Liverpool Ladies v Lincoln Ladies

Liverpool Ladies £2

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Liverpool Ladies Football Club Official Matchday Programme

vs

Lincoln Ladies

FA Women’s Super League Wednesday 29th May 2013 • Kick off 7.30pm

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Manager’s notes News Doncaster match report Captain’s column Chelsea match report Meet the squad Lincoln Ladies Sophia Riccio interview Arsenal match report LFC Foundation Chelsea match report Mighty Red Puzzle pages Top tweets Whitney Engen interview Facts and stats Today’s teams

FOLLOW THE LADIES AT: Web

www.liverpoolladiesfc.com ​Liverpool Ladies – FA WSL Team @LFCLadies

Club Contacts: Secretary Colin Charlton charltoncolin7@hotmail.co.uk

Marketing Pam Brown pam.brown@liverpoolfc.com

Programme editorial ProgrammeMaster liverpoolladies@programmemaster.com

Public Relations Dee Kundra dee.kundra@liverpoolfc.com

Centre of Excellence Kevin Quigley kevin.quigley@live.co.uk

Programme Design Andrew Dawson www.andrewdawson.tv

Liverpool Ladies F.C.

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Search. Turn up. Play.

Girls, this one’s for you. No pressure – just a fun kickabout with your mates

To find out more,

search for ‘Just Play’ online.

MANAGER

MANAGER’S NOTES

GOOD EVENING and welcome to our first home league game of the 2013 season at Halton Stadium.

We’ve just had back-to-back games against Chelsea that produced vastly different results.

A 2-1 defeat was followed by a 4-0 win.

The main reason for those score-lines was the fact that we took out chances in the second meeting. It was a completely dominant performance, emphasised by the fact that we had 32 strikes on goal.

We stuck to our game plan, whereas the week before we had started well and gone in front before losing our way slightly.

We stopped playing and got in a battle, which cost us.

That pair of results are similar to our games with Arsenal where we lost to them in the FA Cup before then winning at the Emirates in the league. So we’ve learnt from our defeats, although I’d rather we learn without losing. We can develop through registering victories too.

next step “ The for us now

is to find real consistency

”

The next step for us now is to find real consistency. If we have aspirations to challenge for titles and trophies I’ve told the players it’s about being mentally strong and ruthless.

We had those qualities in abundance in the victory at Chelsea. That’s the way we want to play every time we take to the field.

Early results have already proved that this is a very competitive league with most teams capable of taking points off each other. That’s why winning our home matches is crucial.

Tonight is another one of those against a Lincoln side who we know will provide difficult opposition. Last month we won 1-0 at Sincil Bank in very windy conditions. It was a real test for us as they are very strong defensively and have a good goalkeeper in Karen Bardsley.

Since then they’ve twice drawn with Arsenal so that illustrates exactly what Rick Passmoor’s team are capable of. We’ll have to perform at our best to get a victory that would put pressure on the sides around us.

Thank you for your support,

Matt.

Liverpool Ladies

The FA WSL

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Th e

l al

rls’ Footb Gi

Tonight’s games: 5.30pm – 5.45pm:

U-10s: Liverpool Feds v St Anne’s Rovers

AFC Urmston Med v Oxton Ladies U-12s: Liverpool Feds v Blackbrook

Brazil A v Brazil B THE PRESTIGIOUS Girls’ Football Tournament for Under-10 and Under-12 girls continued at Halton Stadium for the Continental Cup match against Doncaster Rovers Belles earlier this month.

There are 16 clubs in each age group, with rounds played prior to Liverpool Ladies’ home games (4 QFs, 2 SFs and a final). Squads in the seven-a-side tournament are comprised of 10 players each.

On each tournament day a league of 4 teams will play each other, each team having 3 matches of 15 minutes duration. Winners and runners up will qualify for the next round.

The winning side for each age group will be mascots for the main match.

Each team will nominate 4 penalty takers to take part in a half-time penalty shoot-out and the winner will receive a football signed by the Liverpool Ladies squad.

5.50pm – 6.05pm:

U-10s: Liverpool Feds v AFC Urmston Med

St Anne’s Rovers v Oxton Ladies U-12s: Liverpool Feds v Brazil A

Blackbrook v Brazil B 6.10pm – 6.25pm:

U-10s: St Anne’s Rovers v AFC Urmston Med

Liverpool Feds v Oxton Ladies U-12s: Brazil A v Blackbrook

Liverpool Feds v Brazil B The results from the games played on 4 May were: U10s quarter-final 2: Peninsular Stars 2 Maghull B 0; AFC Urmston 0 Brazil Girls 2; Peninsular Stars 0 AFC Urmston 0; Maghull B 0 Brazil Girls 3; Peninsular Stars 1 Brazil Girls 2; Maghull B 0 AFC Urmston 2 Winners Brazil Girls qualify for semi-final 2; Runners-up Peninsular Stars qualify for semi-final 1.

Brazil Girls won the half-time penalty shoot-out.

U12s quarter-final 2: Crewe and Nantwich 0 Vulcan 1; Oxton Ladies 0 Town Green 1; Crewe and Nantwich 2 Oxton Ladies 1; Vulcan 0 Town Green 1; Crewe and Nantwich 0 Town Green 0; Oxton Ladies 0 Vulcan 0 Winners Town Green qualify for semi-final 2; Runners-up Crewe and Nantwich qualify for semi-final 1.

Town Green won the half-time penalty shoot-out.

• Town Green

• Brazil Girls

MATCH REPORT

CUP WIN OVER DONNY Liverpool Ladies 1 - Doncaster Rovers Belles 0 FA WSL Continental Cup • Saturday 4th May 2013

NATASHA DOWIE’S goal gave Liverpool a deserved win over Doncaster to put the Reds top of their Continental Cup group.

Liverpool started brightly with the tricky Nicole Rolser weaving her way into the area on seven minutes before drawing a good save from Nicola Hobbs at her near post.

Doncaster’s vocal travelling support must have been worried as their side continued to absorb pressure. Hobbs was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers and she acrobatically tipped a fine shot from Amanda Da Costa onto the crossbar.

But Hobbs was helpless three minutes before the interval as Dowie’s lobbed effort drifted over her head but finished on top of the net.

Despite their best efforts however, Liverpool could not breach the visitors backline and the first half ended goalless.

Yet within seconds of the restart they could have easily found themselves behind. Only a fine challenge from Becky Easton thwarted Millie Bright on the edge of the box. That scare brought an instant response and the Reds broke the deadlock with Dowie calmly slotting the ball beyond Hobbs for her fourth goal of the season.

Doncaster responded and claimed a penalty when Bright tangled with goalkeeper Sarah Quantrill.

But it was Liverpool who always looked the most likely to add a second goal. Icelandic international Katrin Omarsdottir came closest to finding it with a powerful drive. In the end though, Dowie’s strike proved enough.

Liverpool manager Matt Beard said afterwards: “Donny are an organised team who work hard and cause problems. We had to defend well. To get a clean sheet and a win is satisfying.

“With the chances we created another goal or two would have been a fair reflection.

Thankfully the goal eventually arrived - if you give Natasha chances she will score.”

Liverpool: Quantrill; Easton (Bronze 68), Bonner (c), Engen, Schroder (Riccio 80); Rolser, Omarsdottir, Williams, Da Costa (Fenlon-Billson 68), Fors; Dowie..

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CApTAIN

CAPTAIN’S COLUMN

A WARM welcome to Halton Stadium for tonight’s game against Lincoln Ladies.

We started our FA Women’s Super league season at Lincoln last month and were pushed hard before coming away with a 1-0 win.

I’ve known their manager Rick Passmoor from a really young age and know that he likes to prepare his teams well. Lincoln have had a few good results already this season, including a draw with Arsenal. They’ll be organised and hard to break down so we will have to be at our best if we are to take the three points we want.

Both teams have reached the semi-finals of the Continental Cup following positive results the weekend before last and we will host Lincoln here again in the last four during the first week of August.

We believe “ that things are

starting to come together nicely

”

We sealed our qualification with an excellent 4-0 win at Chelsea which was particularly pleasing after we had lost 2-1 to them in the league a week earlier.

In that first game, we were all disappointed with our performance. We started well but weren’t able to maintain it, so it was good to get the chance to put things right so soon and we came out and put on a good display to to take us into the semis.

We believe that things are starting to come together nicely and there’s no hiding the fact that we’ve had a few good results, but we are also well aware that we still have a lot to improve on. We will keep working and training hard and hopefully we can continue to develop.

Even though we won 4-0 at Chelsea, we created a lot of chances and know that one area we need to improve is being more clinical when we get into goalscoring positions.

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Natasha Dowie’s two goals took her total to seven. She said herself that the majority of them have been with her head which was a nice change for her! I’ve told Tash that she now has to start scoring a few more with her feet!

Tonight starts a run of three games in 10 days before the mid-season break. With so many games in a short space of time, you have to use your squad. We have a great squad and know that any player can do a job on the team.

Two of our players, Caroline Charlton and Katie Brussell, are set to join clubs in America and Canada on loan in order to get some game time. It’s a great opportunity for them to have a great experience in a good league.

We wish them the best of luck and look forward to having them back with us for the second half of the season.

Don’t forget you can keep up to date throughout the season by following us on Twitter @LFCladies.

Thank you all for your support and enjoy the match.

Gemma

MATCH REPORT

NATASHA AT THE DOUBLE Chelsea Ladies 0 - Liverpool Ladies 4 FA WSL Continental Cup • Sunday 19th May 2013

A NATASHA DOWIE double, plus goals from Nicole Rolser and a free kick from Fara Williams booked Liverpool Ladies a home tie against Lincoln Ladies in the semi-final of the Continental Cup. With Everton having played the day before, the Reds knew they would need to win by three clear goals to better Everton’s goal difference and finish winners of the group.

Matt Beard’s side gave a signal of their intent in the seventh minute when Lucy Bronze fed the ball through to Nicole Rolser and her shot rattled the crossbar.

Liverpool needed just four more minutes before taking the lead. Amanda Da Costa chipped a pass into the path of Natasha Dowie who lifted the ball over advancing keeper Shannon Lynn.

Then in the 14th minute, Whitney Engen’s superb diagonal pass found Lucy Bronze and she picked out Dowie who headed over the keeper for her seventh of the season.

The third goal arrived in the 28th minute.

Louise Fors picked out a forward run by Rolser who took the ball in her stride and advanced 20-yards before sliding the ball home.

With the game all but decided, Liverpool sought to keep their vital three-goal advantade in the second period. They added a late fourth when substitute Lillie Fenlon-Billson was brought down outside the area by Lynn, who escaped with a yellow card.

Williams added further punishment however, firing home the free-kick to put the Reds into the semis and exact revenge for a league defeat against the same opponents seven days earlier.

Liverpool: Quantrill; Bronze, Engen, Bonner (c), Schroder (Riccio 77); Omarsdottir, Da Costa (Holbrook 67); Fors, Rolser, Williams; Dowie (Fenlon-Billson 82).

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FIRsT TIEAM sQUAD

MEET THE REDS Here’s the full LFC squad for the 2013 season...

1 Danielle Gibbons

2 Samantha Chappell

GOALKEEPER • 31/07/91 CHORLEY

DEFENDER • 24/03/92 WARRINGTON

The former Preston North End keeper signed from Preston in 2011. Has played for England at U-19 level.

Right-back who joined the Reds from Everton. She has represented England at U-19 level.

3 Whitney Engen

4 Fara Williams

5 Gemma Bonner

6 Lucy Bronze

DEFENDER • 28/11/87 TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA USA

MIDFIELDER • 25/01/84 LONDON

DEFENDER • 13/07/91 LEEDS

DEFENDER • 28/10/91 BERWICK UPON TWEED

Rated by boss Matt Beard as one of the best defenders in the world, Whitney is a USA international. Has previously played for various US clubs and Swedish side Tyreso FF.

Vastly experienced midfielder who has won more than 100 caps for England. After starting at Chelsea and Charlton, she spent a decade at Everton before joining the Reds in the winter.

Team captain and a commanding centre-back who played under Matt Beard at Chelsea after starting with hometown club Leeds United. She is also skipper of England U-23s.

A winter signing from Everton, Lucy is an England U-23 international who can play in either full-back role. Has also played for Sunderland and North Carolina Tar Heels.

7 Katie Brusell

8 Katrin Omarsdottir MIDFIELDER • 27/06/87 HAMBURG, GERMANY

9 Natasha Dowie

10 Louise Fors

MIDFIELDER • 09/01/88 MANCHESTER

An attacking midfielder, Katie has also played for Stockport County, Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City.

She has represented England at U-19s and U-17s levels.

Icelandic international, recruited this winter from Kristianstads DFF. She attended the University of California and has also played for US sides California Golden Bears and Orange County Waves.

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FORWARD • 30/06/88 ABU DHABI, UAE

MIDFIELDER • 23/10/89 STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

England striker who joined from Everton in November 2012. Has previously played with Watford, Fulham and Charlton.

Swedish international Louise joined from Western Sydney Wanderers in February. Played in Spain with Espanyol as well as Swedish sides Hammarby IF, AIK and Linkoping.

11 Nicole RoLSer

12 Becky Easton

13 Amanda Da Costa

MIDFIELDER • 07/02/92 OCHSENHAUSEN, GERMANY

DEFENDER • 16/06/74 BIRKENHEAD

DEFENDER / MIDFIELD • 07/10/89 SOMERS, NEW YORK, USA

An Under-23 German international, Nicole is a pacy winger who has previously played for VfL Sindelfingen and SC 07 Bad Neuenahr.

An experienced defender who signed from Everton this winter.

Has also played for Doncaster Rovers Belles. Becky has won 44 senior England caps.

Versatile player, known for her work-rate and technical skills, Amanda joined the Reds from Boston Breakers. She has also played for US teams Washington Freedom and MagicJack.

15 Jess Holbrook

16 Lizzie Ince

17 Caroline Charlton

MIDFIELDER • 01/08/92 ASHTON UNDER LYNE

MIDFIELDER • 17/09/94 BURY

DEFENDER • 09/10/89 LIVERPOOL

An exciting player who signed from Leeds in February.

Has also played for Everton and appeared in UEFA Women’s Champions League games for the Blues.

Lizzie is a former England youth international signed from Blackburn Rovers during the summer transfer window in 2012.

A versatile defender who joined the club back in 2007 having previously played for Macclesfield Town. She lists scoring in front of the Kop as a career highlight.

Joined from Doncaster Rovers Belles during the summer 2012 transfer window having also played for Arsenal, Watford and Bristol Academy. Has played for Ireland at U-19s level.

19 Corina Schroder

20 Hannah Keryakoplis

22 Sophia Riccio

24 Sarah Quantrill

DEFENDER • 15/08/86 DINGDEN, GERMANY

FORWARD • 01/02/94 PENYFFORDD, WALES

DEFENDER • 15/10/91 LIVERPOOL

GOALKEEPER • 27/07/90 NORWICH

A talented left-back who signed from SC 07 Bad Neuenahr. Her honours include winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League, the German League twice and the German Cup.

A Welsh international who moved up from the reserve squad last season. Has also played for Tranmere Rovers.

A left-back or centre-back who has come through the club’s youth system. She was formerly reserve team captain before joining the senior squad last season.

A new signing this year, Sarah has previously appeared for Norwich City, Arsenal and Chelsea. She was an FA Women’s Cup winner with the Gunners in 2009.

18 Lillie Fenlon-Billson MIDFIELD / FORWARD • 19/07/91 TOOTING, LONDON

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OPPOsITION

ALL ABOUT LINCOLN GET THE LOWDOWN ON TODAY’S OPPOSITION… LINCOLN LADIES

LINCOLN LADIES have established themselves as one of the leading sides in the women’s game since the formation of the FA Women’s Super League.

The Lady Imps have managed top five finishes in each

Home ground: Sincil Bank Nickname: Lady Imps Captain: Casey Stoney Manager: Rick Passmoor Honours: FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division runners-up: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 FA Women’s Cup runners-up: 2007/08

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Liverpool Ladies

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of the two seasons since the new league was established, following up a fourth-place in 2011 with a fifth last year.

The club have brought in a new manager this season in with former Leeds Ladies manager Rick Passmoor taking over from Glen Harris.

A couple of key players moved on this winter with goalkeeper Nicola Hobbs joining Doncaster and Lucy Staniforth teaming up with Bristol Academy. However, Lincoln replaced them with England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley and New Zealand midfielder Hayley Bowden.

With captain Casey Stoney alongside Sophie Bradley in the centre of defence, the arrival of Bardsley means Lincoln now boast a trio of England’s back five. Bowden joins Megan Harris and England Under-23s international Remi Allen in a powerful midfield while another England player Jess Clarke, provides the firepower in attack.

The Lady Imps arrive at Halton Stadium aiming to register their first league win of the campaign having lost to the Reds on the opening day and at home to Everton three weeks ago. However, they have also earned a draw at Birmingham City Ladies before coming within a minute of beating Arsenal in front of the ESPN cameras a fortnight ago, eventually having to settle for a 1-1 draw.

The team progressed to the semi-finals of the Continental Cup after a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Birmingham City 10 days ago. They will return here to meet the Reds in the semi-final.

Meanwhile, the club hit the headlines last month for off-field reasons when it was announced that they would be uprooting to a new base 30 miles away next season and being re-named as Notts County.

Uprooting a franchise to a new city was unprecedented in the Football League before the formation of MK Dons in 2002.

KAREN BARDSLEY

TWO TO WATCH:

Lincoln’s star signing this winter, Karen is the current England number one goalkeeper who has gained 24 caps for her country. She also made five appearances for Great Britain at last summer’s Olympics and she describes playing in front of 70,000 against Brazil at Wembley as a career highlight.

Her former clubs include Linköpings in Sweden and American clubs Sky Blues FC, Pali Blues and Ajax America Women.

Karen is one of the tallest players in the WSL and commands her penalty box incredibly well. Her signing shows a real statement of intent from the club.

CASEY STONEY Current England captain Casey is a central-defender who started her career at Chelsea before moving to North London to join Arsenal in 1999. While at the Gunners she helped the club to two league titles, the FA Cup, and two League cups.

She won further honours at Charlton before returning to Chelsea when the Addicks disbanded their women’s team.

Her second spell at the Blues included a spell as caretaker player-manager during the 2008/09 season. In 2011 she joined the Lady Imps for the inaugural FAWSL season.

Like Liverpool’s Fara Williams, she is a member of the 100cap club, having first represented England against Norway in 2002. She has since represented England at European Championships and World Cups and was named International Player of the Year for 2007 and 2012. She was also a member of the GB squad at last summer’s Olympics - scoring in the 3-0 group win over Cameroon. As well as her playing responsibilities, Casey also coaches the clubs Under-17s.

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PLAYER FOCUs

SOPHIA’s LIVING THE DREAM BEING A PART OF LIVERPOOL LADIES’ SENIOR SQUAD IS A DREAM COME TRUE FOR LIFELONG RED SOPHIA RICCIO

THE VERSATILE defender joined the club’s ladies section as an 11-year-old and after working her way through the various age group teams, she graduated from the reserves to be a part of the senior squad.

“My ambition was always to play for Liverpool Ladies because I’m from this city and I was brought up with LFC,” she explains.

“Being a local girl in a cosmopolitan team is not an added responsibility but you do want to do well because you’re achieving what you wanted to do as a child and want to go as far as you can. It is an amazing feeling to play for Liverpool and be part of this team. It’s something that’s really exciting.”

Sophia’s Dad is a season ticket holder in the Main Stand at Anfield and she says getting to play Arsenal at such an iconic stadium before travelling to the Emirates for a league game 10 days later is evidence of how far the women’s game has come.

“It’s something that I’ll take away with me and I’ll tell stories about when I’m older.

It’s an unbelievable feeling to be involved in games played at stadiums like those.

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“We are quite lucky in many ways but we can also go bigger and better than we are. It’s a brilliant opportunity. When I was younger, girls’ football wasn’t as well known as it is now and we used to have fun. We still have a lot of fun now but with the talent in the game, it’s just got bigger and better and it’s unbelievable seeing the transformation between what it was then and now. I’m just happy that I can be a part of it.”

Sophia says one of the team’s strength is the way they have bonded on and off the field since the new-look squad linked up earlier in the year.

I’m from this “ city and I was brought up with LFC

”

“When we first got together it was a group of girls from different nationalities and so it was a case of getting to know each other.

With us being practically full-time we’ve seen a lot of each other and have been going out and doing things together when we’ve had spare time - we’ve made time to go and do things with others and get to know them.

It’s a really good bunch of girls. There’s not one girl who isn’t a part of this team. Every single one of them is brilliant and we’re getting on really well. The more we do things together and get to know how each other plays we can only get better.”

The 21-year-old made her first appearance of the season in the Reds’ previous home game, replacing Corina Schroder as an 80th minute substitute in the Continental Cup

win over Doncaster Rovers Belles. Sophia accepts she will have to be patient in her bid to gain playing time in a team that boasts such a strong defence.

“I’ve just got to be patient and keep working hard and if I do that I will make Matt think about me. In Gemma, Whitney, Lucy, Coco and Becky we have some of the top defenders in the league. I’m glad I’m a part of it and hopefully I will get in there one day. But as long as I’m in the squad and training well, nothing’s going to stop me trying to prove that I can tread in those shoes if they need me to. It’s a good side and our squad is really strong.” Sophia says that despite some good early season results, the main objective remains a place in the top half of the table.

“Obviously we want to win every game, league and cup competition but our main aim is to finish in the top half. We’ve got to keep our feet on the ground and take it game by game and go forward.

Then hopefully we can challenge.”

The Reds recorded victory over tonight’s opponents Lincoln on the opening day of the season and will be aiming for a repeat performance against the Lady Imps.

“The weather played a part that day but that was the case for both sides,” she recalls.

“They had chances and we had chances but it was a good game considering the conditions. We battled through and got the three points. If you collect three points, you win games and move forward and that’s all we want.

“With the run we’ve had, it will really set us up for the second half of the season if we can have a good week now.

“Because a lot of our games have been away, hopefully when we come back for the second half of the season it will be to our advantage that we have a lot of home games to come in front of our own supporters.”

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MATCH REPORT

Arsenal StUNNED AT HOME Arsenal Ladies 0 - Liverpool Ladies 4 FA WSL • Tuesday 7th May 2013

LIVERPOOL STUNNED champions Arsenal by becoming the first team to beat them in a league game since July 2011.

A crowd of more than 2,000 at the Emirates were stunned as the Reds romped to victory. Amanda Da Costa scored twice before Natasha Dowie and Louise Fors added further goals for the visitors who went to the top of the table as a result.

Arsenal enjoyed most of the possession early on and created several chances with Ciara Grant and Ellen White having efforts cleared off the line. But Da Costa opened the scoring with a 20-yard shot in the 37th minute. White and Gunners captain Steph Houghton then forced Reds’ goalkeeper Sarah Quantrill into saves while Kim Little also went close.

Liverpool took control during an eight minute spell after the break. Da Costa claimed her second goal in the 51st minute, turning in a Corina Schroder cross at the far post.

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Six minutes later, Dowie increased the lead with a close-range effort from Fors’ corner. Fors then raced through a retreating Arsenal defence two minutes later to put the Reds four up.

Little and Houghton hit the woodwork as the Gunners attempted to find a route back into the game but Liverpool Ladies were good value for their success.

Manager Matt Beard said: “I was delighted with the result. We were well prepared for the game after learning a lot from our recent FA Cup defeat by Arsenal.

“We’ve worked in training on the things we got wrong that night and I was convinced when we went into this game that we were going to win. We’ll get better and better, but we’re not going to get carried away and at the moment a top-half of the table finish is still the aim.”

Liverpool: Quantrill; Bronze, Engen, Bonner (c), Schroder; Fors, Williams, Omarsdottir, Da Costa (Holbrook 72), Rolser (Fenlon-Billson 76); Dowie (Keryakoplis 80)

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COMMUNITY

CYCLING FOR SHANKS

IN MEMORY OF Anfield legend Bill Shankly, Liverpool FC Foundation is hosting a unique charity bicycle ride to raise money to help improve people’s lives.

This historic ride from Glasgow to Liverpool will take place during the lead up to the 100th anniversary of Bill’s birthday and will include ex-Reds Robbie Fowler and Steve Harkness.

Only 150 places are up for grabs on the four-day ride which will run from 29 August to 1 September 2013 and places are expected to go quickly. Mark Haig, head of operations at Liverpool FC Foundation, says: “This is the Foundation’s first-ever fundraising bike ride and what could be more fitting than to hold it in celebration of one of the club’s most historic figures. The money raised will go towards our Foundation’s community programmes which provide opportunities that inspire positive change and build better futures for people from all backgrounds and abilities.”

Beginning at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow, the ride will go through Ayrshire to Glenbuck – the birthplace of Bill – and continue to Carlisle United where Shankly began his playing career. It will continue to Preston North End and visit the Shankly Kop, and then down through

Merseyside past the hallowed turf of Anfield to finish at the Liverpool’s famous Pier Head – a grand total of 270 miles.

Bill’s granddaughter Karen Gill adds: “This is a perfect way to support my grandad’s 100th birthday. The ride goes through all of his important places during his lifetime and he would have been proud to know that everyone is raising money for Liverpool’s Foundation.”

As well supporting Liverpool FC Foundation’s community programmes, money raised will cover all overnight accommodation, all meals including snacks at refreshment stops, fully signed route, tour manager, doctor, cycling guides, mechanics, medical and transport back-up services.

To secure a place on this iconic ride, participants will need to pay a non-refundable registration fee of £199 and pledge an additional £300 to cover event costs. Each participant is also expected to raise around £500 for Liverpool FC Foundation.

If the full 270-mile ride is too far, a further 300 people can register for £30 to enter the final leg of the journey from Preston to Liverpool which is just over 33 miles.

To enter any part of the bike ride, visit www.pennineevents.co.uk/LFCENTRY

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For more information and to get involved visit

Liverpoolfc.com/socialmedia

MATCH REPORT

REDS LOSE EARLY LEAD Chelsea Ladies 2 - Liverpool Ladies 1 FA Women’s Super League • Sunday 12th May 2013

LIVERPOOL suffered their first league defeat of the season as Chelsea came from behind to register a hard-fought victory.

The Reds started the better and scored an early goal through Whitney Engen but failed to further capitalise on their first-half dominance. A Sofia Jakobsson strike brought Chelsea level before a disputed effort from Eniola Aluko won it for the hosts.

Liverpool began brightly and goalkeeper Shannon Lynn made two outstanding saves to thwart Corina Schroder and Nicole Rolser.

The stop to deny Rolser resulted in a corner being played back by Louise Fors to Schroder to open an angle and her cross was met by Engen, whose back header defeated Lynn to give Matt Beard’s side the lead.

Liverpool continued to pressurise the Chelsea defence and Rolser and Da Costa both went close to extending the lead.

It was 25 minutes before Chelsea tested the Liverpool keeper, but two minutes later they were on terms when Jakobsson showed her skills to beat two players before hitting a 20-yard strike beyond Sarah Quantrill.

The moment that proved decisive came 10 minutes after the re-start as Chelsea scored what turned out to be the winning goal in controversial circumstances.

Helen Ward broke through on goal but the danger seemed to have gone when Engen won the ball and was about to clear when Ward caught her from behind. It appeared to be a clear foul on the American but the referee waved play on and the ball fell to Aluko who found the back of the net.

Liverpool pushed to find an equaliser but were denied by a string of saves from Lynn. On 75 minutes she pushed Da Costa’s goalbound strike over the bar and in the closing minutes a double block, denied substitute Lillie Fenlon-Billson.

Liverpool: Quantrill; Bronze, Engen, Bonner (c), Schroder (Easton 73); Omarsdottir (Fenlon-Billson 68), Da Costa; Fors, Rolser, Williams; Dowie.

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Mighty Red Endorses New Kit! Liverpool FC mascot, Mighty Red, joined the first team in wearing the new LFC home kit at the final match of the season against QPR. Red sported the new kit in the Family Park at Anfield while he entertained young fans before kick-off. Mighty, who has been a special guest at the Family Park all season, wore the number 12 shirt as he showed off his dancing skills and posed for photos with children.

Speaking at the Family Park on Sunday, Emma Careless, LFC mascot co-ordinator, said: “Mighty Red has really enjoyed being part of the LFC family this season and was extremely excited to be given the new kit to wear alongside his idols Jamie Carragher and Lucas Leiva.

“So many people have been commenting on how great the shirt looks and feels. It is very light and I’m told the material will keep Mighty and the players cool, so he’s looking forward to wearing it throughout the season.”

Liverpool FC and Warrior revealed the Reds’ new home kit for the 2013/14 season earlier this month.

The new home strip is based on the iconic shirt of the 1983/84 season, which was worn during the Club’s fourth European Cup win in Rome.

• Find our more about what Mighty Red is up to by visiting www.liverpoolfc.com/kopkids Liverpool Ladies

The FA WSL

23

FUN TIME WITH

J R S N O B B I G C

C E I P B N D A N H

H D S F M O T E S A

A O N S W I L N S P

R R H I C L Y T S P

L H E O A L O D D E

T C C I T N A T A L

O S M E E O T R E L

N E L Y R D O H K A

R B A R D S L E Y E

< REDS & IMPS

Can you find the following 10 names in our match day word search?

CHARLTON

CHAPPELL SCHRODER

GIBBONS DOWIE

LADYIMPS JESSCLARKE

BARDSLEY REMIALLEN

STONEY

Which one of our trio isn’t being completely honest?!

NATASHA “My goal against Doncaster in our last home game was my third in three games” 24

Liverpool Ladies

The FA WSL

SOPHIA “I made my first appearance of the season against Doncaster on 4 May”

FARA “I captained Liverpool on my debut against Aston Villa in March”

THE NUMBERS GAME

GEMMA BONNER

1 2 5 13

FA Women’s Premier League Cup medal Former clubs - Leeds United and Chelsea Her Liverpool Ladies squad number

Caps for England at Under-19s

MIGHTY RED’S FIENDISH FIVE! 1 In what year did Caroline Charlton join Liverpool Ladies?

2 Which member of the squad used to captain Doncaster Rovers Belles?

3 What nationality is Corina Schroder?

4 Natasha Dowie’s first competitive goal of the season was against which club?

5 Matt Beard won the FA Women’s Cup whilst at which club?

HOW DID YOU DO? RED HERRING Fara Williams – Gemma Bonner was captain.

MIGHTY REDS FIENDISH FIVE 1 2007; 2 Becky Easton; 3 German; 4 Aston Villa; 5 Charlton

Liverpool Ladies

The FA WSL

25

TOP TWEETS

What we’ve been saying in the Twittersphere!

FOLLOW US @LFCLadies @gembon23 GEMMA BONNER

Looking forward to watching the #womensfootballshow tonight on BBC2 in 10 minutes!

@tatsdowie NATASHA DOWIE

@danigibbo DANIELLE GIBBONS

Awesome team performance today, bring on the semi final!

@whitneyengen WHITNEY ENGEN

“Who was the last Liverpool player to score in front of The Kop? ” Me?! Lol x

About to check out this singing competition. # Eurovision.

Apparently it’s like American Idol meets the Euros all in one night.

@whitneyengen WHITNEY ENGEN

@beckyeaston16 BECKY EASTON

Good team win... 4-0 over Chelsea. I think I win the award for most fashionable footballer.

@lucybronze LUCY BRONZE

Well in the lasses winning the women’s prem... Over and over again!!!

@gembon23 GEMMA BONNER

Good team performance today.

Clean sheet and 4 goals to send us into the semi-final.

Back on the bus on the way to London...Chelsea again tomorrow....

@Katie_b_7 KATIE BRUSELL

This time next week il be half way across the pond! Living and playin in Canada/North America for a few months!!

@LFCladies LFC LADIES OFFICIAL

First training session back tonight after a loss that hurt at the weekend, all the girls are raring to go.

WATCH YOUR 5TH GAME FOR FREE! Liverpool Ladies are rewarding loyal supporters with the opportunity to see a free home game with the new loyalty card.

If you see four Liverpool Ladies matches at the Halton Stadium you will get a fifth match free as long as you have your card stamped when you pay to enter. The offer is valid for matches at Halton Stadium until 30 September 2013 and the free match admits one person only.

The cards will be distributed at the turnstiles.

Attend 4 home matche s

and get the 5th FREE!

Liverpool Ladies

The FA WSL

27

PLAYER FOCUs

IN MY LIFE WHITNEY ENGEN

FAVOURITE GAME? My last game I ever played with my University team. We were all really close and had made our way to the final game of the national championship. Ironically we were playing at Texas A and M, the stadium where we had played – and lost - our very first game after we had come into school. To get the opportunity to play our last game together on the field where we started for a national title was great and then we won. It still gives me goose-bumps to think about it because it was really incredible.

MUSIC? I love John Mayer. I don’t think a lot of people in England know him but I can live and die by his music. I listen to his albums on repeat.

LAST CONCERT? John Mayer in St Louis. I had a friend who lived there and we went down and caught the concert

SHIRT NUMBER? I like being three. It’s my strong number, but I am not really superstitious in any way. I’ve been nine and 23 before and with the national team right now, I’m 14. To me the player makes the number, the number doesn’t make the player.

GOAL CELEBRATION? (Laughs) When I score I’m more surprised than anybody! For me it’s more a case of bewilderment and thinking: ‘Oh, okay this is exciting.’ I scored my first goal for the US Women’s National team against China in March. I think that was one of the more memorable ones right now.

FAVOURITE FILM? I have two. My favourite serious movie is Meet Joe Black. I often get made fun of for liking that but I don’t really care! My favourite non-serious movie is the cartoon Up. I’ve probably seen that movie 40 times. It’s a time-waster and I love it! a hobby, but it’s what I like doing.

28

Liverpool Ladies

The FA WSL

TH FAVOURITE PLACE IN

LAST DOWNLOAD? Justin Timberlake’s Mirrors.

That’s a catchy song.

Home.

ER, IF NOT A FOOTBALL BE? U YO LD WHAT WOU

ANY PETS? Anyone who follows me on Instagram or Twitter will know that I have a dog named Bailey and she’s pretty much like my child. She’s a golden retriever who has just turned 10. She lives at home with my parents and I love her, she’s the best! It is hard being away from her.

When I talk to my parents via iChat and they show me Bailey, I have to say: “Stop it – I can’t see her!’

HOBBIES? I love to cook and I’m really into fashion so I enjoy browsing the latest looks.

Liverpool One is going to be my downfall!

I walk around there and it’s so much more expensive than the dollar! It’s cool being in Europe to see what different people wear. I always feel that when I’m in Europe I don’t have any fashion rules - you can pretty much wear anything you want. I really felt that in Sweden too whereas in the States I feel that if you put certain things together people are going to look at you a little funny!

FAVOURITE DISH TO CO

E WORLD?

OK?

During the summer when peaches are ripe, I make this personalised peach pie. You take a whole peach and cut out the middle and stuff it with sugar, butter, flour and then close it back up and wrap it in a pie crust. Then when you bake it it’s like your own personal peach pie. I would say that’s my favourite thing to cook because people just love to eat it.

I would be in law school. At university in the States you can major in anything but then you have to apply to law school, take an aptitude test and submit it with your application. You then admit it based off your grade point average and how you score on the tests.

SO LAW SCHOOL NE

XT?

Yes. Last fall I had some time to take that aptitude test so I got that out of the way. I think I’ll probably put together an application in the next couple of years and see where I want to go.

FUNNIEST TEAM-MAT

E?

I answered this question recently on Twitter. I said Amanda and got a lot of gruff from the rest of my teammates who claim she isn’t that funny. I will say Lucy Bronze. They may also be surprised at that but that’s because I know her. We played a year together when I was at University. Lucy was part of that team and I think she’s hilarious.

BEST SINGER? Everyone says Katrin’s a pretty good singer but I haven’t heard her. I have heard Natasha Dowie sing a couple of riffs and I think she’s quite good but I haven’t really heard anyone break it down and start singing.

SILLIEST TEAM-MAT

E?

That would be Tash. She’s very silly!

Liverpool Ladies

The FA WSL

29

SEASON STATS 2013 FA WSL FIXTURES 2013

(Home games at Halton Stadium in CAPS, cup fixtures denoted in brackets)

GAMES & GOALS 2013 (substitute appearances in brackets)

Date​

Opponent​​

Result​​

March 17​

Aston Villa (FAC 5)​ Williams 3, Fors (pen), Dowie

5-0​​

March 23

​ VERTON (CC) E Fors (pen)

1-1

March 31

Sunderland (FAC 6)​ Fenlon-Billson, Omarsdottir

2-1

April 14​

Lincoln Ladies Dowie

1-0

April 28​

ARSENAL LADIES (FAC SF) Dowie

1-2

May 04​

DONCASTER RB (CC) Dowie

1-0

May 07

Arsenal Ladies Da Costa 2, Dowie, Fors

4-0​

May 12​ ​

Chelsea Ladies Engen

1-2

May 19​

Chelsea (CC) Dowie 2, Rolser, Williams

4-0​

May 29​

LINCOLN LADIES

June 4​

Everton Ladies

June 8​

BIRMINGHAM CITY

Aug 4

ARSENAL LADIES

Aug 7

LINCOLN LADIES (CC S/F)

Aug 10​

Bristol Academy

Aug 17

​CHELSEA LADIES

Aug 28​

EVERTON LADIES

Sept 1

​Birmingham City

Sept 4​

DONCASTER RB

FA WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE

Sept 15

​BRISTOL ACADEMY

​​​P ​W ​D ​L ​F ​A ​Pts

FA WSL CONT CUP FA CUP App Goals App Goals App Goals

1 Danielle Gibbons ​​0 ​0 ​0 ​0 ​0 ​0 2 Samantha Chappell ​​0 ​0 ​0 ​0 ​0 ​0 3 Whitney Engen​

3

3 ​0

3 ​0

4 Fara Williams​

3 ​0

1

3

1

3 ​3

5 Gemma Bonner

3 ​0

3 ​0

3 ​0

6 Lucy Bronze​ ​2(1) ​0 ​2(1) ​0 ​0 ​0 7 Katie Brusell ​​0 ​0 ​0 ​0 ​0(1) ​0 8 Katrin Omarsdottir

3 ​0

3 ​0

9 Natasha Dowie​

3

2

3

3

3

10 Louise Fors​​

3

1

3

1

3 ​1

11 Nicole Rolser

3 ​0

3

1

3 ​0

12 Becky Easton

1(1) ​0 ​1(1) ​0

3 ​0

13 Amanda Da Costa

3

2

2 ​0

14 Michelle Evans​​

0​

0 ​0 ​0 ​1(1) ​0

15 Jess Holbrook​​

0(2) ​0

0(1) ​0 ​1(1)​ 0

16 Lizzie Ince​​​

0​

0​

17 Caroline Charlton​​

0 ​0 ​0 ​0 ​0 ​0

3 ​0

0​

18 Lillie Fenlon-Billson​ 0(3) ​0 19 Corina Schroder​​

2(1) 1

3 ​0

20 Hannah Keryakoplis​ 0​(1) 0​

0​

2

0​

0

0(3) ​0 ​1(2) 1 3 ​0 ​1(1) ​0 0​

0​

0​

0

22 Sophia Riccio​​

0​

0 ​0(2) ​0 ​0 ​0

24 Sarah Quantrill​​

3

0​

3

0​

3

0

Bristol Academy ​3​

3​

Chelsea Ladies​

2 ​1 ​1 ​7​

4​

7

Liverpool Ladies ​3​

2​

2​

6

​​​P ​W ​D ​L ​F ​A ​Pts

Everton Ladies​

3​

1 ​1 ​1 ​5 ​4 ​4

Liverpool Ladies ​3​

Birmingham City​

3​

0​

Lincoln Ladies​

4​

0 ​2 ​2 ​2​

5 ​2

0​

5​

CONTINENTAL CUP – FINAL GROUP STANDINGS

Everton Ladies​

2 ​1 ​0 ​6 ​1 ​7

3 ​2​

1​

1​

6​

3​

7

4​

Doncaster Rovers ​3​

0​

1​

2 ​2 ​5 ​1

Arsenal Ladies ​2​

Chelsea Ladies​

0​

1​

2​

Doncaster Rovers

3​

2​

All statistics correct up to and including 19.05.2013

30

Liverpool Ladies

The FA WSL

7​

1​

0 ​0 ​9 ​4 ​9 0​ 3​ 1​

1​ 0​ 1​

6​ 2​ 1​

2​

3 1

2 ​0 ​0 ​2 ​1 ​7 ​0

Liverpool Ladies

Lincoln Ladies

Manager: Matt Beard

Manager: Rick Passmoor

1

Danielle Gibbons

1

Karen Bardsley

2

Samantha Chappell

5

Sophie Bradley

3

Whitney Engen

6

Casey Stoney (c)

4

Fara Williams

7

Megan Harris

5

Gemma Bonner (c)

8

Precious Hamilton

6

Lucy Bronze

9

Carla Cantrell

7

Katie Brusell

10

Remi Allen

8

Katrin Omarsdottir

11

Jess Clarke

9

Natasha Dowie

12

Bonnie Horwood

10

Louise Fors

13

Jules Draycott

11

Nicole Rolser

14

Sophie Walton

12

Becky Easton

15

Amy Turner

13

Amanda Da Costa

16

Meaghan Sergeant

15

Jess Holbrook

17

Martha Harris

16

Lizzie Ince

18

Sophie Barker

17

Caroline Charlton

20

Amy Kay

18

Lillie Fenlon-Billson

21

Lauren Creswell

19

Corina Schroder

22

Emily Roberts

20

Hannah Keryakoplis

22

Sophia Riccio

24

Sarah Quantrill

MATCH OFFICIALS

MASCOTS

Referee: Assistant Referee: Assistant Referee: Fourth Official:

The Liverpool mascots will be the winners of the pre-match Under 10s tournament.

The Lincoln mascots will be the winners of the Under 12s matches.

Michael Denton Ian Muncaster William Slinger Nigel Usher