This Sunday see’s two Sussex based FA Women’s Premier League clubs, Chichester City Ladies and Lewes Women take on the Merseyside in the fifth-round of the SSE Women’s FA Cup.

Chichester City and Lewes are set to host arguably the biggest games in both clubs history on Sunday 18 February as they take on FA Women’s Super League 1 sides Liverpool Ladies and Everton Ladies.

The Sussex sides are certainly embracing the opportunity to showcase their potential in the local community and beyond as they host two highly respected clubs within English Women’s Football.

Chichester City Ladies are settling in well in their first season of the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division after gaining promotion from the South West Division 1, currently sitting 7th in the league and welcome FA Women’s Super League 1 giants Liverpool Ladies to Oaklands Park. 

Manager Matt Wright said: “It’s a massive game for the club, for the local community and for Sussex.

He knows that Liverpool will bring a fast attacking style of football and admits that The Reds do not have any weaknesses. Despite the two league difference, The Green Army are prepared for the test and are looking to cause a cup upset. Wright believes they will have a huge crowd, bigger than Liverpool’s average crowd of four-hundred-plus. “Being internationals, they definitely won’t be used to Oaklands Park; they’ll be used to a big crowd, but not the pitch or the proximity of the fans being so close to them.

“Everyone associated with the club have been working so hard and the support we have had from the local community in the build-up to Sunday has been amazing, we really look forward to the day.

“I really encourage the local community to come down to Oaklands to support the girls to give them that little bit extra on the day because we are going to need it,” Wright added.

Information on tickets can be found on Chichester City Ladies ticketing page.

Lewes Women are a well-established club in the FA Women’s Premier League and although they have not played a league game since November, are still an impressive 4th in the league.

Sunday afternoon The Rookettes meet FA Women’s Super League 1 legends Everton Ladies at The Dripping Pan, which is set to be thrilling test.

Manager John Donoghue is pleased with the home tie and believes getting to the fifth round shows a number of things for the club. “It highlights that the team is in a good place, to get to this level in a major competition adds a lot of excitement for the club and the community, its fantastic news.”

Lewes too are expecting to drum up a big crowd on Sunday after carrying out a lot of promotion via the club and local press, Donoghue is looking forward to having the backing from the biggest crowd they have ever had.

Donoghue has a number of experienced players who have competed at the highest level within the game and believes that it will bode well on Sunday, but is conscious that The Toffee’s have a significant advantage. “They are professional footballers, they are able to train every day and due to that will play at a high pace - we need to step up to be able to compete with them.

“The community owned club have really supported the Women’s set up, so this is not just for the players, it’s for the volunteers and supports too,” He added.

Information on tickets can be found on Lewes FC Women ticketing page.

Sussex representation or not, the SSE Women’s FA Cup Final will be played at Wembley on Saturday 5 May. The Final always provides a great atmosphere for fans of all ages as two of England’s top teams go head-to-head for the biggest cup in English women’s football. Last season’s Final saw Manchester City lift the Cup after a 4-0 victory over Birmingham City, in front of a record crowd of almost forty thousand inside the national stadium.

All kids can attend this season’s Final for free, with adult tickets priced at £15 and concessions £5. Further to that, The FA are offering half price tickets for groups of ten people or more, for further details please visit TheFA.com. Click here for more details and to buy your tickets.

If you have any queries relating to Women's and Girls' football in Sussex please contact Development:

Development
T: 01903 766855
E: Development@SussexFA.com