Ellie Perkins has been a stalwart in the heart of the Chatham Town Women’s back line this season and she will be looking to continue that as the team continue preparations for the biggest game in the Club’s history tomorrow.
York City Ladies make the long trip down to the Bauvill Stadium for Sunday’s 1pm kick off with both sides in this Adobe Women’s FA Cup Fourth Round tie knowing victory will take them into the last sixteen for the very first time.
We caught up with Perkins at training this week, and she told us, “You could say that everything has been building up to this weekend, but we have had to focus on other things. It has been tough since Christmas, not the New Year that we wanted or hoped for, but I hope that if we get this weekend right it will be the boost we need for the second half of the season to hopefully kick start the rest of the season.”
“We got knocked out by Crystal Palace two years ago, so this is the first time that we have got this far. I have never played at this stage before – I have won the FA Youth Cup, when I was younger, but this round is new for me as well!”
“After trips to Beaconsfield, Wimbledon, Exeter, and Sutton, when the draw was made, I think that the reason for the reactions was probably more for the fact that we are home here for the first time in this year’s competition!
“Finally, we have a home game and do not have to travel although the away trips have been good, and we have come home with very good results. Hopefully, we can take that form and that record into a home game on Sunday.”
“I don’t know too much about York – I think a couple of the girls may have some contacts who do know a thing or two so we will do our homework, football can be a small world, but it is good to see two Tier Four sides getting to Round Four though, and I think that in general shows where women’s football is continuing to progress so it will be a good match up.
“It really is a massive opportunity for us and of course York as well as we do always have to think about the financial sides of things – don’t get me wrong we want to win and get the record for being in the next round, but the finances will massively help, support and benefit both Clubs.”
The tie is free to all under 16s – a move that will hopefully encourage more fans through the Bauvill turnstiles; it is a move that the players are fully behind as Perkins admitted. “Hopefully it will see a few people come who haven’t seen a us before or a women’s football match live before, so just to have that option where the young girls and the young players can see where they can get to and aspire too is great.”
“And of course a big gate making some noise will really help us on the pitch too – we heard our terrific supporters at Exeter, we heard them away at Sutton so to have a big home crowd will hopefully give us an upper hand!”
Images courtesy of Allen Hollands