Cherries prepare for historic cup tie

AFC Bournemouth take on Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City this Sunday in the fourth round of the Women’s FA Cup.

This is the furthest the team has ever reached in the WFA Cup in their history, making it to the third round several times but this is their maiden fourth round tie.

The Cherries are unbeaten in the league in over 1000 days however they are coming into this game as underdogs Manchester City sit top of the WSL, two divisions higher than Bournemouth.

City have won the competition three times in their history: 2017, 2019 and 2020 and are one of the favourites to lift the cup this season.

The Cherries squad had a surprise visit from the WFA Cup trophy on Tuesday where they were able to take photos with the cup.

Manager Helen Bleazard played in two WFA Cup finals herself during her playing career however was runner-up on both occasions.

Bleazard said: “These girls have watched Man City players play in WFA Cup games and have seen the magic of the cup. They got the opportunities to have the photos with the trophy and to see it on the side of the pitch while they were training gives that little extra spark for it.”

Since Bill Foley took over as AFC Bournemouth owner in December 2022, the women’s side have seen an increase in funding and support, including officially combining the women’s side with the men’s club.

Bleazard said: “The investment in the club has contributed to the success of the women’s team, so I think they’ve got to take credit for the investment and the support that they have given to us.”

“It’s allowed Bournemouth to show what we can do in the local areas and hopefully that’s inspired quite a few people.”

You can listen to Helen Bleazard's press conference below:

This inspiration seems to have reached the daughter of men’s team manager Andoni Iraola who had asked if they could go to the game, but Iraola was unsure as his side is training the same day.

Iraola said: “I hope they do well. They are doing a great job and are top of the league. I think their priorities are in the league, but I am sure for them to face Manchester City it’s going to be a big challenge I suppose because City have an incredible squad.”

Macclesfield’s historic FA Cup upset against Crystal Palace last weekend has given the Cherries some extra inspiration to maybe pull off an upset of their own.

Defender Jessica Hennessy said: “The Macclesfield game put the cherry on the top for us because we know we could be like them.

“We never go into a game thinking that we are going to get beaten and you just never know what’s going to happen in the game on Sunday.”

Sunday’s fixture is being played at AFC Totton’s Snows Stadium, rather than Vitality Stadium which usually hosts high-profile games for the women’s side.

Tickets sold out for the game within 24 hours, leading the club to release a further allocation on Thursday.

Some players think that the location may give them a slight edge over City, midfielder Elena Cole said: “I think it’ll definitely help us, they’re used to playing on carpets so when they come down to us at the Totton ground, I think it’ll be a challenge for them.

“But we haven’t played there either so it will be a challenge for us too however we are most used to grounds like that.”

The team has admitted this week they will be without the ball for much of the game and will have to take their chances when they come.

Striker Jenna Markham said: “I’ve manifested me scoring for the past couple of weeks before bed to be honest. It would be an incredible moment in my career and to share it with all the girls that have built such a great project here would be incredible.

“It’d be the best moment in my career so far and it’s something that I’ve certainly dreamed of.”

If the Cherries were able to pull of an upset this Sunday it would push the squad's historic run even further into the fifth round.

Bleazard said: “It’s a great game for women’s football, not only our game, but there’s so many other really great games in the WFA Cup this weekend. So hopefully there’ll be a few upsets.”

The game kicks off at 1pm at Snows Stadium on Sunday.