The town of Doncaster welcomed FA Women’s Cup Finalists to the Keepmoat Stadium ahead of the prestigious FA Women’s Cup Final taking place on Sunday 26th May (KO 3pm).
Recently voted PFA player of the year Kim Little and Steph Houghton of Arsenal Ladies and Corinne Yorston, Siobhan Chamberlain and Laura del Rio of Bristol Academy visited the stadium along with over 60 children from a local primary school.
Youngsters from Town Field Primary School showed their pride of hosting The FA’s historic cup competition, by welcoming the five FA Women’s Super League stars to the club. In return the youngsters took part in a coaching session with the players, as well as having their photo taken with the historic piece of silverware. The players are hoping the children of Doncaster and football fans across the region will help celebrate The FA Women’s Cup Final coming to town and come out to see the best of women’s football.
The showpiece of the 2013 women’s football season, to be broadcast live on BBC Two, will be a repeat of the2011 Final, which the Gunners won 2-0 at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena. It is the second time in three years that Bristol Academy LFC, known as the Vixens, have earned a place in the final and they will be looking to make club history, by winning the silverware for the first time. Veterans Arsenal LFC who were knocked out by Chelsea LFC in last year’s semi finals, will be hoping to make amends for their defeat and clinch their 12th FA Women’s Cup victory.
It is set to be a fantastic day of top class women’s football at Keepmoat Stadium, home to Doncaster Rovers Belles, one of women’s football’s most famous clubs, who won the first FA Women’s Cup under The FA’s auspices in 1993-94. The final will mark almost 20 years since The FA took over the running of the women’s game, and will be a celebration of the best of women’s football as well as a fun, interactive, family day out. And with an early bird discount still in operation (ends 10th May) this sporting occasion offers a perfect opportunity to experience top class women’s football at an affordable price.
Chief Executive Gavin Baldwin said: “It is tremendous to be able to welcome players from Arsenal Ladies and Bristol Academy here today. We are extremely proud to be hosting The FA Women’s Cup Final and hope that the club and town of Doncaster will do this prestigious event proud, by showing our full support with a terrific crowd.”
Kim Little of Arsenal Ladies said: “It has been amazing to come up to Doncaster today and meet some of the local kids. There has been a fantastic atmosphere and we are really pleased to see how excited they are to be hosting The FA Women’s Cup Final. It is a massive match for us and we are really hoping that fans in and around Doncaster will help to make it a wonderful occasion.”
Siobhan Chamberlain of Bristol Academy added: It is the second time that we have made it to the final and we are really excited to be playing here at the Keepmoat Stadium for such a big event. We hope that it will really showcase the best of women’s football and give football fans a really great day out.”
Prior to seeing the two teams in action, fans are also invited to take part in FREE, interactive fanzone, brought by Continental Tyres. Games include batak boards, a speed cage, a target shoot inflatable plus a new trailer which will house trophies and digital stations. To add to the enhanced fan experience, there will also be hair braiding and face painting, all of which will take place outside the stadium from 1pm.
In addition, The FA is offering coaches across the county the chance to get involved in an exciting new coaching tool – The ContiWarmUp Programme. The free web based programme endorsed by The FA, is designed to optimise performance and minimise injury. Coaches are invited to attend the interactive fanzone to find out more about the online resource, take part in a 30 minute ContiWarmUp demonstration and discuss the benefits of warming up with an expert Conti Coach in a question and answer session. They will also be offered tickets to attend the game to enjoy this showcase event.