Palace Women v Reading matchday programme 2324 publication

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Good afternoon everybody and welcome to the VBS Community Stadium. I’d like to welcome Liam Gilbert and his Reading team to south London today.

As Palace’s new head coach, I want to thank all the players and staff at the club for making my entrance so smooth and wellreceived. Everybody, throughout pre-season, has worked tirelessly.

We’ve changed quite a lot at the club, and for the players on the pitch. They’ve got new roles and new responsibilities, and there are new players to work with, but they’ve all had a fantastic, openminded attitude to the changes. I expect them now to grow into those roles as the season goes on.

It’s been a long, productive pre-season. We’ve had five fixtures and, from each one, we’ve taken it bit-by-bit in terms of implementing new strategies on the pitch. We’re looking forward to stringing that all together today.

Last week, we had the chance to step onto the playing surface here at Sutton for the first time. We want to be a ball-playing team, so we need a good surface. I know the Sutton staff have worked really hard, together with Grace Williams here, to get that over the line.

The girls and I are really happy with our new home. We’ve got everything here to make it a place to perform for the fans, and get people through the door to show what we’re made of.

We’re delighted Aimee Everett is taking on the captaincy.

got a great spirit to push on into the season with.

We’ve tested our changes this summer in pre-season, but I think Reading will pose a greater challenge. They’ve recruited well. They’ve got a new experienced manager in Liam and some new coaching staff, so it will be an interesting match for us.

We’ve got some bespoke plans that we’ve put in ready for the game, so we feel we’re ready to take it on. I expect us to be in a good place today. We want to pose some threats to Reading and give them something to think about. Fingers crossed the work that has gone in, across pre-season and specifically this week, will help us play some attack-minded football.

Aimee is a fantastic young leader, pivotal in the squad in terms of her consistency. Every week I see her taking on new information, ready to learn, but she also has the ability to galvanise, mentor and support the group, and she has been fantastic in building togetherness so we’ve

Head coach

The fans will have an opportunity to see some new players on show and get to meet them after the fixture. It’s a new home for us, so it’s a great opportunity for you to scope out our new base, pick the best seats – and enjoy the show!

Thank you for your support, Laura

The girls and I are really happy with our new home. We’ve got everything here to make it a place to perform for the fans, and get people through the door

It is a huge honour for me to take the Crystal Palace armband this season, especially at my age, and I look forward to working with Annabel Johnson, who’ll be supporting me in a captaincy role within the club.

I’d like to start by thanking Annabel. When I first arrived, she was one of the players who took me under her wing, so I know I have big shoes to fill. She’s done a great job in the two seasons I’ve played under her and she has a huge presence off the pitch as well, so I’ll be looking to her to help me in that and point me in the right direction.

We’ve come to the end of pre-season and it’s been a great six weeks with the girls, with new faces and new management coming in as well. We’ve had good results, but it’s the performances which are most important – and they’ve been improving every week.

I’ve worked with our new head coach, Laura, a couple of times before through the England youth set-up. We couldn’t have asked more of her so far; she’s fitted in perfectly. She’s given us a little bit of extra confidence, helping us to focus on ourselves.

All of our signings have instantly fit in with the culture of the club, and they all bring something different which the team

needs – so please do give them a warm welcome this afternoon.

It’s an honour to lead the team out at the VBS Community Stadium for the first time. When we visited the ground, straight away it felt like we were home. The pitch is

there’s not a better team to have our first game against. It’s a great test to see where we’re at coming out of pre-season.

I’m sure, like me, everyone’s been watching this summer’s World Cup. Congratulations to Paige Bailey-Gayle, who became our first-ever World Cup player this summer. Everyone at the club is really proud of her.

A lot of change has happened this summer but with each season, we’re growing and growing as a club, and we’re heading in the right direction.

We know our game is on the rise and hopefully, coming off the back of the World Cup, even more fans will now look to us to come and watch a game in person.

immaculate and the feel is just completely different. With your support, I think we’ll grow into it even more.

Reading have just come down from the Women’s Super League, so they might feel like they have a point to prove. In my opinion,

captain

This season is about continuing to grow as a team and improving our performances week-in, week-out. Hopefully, we can draw in some big crowds, gain some fans who haven’t been before, and put on a good game for you.

Enjoy the match,

A lot of change has happened this summer but with each season, we’re growing and growing as a club, and we’re heading in the right direction

As with every new campaign change is in the air – and none more so than for Palace Women as they prepare for another push towards promotion to the Women’s Super League. It’s time to meet the new faces that will define the Eagles during the season…

Joining Palace as new head coach is Laura Kaminski, coming straight from her successful role as first-team assistant coach at Charlton Athletic. She boasts an impressive CV, with a coaching career spanning over 15 years – including five at the Football Association where she led England’s Under-19s side.

Kaminski also spent three seasons as assistant at Tottenham, whom she helped gain promotion to the Women’s Super League for the first time in their history, and has also coached at Arsenal, Brighton, Watford, QPR and Chelsea. “This club has a fantastic fanbase – one of the best in the league,” Kaminski said on her arrival. “I’m looking forward to meeting them, and I want to give them some fantastic football to watch week after week.”

Grace Williams

New Head of Women’s Football Williams joins from Bristol City Women where she served as General Manager, restructuring the footballing operation after relegation in 2021 and going on to secure promotion to the Women’s Super League – winning the Championship title in the process. She will be looking to build on the work done at Palace last season, as a new-look Women’s side achieved a second successive topfive finish in the Championship.

“I am delighted with the opportunity to lead the women’s programme here at Crystal Palace,” she said. “The conversations with Steve and Dougie have been really exciting, with their commitment to the team and what we can create together.

“It is a perfect time to rebuild this club into the professional game while echoing Palace’s ethos and values. There is some work ahead, but I can’t wait to get started and meet all the players, staff and fans.”

ADAM JEFFREY

New Assistant Coach Adam Jeffrey joins Palace from Reading Women, with whom he spent a total of 11 years, seven as First-Team Assistant Coach.

During that time, the Royals achieved one fourth-place, and two fifth-place, finishes in the Women’s Super League, also reaching the semifinals of the Women’s FA Cup.

“I’m looking forward to getting started at Palace,” Jeffrey said. “It’s a club that is going in the right direction, and I want to be part of that.”

2023 (London City Lionesses)

Hayley Nolan

Having scooped the Players’ Player of the Year award at her former club, Nolan became Palace’s second signing of the summer when she arrived in July.

get to know palace’s new signing...

What made you want to join Crystal Palace?

The drive and ambition of the club, and where we want to go in the next few years. Having Laura [Kaminski] and Grace [Williams] in the room, and with the talent that’s already here, I think this club can go really far in the next couple of years. The facilities here are amazing too!

Tell us about your career...

I started playing when I was six for my Dad’s local team. My sisters and I played; I was the youngest of the three of us. The other players were bigger than us, so my Dad wouldn’t

put me on! I was always pulling his shirt asking ‘can I please play?!’ I then moved on to play for Kill Celtic, a boys’ side, until I was 12 or 13, then to Peamount United, which is a really big women’s side in Ireland. From there, I went to the United States for five years.

What was that like?

I absolutely loved it. The five years I spent out there at the University of Hartford were amazing. I wanted to continue, but I also always wanted to play professionally, so that’s why I came back to London.

Have you always been a central defender?

Last season was my first full year as a centre-back at club and international level. Previous to that, I’d been playing as a holding midfielder. At first, I was a little bit apprehensive about it because I was 24 when I changed position, but it’s actually been perfect for me.

How excited are you to get out there and play?

I think the same as the girls – we all want to get started, especially with a home game. We can’t wait.

Hayley is a player whose talents I have admired for a long time. she brings plenty of experience to our squad for the season ahead.

grace williams

Following a promising pre-season, with new recruits, a new head coach and a new vision, Crystal Palace Women are set to embark on an exciting 2023/24 campaign at their new home: the VBS Community Stadium. Get set for the year with our fresh-season Stat Zone...

fixtures & results

individual stats

fixtures, results & stats

league table

Polly Doran Doran has extended her contract at the club, with the 21-year-old signing fresh terms this month.