Everton
v
Man city
The 50th finaL
1 November 2020, Wembley stadium connected by ee
ABOUT TODAY'S MATCH
Everton and current holders Manchester City meet in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup Final for the very first time having both been crowned champions on two previous occasions.
The Toffees pulled off an incredible comeback to beat Chelsea in the last eight before a resounding semi-final victory over Birmingham City booked them a place at Wembley.
Reigning champions City avoided an upset against Championship side Leicester City in the last eight before coming through a semi final against 14-time winners Arsenal to earn a shot at defending their title.
Despite losing to City once already this season, in the FA Continental League Cup, Willie Kirk’s team arrive at the home of football as the in-form side. An unbeaten run to open the league season has put the Toffees second only to Arsenal while Gareth Taylor has had a jittery start to life as City boss having replaced Nick Cushing earlier this year.
Taylor added a hoard of talent to his ranks over the summer including World Cup-winning Americans Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis as well as signing former Everton star Chloe Kelly and the returning England international Lucy Bronze.
However, the results and performances expected from City have not yet followed and Taylor will be just as eager as Kirk to mount his first trophy in the cabinet.
EVERTON
Route to Wembley
R4 - Everton 1-0 London Bees
R5 - Bristol City 0-5 Everton
QF - Everton 2-1 Chelsea
SF - Birmingham City 0-3 Everton
MANCHEStER
CITY
Route to Wembley
R4 - Manchester United 2-3 Manchester City
R5 - Manchester City 10-0 Ipswich Town
QF - Leicester City 1-2 Manchester City
SF - Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal
“If we were to win, it would be our first trophy and therefore very important in terms of the future growth of this squad."
Willie Kirk, Everton Manager
Everton boss Willie Kirk is also on the cusp of collecting his first winner’s medal in English football and believes victory could be the key to unlocking further success for his team.
“I've always said the first trophy a group wins is always the most important because that can be the catalyst to go on and achieve more.
“I'm an ambitious person and I want to go on and win a lot of silverware in my career but to win a first piece of silverware with Everton would be very special.
“City are one of the top teams in Europe and they have players in their squad with World Cup winners' medals so that tells you just how tough a task it's going to be to beat them.
“We have a lot of respect for them in terms of what they have built and what they have achieved over the last seven or eight years so it's going to be a tough ask for us but it's one that we are happy to take on.”
"As the current holders of the FA Cup, we’d love nothing more than to retain the trophy but we know we’ll have to be at our very best to do that."
Gareth Taylor, Manchester City Manager
Here’s what Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor had to say as he goes in search of his first piece of silverware in women’s football by defending the Vitality Women’s FA Cup crown.
“Everton have had an impressive start to the season and when we played them in the Conti Cup last month, it was a game where we had to work extremely hard to pick up the victory.
"They’ve also proven in this competition what a force they are by beating Chelsea in the quarter finals - they’re an extremely talented team and I’m really looking forward to the battle between us.”
What to Watch Out For
Bronze
V
Christiansen
Three years ago Lucy Bronze and Izzy Christiansen were on the same side as Manchester City lifted the Women's FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history.
Both regular England internationals, the pair were no strangers to sharing a field and a year later they found themselves doing exactly that once more, this time for French giants Olympique Lyon.
They enjoyed unbridled success winning league titles and UEFA Women’s Champions League medals until Christiansen decided to emigrate back with Everton at the end of last year before Bronze followed suit by returning to Manchester earlier this summer.
Now they find themselves on opposing sides of the biggest stage and in a battle to earn the first piece of silverware since their homecomings.
For Christiansen, who began her career at Everton back in 2008, victory would make the 29-year-old a three-time winner having also picked up a medal with Birmingham City in 2011-12.
Meanwhile Bronze, who also turned 29 earlier in the week, is playing catch up in the FA Cup stakes with her 2016-17 medal the only one in her collection - although she does also possess three FA WSL titles and a FIFA Women’s World Cup Silver Ball from last year.
So, will Bronze close the gap by helping the Citizens retain their title or will Christiansen stretch her legs out and help Everton lift the trophy for the first time since 2010?
Houghton
set-pieces
Few players are as well-known for their free-kick prowess as Manchester City skipper Steph Houghton.
David Beckham, Juninho Pernambucano and Cristiano Ronaldo have all put their own trademark on the set-piece but none of them have done so while playing centre-back - well Houghton has.
The 32-year-old, who also captains the Lionesses, has had an eye for goal throughout her career and despite all the attacking talent in the England and Manchester City ranks, it’s Houghton they turn to when the ball is placed down on the turf.
And the four-time FA Cup winner proved exactly why in the semi-final against her old side Arsenal when she curled a trademark free-kick home to give City the lead.
high-profile signings
The summer transfer window of 2020 proved to be the most exciting to date as an influx of foreign players arrived on our shores to showcase their skills.
Manchester City hit the headlines for their recruitment of American World Cup winners Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis but Everton have made their fair share of shrewd acquisitions of late too.
However, the most relevant transfer to this occasion is that of England international Chloe Kelly, who stayed true to blue by swapping Merseyside for Manchester back in July.
Everton’s loss was certainly City’s gain as the versatile forward scored nine in 12 league appearances last season and has picked up where she left off this time around.
The Toffees, however, did manage to land themselves highly-sought-after striker Valerie Gauvin from Montpellier, who has hit the ground running by scoring in the quarter final and semi final of this competition already.
And Willie Kirk is now starting to reap the rewards from the previous transfer window with the likes of Izzy Christiansen and Australia international Hayley Raso reaching full fitness while goalkeeper Sandy MacIver could soon be pushing opposite number Ellie Roebuck for the England number one spot if her form continues.
With Kelly and the Americans on the field, all eyes will be on City’s attack but they've also bolstered their defence with England internationals in left back Alex Greenwood and the return of right back Lucy Bronze.
Both full-backs are forward-thinking and will not turn down the chance to join the attack if given the opportunity.
"It’s the type of role where you really need to learn from each performance"
Rebecca Welch
England's most senior referee
Rebecca Welch: ‘I still have to pinch myself to believe it’
Three years after officiating in her first Vitality Women's FA Cup Final, referee Rebecca Welch is back at Wembley for the 2019-20 showpiece.
Welch has been refereeing for more than ten years, regularly takes charge of Barclays FA Women’s Super League matches and has already been to Wembley once this season for the Women’s FA Community Shield.
But despite being the most senior female referee in the country, the feeling of ‘normality’ hasn’t quite sunk in yet.
“Every single time I still have to pinch myself to believe it,” the 36 year old said of her third Wembley appointment.
“I never thought when I qualified that I would work my way through the referee pyramid like I have, but here I am!
“It’s come with a lot of hard work and dedication and it’s the type of role where you really need to learn from each performance in order to become better.”
But Welch has no intention of resting on her laurels and is determined to take her career to the next level by gaining an international appointment.
"I’ve always said to go to a major competition like the Euros or the World Cup would be amazing.
“My aim now is to keep working hard and hopefully the chance to represent my country at these competitions will be within my grasp soon."
Matchday Team
Referee – Rebecca Welch (Durham FA)
Assistant Referees – Sian Massey-Ellis (Birmingham FA) & Natalie Aspinall (Lancashire FA)
Fourth Official – Abi Byrne (Suffolk FA)
Reserve Assistant Referee – Emily Carney (Lancashire FA)
Rebecca Welch: refereeing is a role that takes hard work and dedication
Rebecca Welch: refereeing is a role that takes hard work and dedication
50 Years: Five Great Finals
in the Five Decades of the Women’s FA Cup Final
Southampton 2-1 Queen's Park Rangers
Venue: Bedford - Attendance: 1,500
Southampton were the dominant side in the early years, lifting the trophy a remarkable eight times in the first 11 years. But against QPR in 1976 they were stretched all the way in front of a small but boisterous crowd at Bedford’s old Queens Park ground, which also hosted greyhound racing.
A spectacular free-kick from QPR's Margaret 'Paddy' McGroarty, a talented midfielder who played in the first England team, brought the teams level until a looping volley from Southampton's Maggie Kirkland settled the contest in extra time.
Leasowe Pacific 3-2 Friends of Fulham
Venue: Old Trafford - Attendance: 941
Three Leasowe Pacific players were first-hand witnesses to the Hillsborough Stadium tragedy a week before the final, but the club agreed to play after being offered the option of cancelling the match.
Hope Powell, the future England manager and a 66-cap international, gave Fulham a 2-1 lead at half time. But the team from Merseyside hit back to win an exciting encounter with goals from Louise Thomas and Joy McQuiggan. Channel 4 televised the final to a reported audience of two million viewers.
Croydon 1-1 Liverpool
(Croydon won on penalties)
Venue: The New Den - Attendance: 2,110
Just five years after their formation and in their second season of top-flight football with Debbie Bampton as the player manager, Croydon won in the first final to require a penalty shootout.
The two goals scored in normal time came from the boots of two of England's biggest stars. Karen Burke, who played in four losing finals for three different clubs, put Liverpool ahead before Hope Powell equalised for Croydon, who then won the shootout 3-2. Future England goalkeeper Rachel Brown, aged just 16, was in the Liverpool goal.
Arsenal 4-1 Charlton Athletic
Venue: City Ground, Nottingham - Attendance: 24,529
This was the first final with a crowd in excess of 20,000, almost doubling the previous year's attendance, and it was also lapped up by BBC One viewers on a May Bank Holiday Monday lunch-time.
This was an Arsenal side at the peak of their powers but they were rudely knocked off their stride early on by Katie Holtham's smart finish from an Eniola Aluko cross. Arsenal, whose goals were shared by Kelly Smith and Jayne Ludlow, soon recovered their poise, leading 3-1 at half time and sealing matters ten minutes from time.
Everton 3-2 Arsenal
Venue: City Ground, Nottingham - Attendance: 17,505
Everton had been successful in their only previous final back in 1989, when they were known as Leasowe Pacific, but now found themselves up against an Arsenal side who had won the last four finals, and ten in all since 1993.
It was a formidable record, but Everton played fearlessly and took the match deep into extra time. With a penalty shootout imminent, Natasha Dowie struck a famous winner before running into the crowd and hugging a random little boy: "I don't even know if he was a supporter," she later told reporters.
Natasha Dowie: FA Cup Memories
It's been a decade since Everton last lifted the Vitality Women’s FA Cup trophy in what is widely considered to be one of the most thrilling finals in the competition’s 50-year history.
Natasha Dowie scored the opener that day but will always be remembered for her extra-time winner as the Toffees beat Arsenal 3-2 in the most dramatic style.
Dowie netted from close range on 16 minutes before Kim Little levelled but a Faye White own-goal restored Everton’s lead on the stroke of half time.
When Julie Fleeting levelled once more, it looked like the momentum could be swinging in Arsenal’s favour - but Dowie had other ideas.
"I remember being in awe of the occasion and it's still probably the biggest crowd I've ever played in front of."
Ten years later she reflects on the day Everton knocked Arsenal off their perch:
“In my opinion, the 2010 final is still the most incredible in the competition’s history just because of how the game panned out and the way that it finished of course.
“We knew we were massive underdogs against an Arsenal team that had won the competition four years in a row and completely dominated women’s football for many years.
“But we were always the team that was pushing them so we knew we had a chance with the team that we had.
“There were some incredible players in that team and if we had stayed together who knows what we could’ve achieved."
“During extra time I was always thinking about the winner because you never want it to go to penalties and I always believed we could do it.
“Then with one minute to go my moment came. "
"When I saw it nestle into the corner it just didn’t feel real"
Natasha Dowie
Former Everton forward and FA cup winner
“Jill Scott went up and won a header which fell to Brooke Chaplen who then slid me in and at the time, I thought she may have overhit the pass.
“I peeled off Faye White and when I looked up Emma Byrne had come off her line - that’s when I made my mind up that I had to try and dink it over her.
“When I saw it nestle into the corner it just didn’t feel real, I thought I was dreaming, I turned and ran, jumped over the barriers and just hugged a random little boy - everyone was going crazy.
“The last few minutes felt like they went on forever and there was so much pressure on us to clear our lines and then when the final whistle blew it just felt surreal.
“I have played football in six different countries since then and I can honestly say that day is up there with the very best moments of my career - alongside winning the league with Liverpool funnily enough!
“Everton is a great club and I had five wonderful years there so it’s brilliant to see them back at the top of the game and challenging for trophies once again."
A WELCOME FROM VITALITY
Vitality’s core purpose is to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives.
Our sponsorship portfolio plays a key role in bringing this core purpose to life, through helping us inspire people to get active and look after their health.
To help address this challenge, Vitality has been actively involved in encouraging women in sport through our sponsorships over many years.
Women’s football has grown significantly in recent years, with a peak audience of 2.2m watching Manchester City defeat West Ham in last year’s final and 43,264 more in attendance at Wembley Stadium.
Our vision is to help generate further momentum and sustained investment, from grassroots to elite level, helping to drive visibility of the game and to inspire girls and women to take up football and other sports.
Former England international and Vitality ambassador, Alex Scott, lifts the Vitality FA Cup.
Former England international and Vitality ambassador, Alex Scott, lifts the Vitality FA Cup.
Former England international, Alex Scott, who has become a Vitality ambassador, said: “I’m pleased to be joining a brand that is shining a light on the game and driving visibility of the women’s game and hopefully inspiring many more women and girls to take up football, or whatever other activity might be right for them.”
Neville Koopowitz, Vitality CEO, added: "We hope you all enjoy the Vitality Women’s FA Cup Final today which I’m sure will be a great match."
QUIZ
So you think you know about women's football? It's time to test yourself.
Credits
Production: Harpoon Productions
Lead writer: Tom Dean
Photographs: Rex Features
FA Cup Final programmes - thanks to Rod and Josie Prescott
Video: Pathé
