme, concluding their international break with another ten-nil triumph with goals from Ellen White, Rachel Daly, Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Georgia Stanway. Ella Toone also secured her first international hat-trick, taking her tally to five goals in six appearances for her country. On the surface, it appears as though England could not have asked for a better start to this new chapter. However, those of us who follow the Lionesses a little more closely will incur that this ‘early dominance’ is not quite the best-case scenario it may be perceived to be. Firstly, this is not to deny the Lionesses of their recent endeavours, outcomes have indeed been positive and there is plenty to suggest this can continue. Further to this, there is a definite sense of anticipation shared from the players on the field to the supporters in their seats that Wiegman’s tenure will bring something more liberal than her predecessors dared to try. Already we have seen selections and starting elevens based on form, as opposed to previous international experience. Examples of this include Bethany England’s and Beth Mead’s starts against Latvia after both made remarkable impact from the bench at Wembley, and the naming of five Manchester United players in October’s camp following the Red Devil’s respectable start to the season. Wiegman has also switched things up on the pitch which has served as a refreshing change compared with the static approach of the management of years prior. After Northern Ireland’s compact defending proved difficult for England to break down, Wiegman opted for a tactical change by replacing left back Demi Stokes with midfielder Keira Walsh at half time. This converted the formation from a 4-3-3 to more of a 3-2-2-3, which at times appeared almost as a 2-1-7 as Rachel Daly played high as the right sided defender, and Keira Walsh and Leah Williamson interchangeably pushed forward to flood areas in and around the box whilst the other covered the two remaining centre backs. A similar tactic was adopted for Latvia’s match. Much more so than with Northern Ireland, Wiegman expected to face a deep-set defensive side and formed her team accordingly, this time choosing a 3-5-2. This fluidity in formation is encouraging and is the mark of a manager unafraid to work to turns of the game in hand. Yet, it is when we delve further into these fixtures that we find areas in which Wiegman’s side will need to tighten up. The first thing to be considered is the gulf that separates the Lionesses and their opponents thus far. England are currently ranked 8th in FIFA’s World Rankings. This is compared to North Macedonia ranked at 131st, Luxembourg at 122nd, Latvia at 102nd and Northern Ireland at 48th. The Lionesses were expected to win by a large margin, and they achieved that, so what is the problem? Well, there isn’t one, there are many. The largest issue is the difficulty gauging a true impression of how well a team performs or how cohesively they are working when the opposition does not pose an adequate test. Playing lower ranked sides also runs the risk of complacency, lapse positioning and unconventional pot shots, the latter of which was seen prominently against Latvia. When studying the numbers, it can be assumed that the reason for these shots was down to the amount of time England had on the ball. With 78% of possession against both sides, England were allowed to press the final third without much resistance. This sounds gift-like in theory, but the reality is that the game becomes overthought, attacking phases are overplayed and the dominant side runs themselves into trouble. Against Northern Ireland the Lionesses registered 34 shots, 11 shots on target and scored four goals. With Latvia, they produced 58 shots, 21 shots on target and ten goals. A conversion rate that, by and large, needs some work. However, these numbers must be interpreted relatively. Typically, one would expect far fewer shots, yet a much finer margin between this and the number of shots on target and goals scored. This is where time on the ball, plus, the allowance of space on the peripheral of the final third comes into play. Particularly in the game against Latvia, several times England were allowed to advance upon the box in large numbers at their leisure. Yet due to almost every player from the opposition also situated within this area and holding firm, the play was either overrun, blocked, intercepted and cleared. When the cleared ball was ultimately claimed by another England player outside of the area, rather than quickly switching the direction of play or passing out to the wing to force their opponents to reposition, the receiving player, with ample time, took a shot. The opportunity to score wasted on both occasions. The final issue with the fixtures played so far is the lack of defensive work and goalkeeping. This, of course, is no fault of the Lionesses, yet it is unhelpful that defensive structure has not been competitively trialled, nor has a phase of transition, something that, in recent times, has been England’s niggling shortcoming. The Lionesses have progressed positively and Wiegman’s management already feels as if it is taking England in the right direction, yet there are still these familiar lurking deficiencies to be addressed. These recent games have required patience and England have had to persevere when the door did not open as expected which will serve them well in their upcoming games. Confidence should be high, yet personnel should be mindful that far tougher challenges will soon be on their way.

New boss Sarina Wiegman has announced her squad for the Lionesses upcoming September fixtures. A New Era: Lionesses September Squad List Back New boss Sarina Wiegman has announced her squad for the Lionesses upcoming September fixtures. Girls on the Ball Tuesday, 7 September 2021 By Charlotte Stacey Sarina Wiegman, who has just taken over the role of England’s head coach after conclusion of her tenure with the Dutch national side, has named a 25-player squad to take on North Macedonia and Luxemburg in the coming weeks. A mix of fresh faces, returning names and regular starters have offered supporters a breath means that Wiegman’s first selection has given plenty of food for thought. Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps re-joins after a lengthy sabbatical from the international squad, despite keeping ten clean sheets in the Women’s Super League last season. Similarly to her predecessors, Wiegman has opted for an experienced goalkeeper to oversee her younger cohort and Chelsea’s Carly Telford joins the ranks. Alex Greenwood has been named after consistently impressing with Manchester City, her selection no doubt a relief to supporters after she surprisingly did not make the cut for Team GB at the summer Olympics. Jess Carter makes her return to the national side, almost four years since making her singular appearance, after putting in a shift in Chelsea’s back four over recent months. Arsenal centre-half Leah Williamson has been named as a midfielder on Wiegman’s initial list. This could be due to the number of injuries sustained to England’s regular midfield contingency; however, many have long desired Williamson’s skillset in a higher position and this may well be the right time to experiment. Manchester United’s Lucy Staniforth and Katie Zelem have both been recalled and join Williamson in midfield. Forward Ebony Salmon is possibly one of the most exciting names to feature in Wiegman’s squad. The youngster has made quite the impression in the National Women’s Soccer League and has registered five goals since joining Racing Louisville in June. After reproving her attacking prowess in pre-season and setting the pitch alight in their league opener, Arsenal’s Beth Mead is also back in the fold. Established internationals Nikita Parris, Fran Kirby and Ellen White join Mead upfront. Regulars Ellie Roebuck, Lucy Bronze, Jordan Nobbs, Keira Walsh and Chloe Kelly all miss out on the squad through injury The Lionesses will kick off their first game under new management against North Macedonia at 7pm on Friday 17th September at St. Mary’s Stadium. The match will be broadcast live on ITV (channel to be confirmed). Full squad - GK: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Sandy MacIver (Everton), Carly Telford (Chelsea) DF: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal) Midfielders: Jill Scott (Manchester City), Lucy Staniforth (Manchester United), Georgia Stanway (Manchester City), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Katie Zelem (Manchester United) Forwards: Bethany England (Chelsea), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Arsenal), Ebony Salmon (Racing Louisville), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Ellen White (Manchester City)