Page 7 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.11 2022-23

attendance of 11,137 – almost doubling that of the impressive number set by Bristol City last
season (5,752).
With matches held at Blackburn’s Ewood Park, Bristol City’s Ashton Gate, and a club
record attendance for Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park of 1,969, the total attendance across the
Barclays Women’s Championship was 17,500 – a record weekend for the competition.
Kelly Simmons, The FA’s Director for the Women’s Professional Game, said: "I’m really
encouraged to see the records broken in the Barclays Women’s Championship, and
congratulations to Sheffield United on breaking the individual attendance record for the
league.
"It’s such an exciting and tightly contested league, and there is so much quality on show
within the division. The Barclays Women’s Championship continues to go from strength to
strength and I am really pleased that we are seeing such healthy attendances, that are
considerably up on last season."

This year has been an incredible one for Beth Mead, but ends on a
sad note after sustaining a serious injury in Arsenal’s 3-2 defeat to
Manchester Utd on Sunday.
The England striker looks set to miss the rest of the season
with a cruciate ligament injury and her participation in next year’s
FIFA Women’s World Cup also looks to be in severe doubt.
Arsenal released the following medical update on her
condition this week:
“We can confirm that Beth Mead suffered a ruptured anterior
cruciate ligament in our match against Manchester United at
Emirates Stadium on Saturday. (www.jamesprickett.co.uk)
“Unfortunately, this means that Beth is set for an extended period on the sidelines. She
will see a surgeon in the coming days, after which further details on timescales will be
established.
“Everyone at the club will now be supporting Beth and working hard to get her back on
the pitch as soon as possible.”

Northern Premier Division
A 2-0 victory over Loughborough Lightning has
taken Liverpool Feds up into a mid-table position in
the division. In the only match to be played, goals in
quick succession just after the hour from Nicola James and leading scorer Paige Cole took the
Feds to their third league victory of the season.
Southern Premier Division
Leaders Oxford Utd did not play on Sunday but their advantage remains at five points after
second placed Watford were beaten 3-2 by Billericay Town. Holly Turner, Beau Parker
and Jess King all scored to give Billericay a three-goal lead at half time and despite Watford
fighting back with late replies from Annie-Lee Rossiter and Gemma Davison, the Essex side
held out for a fourth straight win and although they remain in fifth place, they are now just
three points behind their opponents.
Ipswich Town picked up their fifth victory in six games as they scored five times
without reply away to Plymouth Argyle at Home Park. The game attracted an attendance
news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk