The FA Cup returned to the Academy Stadium on Saturday afternoon as Manchester City swept past Aston Villa and into the 5th Round. It was nothing short of dominant from the hosts – professional, clinical and slick in attack.
Football, as with any walk of life, is made up of a multitude of characters. The naturally skilled; the hard workers; the energisers; the personalities – these attributes are not mutually exclusive, but they are all part of why we follow the game passionately.
Every so often, you come across a footballer who encapsulates the lot. Jill Scott is one such individual – a skilled but tough opponent on the field with an undeniably engaging and infectious nature off it.
This 2019/20 Vitality FA Women’s Cup Final understandably had a totally different feel to it. Wembley Way was without its throng of fans and the expectant buzz. Wembley echoed with the emptiness; the sounds focused on the discussions of players and coaches as the teams warmed up.
Manchester City beat Aston Villa 2-0 on the opening day of the Barclays FAWSL season at Villa Park.
Good things come to those who wait! It has been a long six months for everyone involved in the women’s game in England. With coronavirus shutting down the country, football understandably took a back seat. Leagues were curtailed, competitions cancelled or postponed, and everything was put on hold.
After around 174 days since the last competitive match was played, women’s football returns to England today on the biggest stage of them all.
Arsenal took on Manchester City in the semi-finals of the Continental Cup.
This weekend saw the FA Cup 4th Round take place. The snow cause havoc across the country, with 8 of the 16 ties postponed. However, we got to 3 of the 8 games as teams battled it out for a place in the 5th Round draw.
Today, McDonalds has announced its continued long-term commitment to improving the standard of grassroots football in the UK with the renewal of its partnership with the four home nations Football Associations for a further four years.