Crystal Palace √ charlton athletic
sun 28 jan 2024 14:00 kick-off
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03
Good afternoon everybody, and a very warm welcome back to the VBS Community Stadium for this exciting Women’s Championship game against Charlton Athletic.
W
e know that today is a big game against one of the club’s traditional rivals, but in this squad, we’re quite good at taking each week as it comes – as a new challenge – so we will be determined to take this match and occasion in our stride. Charlton have got good players and are having a great season, so the squad and I know it will be a challenge this week – but we will give it everything we have. I have every confidence we will stick together, show our determination and grit, and work hard to come out on top. We were disappointed to lose out in the League Cup in midweek, but the game ultimately came down to the narrow margins. We will be working harder than ever to put that right this weekend. Last week, in the Championship, we were able to defeat London City Lionesses 2-0 away, but it took us a long time to put the game to bed. We lost momentum for big patches of the game and had to defend well to grind that out and find a second
goal. Once that went in, that was it, but they made us fight really hard for that. In the end we worked hard, and got our rewards for it. That shows
We’ve got a big squad and it’s getting tasty in terms of competition for shirts. It’s making my decisions really difficult – but that’s something that I’m proud of
real growth in the players’ mentality and understanding of the game. It’s not always patterns of play which are going to get us into the 18-yard box – you sometimes have to grind it out to get small wins. Head coach
I’m really proud of the way the players stuck to that philosophy and plan, and in the end, we capitalised on it. We defended well for long periods and eventually turned the game on its head, so I’m proud of the group for getting something out of that hard work. We’ve got a big squad and it’s getting tasty in terms of competition for shirts. It’s making my decisions really difficult – but that’s something that I’m proud of. The players are sticking together and fighting it out, and they understand their roles when they come onto the pitch. At the moment for us, that’s working, and it’s just about keeping that going. Everybody is really motivated and looking forward to getting out there and playing. We’ve got lots of big games coming up, including today, but we know you’ll get behind us like you always do, and hopefully we can make you proud. Enjoy the match, Laura
THERE’S ALWAYS A HOME FOR THE EAGLES
OFFICIAL PARTNER OF CRYSTAL PALACE WOMEN
SALES • LETTINGS • MANAGEMENT
0208 650 1000 beckenham@winkworth.co.uk 141 High St, Beckenham, Kent BR3 1BX
05
Good afternoon everybody and, after a busy run of games this month, a very warm welcome back to the VBS Community Stadium for today’s match against Charlton Athletic.
T
oday’s game is one that everybody at Crystal Palace Football Club will look forward to. We know that Charlton have always been a big rival for the club so, wearing this badge, it’s definitely a match in which we’ll look to come out on top. Having said that, we look at every team in this league as a big rival, so it’s important that we don’t overthink the occasion and instead see it as another opportunity to put three points on the board. Of course, we know this one will mean a lot to the fans. We appreciate the fans of this club so much as a group. They have been excellent to us so far this season, and their support never goes unnoticed. I’d encourage as many fans as possible to come down to Sutton this weekend – we need you now more than ever to give us that extra push. We were disappointed to exit the Continental Tyres League Cup on Wednesday night, but our game against London City Lionesses – as so many matches do at this level – came down to the fine margins. We still have plenty to play for this season in the Championship and, of
course, that FA Cup fifth-round tie at Chelsea will be an experience for us all to savour. Since we were last here in Sutton, I’ve been delighted to sign a new contract with the club until 2025. It’s a really proud and exciting time for me in my career at this club, and
We appreciate the fans of this club so much as a group. They have been excellent to us so far this season, and their support never goes unnoticed
I’m looking forward to many more seasons to come. I’ve found a home at Palace and, being in my third season now and seeing the girls who have come in captain
over the years, it’s a really exciting team to be a part of. One of those players, of course, has been Ria Percival, a player whose career needs no introduction. I think the girls have made Ria feel very welcome and helped her to settle in nice and quick and easy. The experience she possesses will be key for us in this second half of the season, and we are all very happy to have her with us. Obviously leading out a team that I love, and at a club that I love, is really proud for me every week. We’ve got a fantastic group of girls on and off the pitch. The first half of the season was a good start for us, but now we want to push in the second half. While Charlton will be a huge test – you don’t get to the top of this league without good reason – we know we have the ability to come out on top. All I want us to do is stick to how we play, like we have done each week, and give ourselves the best chance of coming away with something. Thank you, as always, for your fantastic support – and enjoy the game! Aimee
07
With Green Football Weekend just around the corner, we at Crystal Palace are celebrating the club’s contribution to minimising our impact on the environment, from players, fans and the community as a whole.
A
t Selhurst Park, for example, the floodlights are 100 percent LED lighting, while our new screens use significantly less energy than the previous panels; our energy supplier, meanwhile, generates electricity from 100 percent renewable sources. At today’s game, we’re encouraging supporters to consider the environmental impact of the matchday, with travelling to the VBS Community Stadium by public transport highly encouraged.
Green Football Weekend Green Football Weekend is an annual campaign that unites football enthusiasts of all levels, from professional clubs to Sunday league sides. Like so many things we love, football is vulnerable to the effects of climate change, but it also holds incredible power to inspire and unite fans to take action. You can find out more about Green Football Weekend at
It is recommended that supporters use Sutton station, which is on the main lines out of Victoria and London Bridge, and is at the top end of Sutton High Street, about 20 minutes’ walk from the ground. Alternatively, West Sutton railway station is adjacent to the ground. It is served by Thameslink trains via Wimbledon or Sutton. Two buses between Morden and Sutton stations run conveniently close to the stadium: route 413 bus goes down Gander Green Lane, which leads to Entrance A on the west side of the
Stadium, and bus number 80 runs along Collingwood Road. Supporters are, as ever, advised to check their route before travelling. You are also encouraged to try a vegan meal option at today’s match, with options including vegan nuggets, vegan sausages and chips, as well as oat/soya milk for hot drinks. For more information on how the club is helping the environment – including our Academy, solar power, kit production, food waste, travel and more – head to cpfc. co.uk/planet now.
greenfootballweekend.com. Moreover, Sutton have made a range of significant commitments in this space, which you can learn more about at suttonunited.net/ about/sustainability.
Emma Hayes’ Blues team – Women’s Super League champions in each of the last four seasons, and FA Cup winners in the last three – will form Palace’s fifth-round opposition. The Eagles have reached this stage having won back-to-back matches in the competition for the first time since turning semi-professional: 6-0 against Chatham Town and 3-1 against Blackburn Rovers. The match will take place at Kingsmeadow on Sunday 11th February, kicking off at 14:00 GMT.
Tickets on sale for huge FA Cup tie Palace will face Chelsea away in the fifth round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, with tickets now on sale via cpfc.co.uk. round-up
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Age 34 Position Defender Nationality New Zealand Signed 2024 – Tottenham Hotspur
Ria Percival A decorated New Zealand international with 161 caps for her country, featuring in four Olympic Games and five World Cups – most recently last summer’s home finals – Percival has joined Palace on loan from Tottenham until the end of the season.
We spoke to Ria upon putting pen-to-paper for Palace…
We’re delighted to welcome a player of Ria’s experience, character and quality to Crystal Palace. Her skillset perfectly complements the style of football we are trying to play Laura Kaminski
How does it feel to complete your loan transfer? I’m pretty excited! Obviously it’s a bit of a change from Spurs over to here, but I’m excited to get started. I think the girls have been great with me so far and I’m just looking forward to getting started. What made you want to join the club? For me it’s about getting more game time, coming back from the World Cup and just playing again. I came back from a long-term injury before the World Cup, and now it’s about getting minutes.
I’ve heard great things about Palace. The girls are great. They’ve had a good start to the season, so it’s now about coming in, bringing my experience and doing whatever I can to help the team this season. You’re reunited with Laura Kaminski and Anna Filbey, who you worked with at Spurs… That’s good! I haven’t seen Filbs for a few years, and the same with Laura – I worked with her at Spurs and I know how much she brings to a team. I’m excited to be back working with them. ria percival
What have you been making of Palace’s progress so far this season? It’s been a good start to the season from the girls, and now it’s just about chipping away at every game, taking points in the games we can and really pushing for doing as well as we can this season, finishing – hopefully – on top. Personally, I’ve got to switch on to how we play and how we build up, in and out of possession, but I’m looking forward to playing in games. I’m excited.
11
Crystal Palace Women have made an excellent start to their 2023/24 campaign at their new home: the VBS Community Stadium. Catch up with the season so far in our comprehensive Stat Zone... Home fixture Away fixture Cup fixture (Crystal Palace score shown first)
fixtures & results
individual stats
AUGUST Sun 27 Reading
D 1-1
SEPTEMBER Sun 3 Birmingham City Sun 10 Durham Sun 17 Sunderland
W 2-1 W 9-1 D 1-1
OCTOBER Sun 8 Blackburn Rovers Wed 11 Lewes Sun 15 London City Lionesses Sun 22 Charlton Athletic
W D W L
NOVEMBER Sun 5 Watford Sun 12 Lewes Sun 19 Southampton Wed 22 Watford DECEMBER Sun 10 Chatham Town Sun 17 Reading JANUARY Sun 14 Blackburn Rovers Sun 21 London City Lionesses Wed 24 London City Lionesses Sun 28 Charlton Athletic FEBRUARY Sun 4 Southampton Sun 18 Blackburn Rovers MARCH Sun 3 Sun 17 Sun 24 Sun 31 APRIL Sun 21 Sun 28 TBC
Birmingham City Sheffield United Watford Durham Lewes Sunderland Sheffield United
W W L W
4-0 1-1 6-1 2-3 3-0 3-2 3-4 3-0
W 6-0 D 1-1 W 3-1 W 2-0 L 1-2
Chloe ARTHUR
14
0
Paige BAILEY-GAYLE
10
0
Keira BARRY
1
1 8
Annabel BLANCHARD
12
Lia CATALDO
8
0
Araya DENNIS
16
3
Polly DORAN
8
1
Aimee EVERETT
16
2
Anna FILBEY
13
1
Fliss GIBBONS
13
0
Shauna GUYATT
14
1
Shanade HOPCROFT
17
3
Elise HUGHES
17
20
Annabel JOHNSON
4
0
Fran KITCHING
0
0
pos CLUB P W D
L
1
1 20 12 8 26
Demi LAMBOURNE
8
0
Natalia NEGRI
10
0
Elise Hughes scored her 20th goal of the season in Palace’s midweek defeat to London City Lionesses.
league table
CHA
13 7
F
A GD Pts
2
SUN
13 7
4
2 16 9
3
CRY
12 7
3
2 37 15 22 24
Ellie NOBLE
0
0
Hayley NOLAN
16
3
Ria PERCIVAL
2
0
Lexi POTTER
5
1
Kirsten REILLY
15
1
8
SHU
Molly SHARPE
17
6
9
LON
Isabella SIBLEY
6
0
10 REA
11
Lucy WATSON
4
0
11
Annis-Clara WRIGHT
0
0
12 WAT
fixtures, results & stats
5
7 25
4
SOU
13 8
0
5 24 15 9 24
5
BIR
12 7
2
3 23 10 13 23
6
DUR
13 5
3
5 13 21 -8 18
7
BLA
11
0
6 10 16 -6 15
12 4
2
6 15 19 -4 14
13 3
3
7 14 23 -9 12
5
4 10 15 -5 11
LEW
5
2
12 2
2
8
13
3
9 14 30 -16 6
1
8 19 -11 8
Crystal palace f.c. Fran KITCHING (GK) Annabel JOHNSON Fliss GIBBONS Chloe ARTHUR Anna FILBEY Aimee EVERETT Isabella SIBLEY Molly SHARPE Elise HUGHES Annabel BLANCHARD Kirsten REILLY Lia CATALDO Natalia NEGRI (GK) Paige BAILEY-GAYLE Hayley NOLAN Ellie NOBLE Lexi POTTER Keira BARRY Polly DORAN Shauna GUYATT Araya DENNIS Ria PERCIVAL Shanade HOPCROFT Lucy WATSON Demi LAMBOURNE (GK) Annis-Clara WRIGHT (GK)
charlton athletic 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 30 31
R. Sykes G. Dunn S. Walsh A. Ford
1
Sian ROGERS (GK)
2
Rebecca McKENNA
4
Mia ROSS
5
Elisha N’DOW
6
Melissa JOHNSON
7
Angela ADDISON
8
Carla HUMPHREY
9
Freda AYISI
10
Kate LONGHURST
11
Tegan McGOWAN
12
Jessica GRAY (GK)
14
Freya GODFREY
15
Kayleigh GREEN
16
Karin MUYA
17
Kiera SKEELS
19
Ella RUTHERFORD
20
Mary BASHFORD
21
Sophie O’ROURKE
22
Beth ROE
24
Taylor BELL
26
Gracie PEARSE
27
Melisa FILIS