Page 7 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.34 2021-22

The Vitality Women’s FA Cup

This Sunday sees Chelsea and Manchester City meet in the Vitality
Women’s FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium (2.30pm). Here are a
few fun facts about the two clubs, and the history of the competition
in general since it began in 1971:
● The last five Women’s FA Cup finals have been won by either
Chelsea or Manchester City but they have never played each other in the final before
this year. They have, however, met at the semi final stage of either the Vitality Women’s
FA Cup or the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup Final eight times in the last
eight years.
● Last December, Sam Kerr became the first current Australian international to score in the
Vitality Women’s FA Cup final, Fulham’s Kristy Moore having netted in 2003, a year after
switching allegiance from Australia in order to play for England.
● In Chelsea’s 2021 triumph, Swede Magdalena Eriksson became only the second player
from outside the UK to lift the Vitality Women’s FA Cup trophy as captain after Norway’s
Marianne Pettersen led Fulham to victory in 2002.
● Chelsea and Manchester City have both won the Women’s FA Cup three times
although Chelsea have played in more finals (five) than Manchester City (three).
● Manchester City have never experienced an Women’s FA Cup final away from
Wembley, whereas Chelsea’s first appearance in the final came at Ashton Gate in 2012,
when they lost on penalties to Birmingham City.
● Having become the first female manager to win the Women’s FA Cup three times (moving
ahead of both Debbie Bampton and Shelley Kerr), Emma Hayes is now the second most
successful manager in the history of the Women’s FA Cup. With three victories as manager
with Chelsea (as well as two as assistant with Arsenal), Hayes is second only to her
former boss at Arsenal, Vic Akers, who won the cup 10 times in 16 years.
● If selected, this would be a sixth final for Manchester City’s Ellen White, having played
in five finals with four different clubs [also including Arsenal, Birmingham City and Notts
County], lifting the trophy three times and scoring once (for Arsenal in 2013).
● No other side has played in more finals (17) or won the trophy as many times as Arsenal
(14).
● Doncaster Belles featured in 13 finals (winning six), while Southampton Women (not
related to Southampton FC) played in 10 (winning eight). This will be Chelsea’s sixth
final (won three). Manchester City have played in three finals, winning them all.
● In the competition’s first year (1970/71) it was called the The WFA Mitre Challenge
Trophy and there were 71 entrants. The FA took over running the competition in the
1993/94 season, renaming it The Women’s FA Challenge Cup, with 147 clubs entering. 417
clubs entered the 52nd Women’s FA Cup (2021/22).
● The most prestigious cup competition in English women’s football began its life as the
WFA Mitre Challenge Trophy before becoming known as the WFA Cup, the Women’s FA
Challenge Cup, the FA Women’s Cup and now the Vitality Women’s FA Cup.
● Southampton appeared in the first nine finals in a row – a record not equalled since.
● Only once before have the same two teams met in the final of both the league cup and FA
Cup, in 1998, when Arsenal beat Croydon to lift both trophies.
● Rachel Yankey is the most successful individual player in the competition having enjoyed
11 victories with two different clubs; nine with Arsenal and two with Fulham.
● Karen Walker played in 12 finals (11 with Belles) beginning in 1985, announcing her
retirement 21 years later in the post-match press conference at the end of Leeds United’s
5-0 loss to Arsenal in 2006.
● Debbie Bampton won it twice as player-manager of Croydon (as well as three times as a
player only). Mo Marley is another winning manager (Everton 2010) who had previously
won it as a player (Leasowe Pacific 1989).
● Albert (Howbury Grange 1984) and Debbie Bampton (Croydon 1996/2000) are the only
father and daughter pair who have both won the cup as managers.
● Southampton’s Pat Chapman has scored 10 goals, scoring in four finals.
● Highest scoring final was in 1978: Southampton 8–2 Queens Park Rangers.
Issue no. 34 - 12 May 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk