January 29 2015

Palace Ladies

Crystal Palace Ladies are looking to emulate their male counterparts on Sunday when they entertain Reading Ladies in the Women's FA Cup 3rd round, writes Liz Wells.

This season's FA Cup will go down in history as one of the best for upsets, and with any luck the giant killing will continue on Sunday as Palace Ladies take on Reading Ladies in the Women's FA Cup third round.

Currently 21 league positions separate Reading – who lie third in the Women’s Super League 2 – and Palace who sit second in the FA Women's Premier League - South East Division One.

A quick glimpse of the Reading team sheet quickly lets you know what Palace Ladies will be up against. More than half of the Royals' team has played international football at some level, including star striker Francesca Kirby.

She started playing football for Reading aged seven, passing through all of the club's Centre of Excellence age groups, before making her senior debut at the age 16.

Kirby made her first appearance for the England Senior squad in August last year against Sweden, and in November she became the first professional player in Reading Ladies' history.

In contrast, Palace Ladies train once a week for just two hours. This season's stand out performer has been striker Roschelle Shakes, cousin of 400m sprinter Perri Shakes-Drayton.

The ex-Arsenal starlet, the only ladies player to have earned a Holmesdale Fanatics chant so far, has scored 15 goals in 16 games this season.

Speed obviously runs in her family, as she has formed a deadly partnership with Mary Onianwa, which leaves the opposition literally shaking in their boots.

An FA Cup run means a lot to Palace Ladies, as well as additional funding and money being brought into the club, the profile-raising experience also helps attract new talent.

For those of you who don't know, Palace Ladies play their matches at Bromley FC's Fortress Stadium, which has great facilities for supporters.

If you want to stand, you can, and if you don't well there's plenty of seating both inside and outside. There's a bar area - which serves the usual alcohol, hot drinks and food - where home and away fans happily mingle.

It also plays televised matches on big screens and has the luxury of clean, working toilet facilities!

An entry charge of £3 applies for adults, but under 16s get in free.

There are plenty of parking spaces available at the ground for those driving, and for those lumbered with public transport, the 119 bus from East Croydon drops you off right outside.

Palace Ladies have a history of cup upsets, last season they reached the fourth round of the Women's FA Cup after beating Derby County 2-0, and backed by the noisy Palace faithful there's no telling what they can achieve.

Women's FA Cup 3rd Round: Crystal Palace Ladies v Reading Ladies

Sunday 1 February, Bromley FC, Kick off 2pm.

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