Millwall Lionesses won the Cup for the first time in 1991, when it was run under the auspices of the Women's Football Association. After their 1–0 final victory over Doncaster Belles, the winning squad broke up and players moved to rival clubs. Several players including future England manager Hope Powell founded a new club called Bromley Borough, which became Croydon then Charlton Athletic.
Only Julie Fletcher, at 16 the youngest member of the 1991 squad, and Lou Waller, employed by parent–club Millwall as a community officer, remained with the team. In Waller's words: "We had to shunt all the teams up. The reserves became the seniors, the juniors became the reserves."[3] By 1997 Millwall Lionesses' emphasis on youth development had produced international calibre players such as Mary Phillip, Katie Chapman, Danielle Murphy and Carly Hunt. England's first–choice goalkeeper Pauline Cope had also returned to the club from Arsenal. In March 1997 Millwall Lionesses defeated Everton in the final of the FA Women's Premier League Cup.[4]
Manager John Jones had taken over District Line LFC in 1982 and led them to a series of promotions. In 1993 they were promoted to the FA Women's Premier League National Division and tied up with Wembley FC to enter the top division. Part of the deal was a merger with Pinner Park Girls FC, which meant that Wembley inherited Pinner Park's Kelly Smith.
As a former Physical Training Instructor in the Royal Navy, Jones ensured his team were strong and fit. He favoured an unorthodox 3–2–3–2 formation which accommodated a blend of promising youngsters and experienced campaigners such as Naz Ball. Wembley's progress culminated in a shock FA Women's Premier League Cup win over Doncaster Belles in March 1996.[5]
Jones was angry when his players subsequently began to join rival clubs, attributing their departure to "a little bit of, shall we say, greed."[6] Since the win over Doncaster Belles, three players had moved to Arsenal (Smith, Kim Jerray-Silver and goalkeeper Sarah Reed) and another three to final opponents Millwall Lionesses (Sally Ede, Pam Bedzrah and Justine Lorton).
MatchEdit
SummaryEdit
Watched by a crowd of 3,015, Millwall Lionesses won the match 1–0, with a winning goal early in the second half from Lou Waller.[7]Justine Lorton, who had signed from Wembley the previous summer, delivered a corner kick which was turned in at the near post by Waller, a survivor of Millwall Lionesses' 1991 Cup win. In a close contest, Wembley's defence reportedly played extremely well but their veteran strike–force were unable to threaten Pauline Cope in the Millwall Lionesses goal.
After the match, victorious Millwall Lionesses players sang "No one likes us, we don't care" with their supporters. They also sang "How Bizarre" by OMC which had become the team's unofficial anthem.[8]
A recording of the full game was broadcast at 18:00 BST by Cup sponsors, the cable television channel UK Living.
ReferencesEdit
^Erik Garin. "England - List of Women Cup Winners". RSSSF. from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
^Aldis, Colin (5 April 2011). She Kicks. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
^Davies, Pete (23 March 1997). "Lionesses aim to keep pride intact". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
^Aldis, Colin (21 May 1997). . WomenSoccer.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
^Davies, Pete (11 March 1996). "Wembley's flair rewarded in shoot-out". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
^Baker, Andrew (4 May 1997). "Football: They're on their way to Upton ...". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
^. Daily Mirror. 5 May 1997. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
^Slegg, Chris; Phillips, Owen (7 May 2021). "Now you see her". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 May 2021. My main memory is of being in the dressing room afterwards and my first born Jordan, who was two by then, being on one of the girl's shoulders as we all jumped around singing a song that was really popular at the time - How Bizarre by OMC. "That song became our anthem because of just how mad things seemed to be at the club at that time.
August 25, 2023
1997, women, final, 1997, women, final, 27th, final, women, england, primary, competition, women, football, teams, showpiece, event, fourth, played, directly, under, auspices, football, association, known, living, women, final, sponsorship, reasons, millwall, . The 1997 FA Women s Cup Final was the 27th final of the FA Women s Cup England s primary cup competition for women s football teams The showpiece event was the fourth to be played directly under the auspices of the Football Association FA and was known as the UK Living FA Women s Cup Final for sponsorship reasons Millwall Lionesses and Wembley contested the match at West Ham United s Upton Park in London on 4 May 1997 Millwall Lionesses made their second final appearance after winning the trophy in 1991 with a 1 0 win over Doncaster Belles at Prenton Park Wembley appeared in the final for the first time having won the previous season s FA Women s Premier League Cup competition 1 1997 FA Women s Cup FinalEvent1996 97 FA Women s CupMillwall Lionesses Wembley1 0Date4 May 1997VenueUpton Park LondonPlayer of the MatchCarol HarwoodRefereeClive Wilkes Gloucestershire Attendance3 015 19961998 As FA Women s Premier League National Division clubs both teams entered the competition at the fourth round stage Millwall Lionesses beat Chelsea 3 0 Doncaster Belles 3 0 Aston Villa 4 1 after extra time and Croydon 1 1 3 1 on penalties to reach the final Wembley needed extra time in all three games to defeat Tranmere Rovers 2 1 Preston Rangers 1 0 and Berkhamsted Town 3 1 to reach a semi final with Arsenal Their subsequent 1 0 victory over Arsenal at Borehamwood was considered a major upset 2 Contents 1 Background 2 Match 2 1 Summary 2 2 Details 3 Post match 4 ReferencesBackground EditMillwall Lionesses won the Cup for the first time in 1991 when it was run under the auspices of the Women s Football Association After their 1 0 final victory over Doncaster Belles the winning squad broke up and players moved to rival clubs Several players including future England manager Hope Powell founded a new club called Bromley Borough which became Croydon then Charlton Athletic Only Julie Fletcher at 16 the youngest member of the 1991 squad and Lou Waller employed by parent club Millwall as a community officer remained with the team In Waller s words We had to shunt all the teams up The reserves became the seniors the juniors became the reserves 3 By 1997 Millwall Lionesses emphasis on youth development had produced international calibre players such as Mary Phillip Katie Chapman Danielle Murphy and Carly Hunt England s first choice goalkeeper Pauline Cope had also returned to the club from Arsenal In March 1997 Millwall Lionesses defeated Everton in the final of the FA Women s Premier League Cup 4 Manager John Jones had taken over District Line LFC in 1982 and led them to a series of promotions In 1993 they were promoted to the FA Women s Premier League National Division and tied up with Wembley FC to enter the top division Part of the deal was a merger with Pinner Park Girls FC which meant that Wembley inherited Pinner Park s Kelly Smith As a former Physical Training Instructor in the Royal Navy Jones ensured his team were strong and fit He favoured an unorthodox 3 2 3 2 formation which accommodated a blend of promising youngsters and experienced campaigners such as Naz Ball Wembley s progress culminated in a shock FA Women s Premier League Cup win over Doncaster Belles in March 1996 5 Jones was angry when his players subsequently began to join rival clubs attributing their departure to a little bit of shall we say greed 6 Since the win over Doncaster Belles three players had moved to Arsenal Smith Kim Jerray Silver and goalkeeper Sarah Reed and another three to final opponents Millwall Lionesses Sally Ede Pam Bedzrah and Justine Lorton Match EditSummary Edit Watched by a crowd of 3 015 Millwall Lionesses won the match 1 0 with a winning goal early in the second half from Lou Waller 7 Justine Lorton who had signed from Wembley the previous summer delivered a corner kick which was turned in at the near post by Waller a survivor of Millwall Lionesses 1991 Cup win In a close contest Wembley s defence reportedly played extremely well but their veteran strike force were unable to threaten Pauline Cope in the Millwall Lionesses goal After the match victorious Millwall Lionesses players sang No one likes us we don t care with their supporters They also sang How Bizarre by OMC which had become the team s unofficial anthem 8 Details Edit 4 May 199715 00 BSTMillwall Lionesses1 0WembleyLou Waller 51 ReportUpton Park LondonAttendance 3 015Referee Clive Wilkes Gloucestershire Millwall Lionesses WembleyMILLWALL LIONESSES GK Pauline Cope c DF Abbie WalshDF Mary PhillipDF Katie Chapman 87 MF Tina LindsayMF Danielle MurphyMF Lou WallerMF Tracy OsbornMF Justine LortonFW Pru BuckleyFW Sally Ede 88 Substitutes DF Julie Fletcher 87 FW Pam Bedzrah 88 GK Katrina KnowlerFW Nina DownhamDF Sophie ChapmanManager Jim Hicks WEMBLEY GK Lesley HiggsDF Kirsty HewitsonDF Carol HarwoodDF Lynn FramptonMF Siobhan Melia c MF Donna BurnsMF Julie DarbyMF Michelle Lee 85 MF Paula Callinan 70 FW Naz BallFW Tracy KochSubstitutes MF Lois Fidler 70 MF Sue Jones 85 GK Orla HarrellFW Ayala LiranFW Jessica LippiattManager John JonesPlayer of the match Carol Harwood Wembley Match officials Assistant referees Guy Beale Somerset Barry Polkey Nottinghamshire Fourth official Martin Ebbage Berks amp Bucks Match rules 90 minutes 30 minutes of extra time if necessary Penalty shoot out if scores still level Five named substitutes Maximum of three substitutions Post match EditA recording of the full game was broadcast at 18 00 BST by Cup sponsors the cable television channel UK Living References Edit Erik Garin England List of Women Cup Winners RSSSF Archived from the original on 11 November 2013 Retrieved 24 July 2011 Aldis Colin 5 April 2011 Miracles and Upsets Do Happen She Kicks Archived from the original on 27 May 2012 Retrieved 27 October 2012 Davies Pete 23 March 1997 Lionesses aim to keep pride intact The Independent Archived from the original on 1 May 2022 Retrieved 28 October 2012 Aldis Colin 21 May 1997 FA Premier League Cup Final 1996 97 WomenSoccer com Archived from the original on 25 March 2012 Retrieved 28 October 2012 Davies Pete 11 March 1996 Wembley s flair rewarded in shoot out The Independent Archived from the original on 1 May 2022 Retrieved 28 October 2012 Baker Andrew 4 May 1997 Football They re on their way to Upton The Independent Archived from the original on 1 May 2022 Retrieved 28 October 2012 Mill Waller Sport Daily Mirror 5 May 1997 Archived from the original on 16 November 2018 Retrieved 28 October 2012 Slegg Chris Phillips Owen 7 May 2021 Now you see her BBC Sport Retrieved 7 May 2021 My main memory is of being in the dressing room afterwards and my first born Jordan who was two by then being on one of the girl s shoulders as we all jumped around singing a song that was really popular at the time How Bizarre by OMC That song became our anthem because of just how mad things seemed to be at the club at that time Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1997 FA Women 27s Cup final amp oldid 1152669932, 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