Palace Women v Lewes matchday programme 2223 publication

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Anna FILBEY

Rianna DEAN

Annabel BLANCHARD

Kirsten REILLY

Jamie Grubb

Alan Dean

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Andy Davis

Leigh NICOL The Brand Masters London Ltd

Shauna GUYATT Eagle Eye View

Chloe ARTHUR Blue Motor Finance

Fran KITCHING (GK)

Natalia NEGRI (GK)

Hope SMITH (GK)

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As we look forward to our final home game of the season, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all the staff, players and – most of all – the amazing supporters connected with this club, which I am always proud to lead.

This has been my fourth season at Crystal Palace, and third as captain. I love being a part of the environment here: a team which reflects the passionate work of so many people, who strive every day to pave the way for the development of the game.

It’s incredible just how much Palace has changed in my time here. Every year, we’ve taken the next step forwards.

At the start of this season, we brought in 15 new players and set out our vision for how we wanted to play as a team, and the process we would need to undergo to get us there.

As I’ve said before in this column, there have been a lot of learning curves for us this year, but I really couldn’t have asked for any more from the girls. They’ve come in and given everything for the club, and as Captain, trying to help everyone gel, they’ve been fantastic.

Results-wise, it’s probably been a bit more difficult than we expected at times. But we know that we are

on a journey together; we have to continue to be patient, and we have to keep believing in one another. We’re all working towards the same goal – and we will get there.

just how much Palace has changed in my time here. Every year, we’ve taken the next step forwards

We know that this club still has so much potential to realise, with the amazing training facilities we now have at the Academy, and with this group of players’ determination to improve themselves every single day.

The ceiling is very high for us as a team. I can see this club, with your support, progressing even

further, and becoming a big force in women’s football in the future.

It was disappointing to lose to Birmingham last time out, but we still have two league games left to finish the season strongly. Lewes are a good team who made us work hard for the three points when we faced them in December, so it won’t be easy today.

We’d all love to get promoted in the long term, but just finishing as high up the league as we can is important this year. Our focus is on winning as many games as we can and improving our performances and bonds as a team.

Thank you for following us and cheering us on, home and away, week-in, week-out. Your consistency of support is fantastic – and I know it just means everything to the girls.

I look forward to thanking you in person for your support after the game, and I wish you all an enjoyable summer. So, for one last time at home this season…

Come on Palace!

Annabel

captain

It’s incredible

cpfc women cpfc women

Crystal Palace Women play their final Women’s Championship home fixture of 22/23 today against Lewes. In this final programme of the season, we hear from long-serving midfielder Coral Haines – who has worn the captain’s armband on numerous occasions this season – about her journey to Palace and aspirations for the club...

coral haines

My first memories of the game were of my Dad taking me to training. He didn’t drive back then, so he used to walk with me for an hour to every session and every game, whether it was in the rain or sunshine!

From the age of seven, I started playing for the U9s at my local team, Leicester City. I ended up staying at the club until U16s level, when I was asked to play for Birmingham’s U17s. I spent a season with them and then, at the age of 16, signed for the first-team squad.

A former England Under-23 international, Haines was part of the Birmingham City Ladies team who reached the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Take note of

After making her professional debut as a 16-year-old for Birmingham, Haines scored her first Women’s Super League goal at the same age, against Liverpool in September 2013.

At the time, Birmingham were competing for the Women’s Super League, and doing really well. They were one of the best clubs in England at that point, so I knew it was the place to be. It was a big commitment at first because I still lived in Leicester – it’s not just around the corner! – and my parents had to consider how that would fit into mine and my siblings’ lives. It just felt like the next step in my journey.

Rachel Williams – who is at Manchester United now – was there back then. She’s also a Leicester girl; I used to look up to her, when she was in the first-team and I was in the youth team. There

was also Kirsty Linnett, who was two or three years older than me, and she started at Leicester as well. I used to watch her games and she was just incredible. She signed for Birmingham the year I went into the first-team as well.

At that time, Birmingham had players like Karen Carney, one of the best players I’ve ever played with. Laura Bassett was there, Jo Potter too… I used to train with them a lot, and it helped me develop my game in so many different aspects. I just felt quite privileged.

With any opportunity I got from the manager, I tried to embrace it with open arms. I didn’t really think too much about it. I just try to take every day as it comes, and whatever challenge I’m given, I try to express myself. I soak up the moment, rather than over-analyse.

I’ve learned in my career that there’s always somebody you can learn from, regardless of what position they play or how old they are. You just have to be open to learning new things that you can take into your game.

Eventually, I got to the point where I wanted to play, and I wanted to be somewhere I could make an impact on the team more often than not. My move to Tottenham in 2017 was a loan at first, but I enjoyed it; their vision was something I was excited by.

In the summer of 2020, my contract expired at Tottenham, so I looked around at different clubs. For me, Palace just had the right people, who gave me a lot of confidence in the vision the club has.

When I arrived, I was just a No.10. – I played one position. I knew I had to work hard for the club – that was a given to get onto the pitch – so I had to develop my defensive work ethic. Now, I can play in central midfield and as a box-to-box midfielder as well, and I’ve developed my technical and tactical game. Hopefully that transfers onto the pitch every Sunday.

I’ve worn the captain’s armband on occasion in the second half of the season. It’s been such a proud moment for me. For me to be able to represent this team is amazing.

We’ve got such an exciting squad. There’s quality from front to back, all over the pitch, and we are capable of achieving big things in the next few years.

The loyal Crystal Palace fans, who are there week-in, week-out, drive us on. That helps us give that extra bit more, when we can hear them every single game, home and away.

It’s just incredible to hear them singing from start to finish. It’s like having a 12th player out there. Your support is really valued by the team, and we love having you back us at games.

Now, we just want to try and get as many points in the table as possible, and implement what we’ve worked on from the first week of the season.

We started a process with how we want to play, trying to get stronger at what we’re good at, and what we set out to do at the start of the season is just so important.

Regardless of where we sit in the table, trying to improve our style of play and principles is just as important as fighting for the title

I’ve learned in my career that there’s always somebody you can learn from, regardless of what position they play or how old they are. You just have to be open to learning new things that you can take into your game

There are 4.36 million of us and we are tomorrow’s female future.

We’re part of every community and come from all social backgrounds, cultures and religions with different skills and abilities. We’re an unstoppable force for good if we’re given the chance. The chance to play football.

We want to play in the school curriculum, at breaktime, after school, at local clubs wherever, whenever we want.

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Seasonal Stats

Player stats league table fixtures & results

Crystal palace f.c.

Fran KITCHING (GK)

Annabel JOHNSON

Fliss GIBBONS

Chloe ARTHUR

Anna FILBEY

Aimee EVERETT

Molly SHARPE

Rianna DEAN

Annabel BLANCHARD

Kirsten REILLY

Lizzie WALDIE

Natalia NEGRI (GK)

Paige BAILEY-GAYLE

Hollie OLDING

Ellie NOBLE

Issy SIBLEY

Emily WILSON-WHITE

Elise HUGHES

Polly DORAN

Shauna GUYATT

Hope SMITH (GK)

Coral HAINES

Leigh NICOL

Leanne COWAN

lewes f.c.

Sophie WHITEHOUSE (GK)

Ellie MASON

Rhian CLEVERLY

Amelia HAZARD

Charlotte WARDLAW

Ellie HACK

Nat JOHNSON

Grace PALMER

Emily KRAFT

Amber-Keegan STOBBS

Emma THOMPSON

Paula HOWELLS

Jamie RITA

Kirsty BARTON

Zoe SMITH

Rebecca McKENNA

Lauren HERIA

Libby COPUS-BROWN

Valentine PURSEY

Josie LONGHURST

Izzy DALTON

Aqsa MUSTAQ

Kenzie WEIR

Emily MOORE (GK)

Frankie ANGEL (GK)

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