It’s cup final day: Preston North End Women’s FC v Blackburn Rovers Ladies FC
Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers will face off in this year’s Women’s Challenge Cup final.
The final, which will be held at the LFA County ground in Leyland, will be the 13th consecutive final Blackburn have reached, and will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run against PNE, to lift the trophy.
This season has taken both teams on very different paths. Preston currently, having played all their league fixtures, sit at the top of the league, with only Sporting Club Albion having a realistic shout of overthrowing the Lancashire side, as they aim to collect at least ten points from a possible 15 in their last five games.
Blackburn, managed by Gemma Donnelly, have been right on the tail of their local rivals, in the hope to gain the league leaders trophy, but after a 0–0 draw with Nottingham Forest, it is extremely unlikely they will make it. They have however had some decent runs in the cup competitions, most notably in the League cup, where they reached the semi-final stages, only to be beaten comfortably by Cardiff City.
However they go into the game with a strong record against Preston, winning 4 of the previous five fixtures between the two. Not that Swindlehurst is reading too much into it; “. We’re top of the league at the moment so the confidence form that will be very high. But not just that I think the performances against Blackburn, overall we were the better team.”
Luke Swindlehurst joined the club as manager after a spell as Liverpool’s assistant manager, and has transformed last season’s mediocre, mid-table side, into a real force going forward, and at the back;
It promises to be an enthralling game, but how many people truly take notice of women’s football in comparison to the men? The difference is, sadly, staggering. Manchester City are a true force in both genders games, but the difference in fans attending games is huge, with the men’s team attracting over 50,000 fans at the Etihad stadium in the Premier League, whereas only an average of 1076 attend the ladies fixtures.
Why this is could be down to a number of reasons, whether it’s money being invested into the men’s game, or something as simple as the coverage. Whatever the primary cause, things need to improve, and there is evidence that something has had an effect.
In the summer of 2015, the England national women’s team finished in 3rd place after some phenomenal performances during their month long stay in Canada. Not only did they appear to be a breath of fresh air for England supporters, they also made a bit of history, becoming the most successful English side in a major competition since the famous 1966 final in the men’s world cup final against West Germany, where England lifted the trophy for the very first time, a feet that has not been matched since.
It looked as though, this country at the very least, had finally stood up and begun taking notice of women’s football, as shortly after the World Cup, the FA Cup final, held at Wembley, featured Chelsea and Notts County, who were watched by more than 30,000 fans, a record for women’s football.
Even at club level, attendances are on the rise. Manchester City’s seemingly low average is actually an increase of 348 fans, that equates to a third of what they get now.
However, there is still work to do. A poll on Twitter showed that England’s performances still weren’t enough to convince people to watch women’s football:
This result is not encouraging, so the challenge for now, is try at the very least, maintain these attendances, and the only way to do is, is for every women’s team to go out on to the field and put on a show, regardless of how ‘big’ or ‘small’ of a team they are. And what better way to do that, in your own county final? Preston, Blackburn, it’s over to you.
UPDATE: Fulltime result-Preston North End 1–2 Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers secured the Challenge Cup Trophy after an end to end game with rivals PNE.
Manager Gemma Donnelly saw her side take a 1–0 lead in the first half through Amie Fleming. The first half saw very few chances at either end of the pitch, until Rovers broke clear on the counter, in which Fleming lobbed the keeper from just outside the box, hitting the underside of the crossbar on the way.
Preston levelled in the second half through striker Yasmine Swarbrick, who rounded the keeper before guiding the ball into the back of the net. They had the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot, but Natasha Flint scuffed her effort wide.
Then, heartbreak for Luke Swindlehurst and his team, as just three minutes later, as Blackburn’s Saffron Jordan slotted the ball in to give Blackburn the lead, and eventually the match.
The result means that Preston could now potentially finish the season without any silverware, as they wait on results elsewhere before they can be crowned league leaders.
However, Swindlehurst should have nothing but pride for his team, which look leagues ahead of the team he inherited at the beginning of the season. Their season may not yet be done either. If results go their way, they will face off with Brighton in the play off for promotion, a huge achievement regardless of the result.
Blackburn on the other hand, barring some unexplainable miracle, will be in the same division next, still will look back on this season in a very positive light. This victory means they can add the trophy to a potentially excellent league campaign. With another three games left, they will look to progress from last seasons third place finish and maybe even get level on points with Preston. Next season has huge potential for Rovers, and Donnelly will be surely be looking to take the teams winning mentality further and push for number one spot in 2017.