It never rains but it pours. Not only are Chelsea Women appearing on the big stage of Stamford Bridge on Sunday (20 November), but Fulham Women are playing on the same day at Craven Cottage.
With bewilderingly timing, two important women’s London derbies have been scheduled a mile apart at the same time, when you’d expect bigger attendances at both had they been separated.
Nothing can be done about it. Fixtures are set well in advance. But the early afternoon kick-off times mean only those fans closest to the respective stadiums will be able to make it home in time for the start of the Qatar v Ecuador opening match in the World Cup.
The big TV channels communicate with each other when picking games to cover, so it’s surely not impossible for football clubs to liaise on match timings, especially when women’s games are concerned and there is a more general, and less tribal, interest in the sport.
Still, congratulations are due to both Chelsea and Fulham for taking advantage of the World Cup lull in men’s domestic fixtures to elevate their women’s teams to the main stadiums on Sunday.
Chelsea face Tottenham in the Women’s Super League at the Bridge at 1pm, while Fulham FC Women play AFC Wimbledon in the Capital Cup at the Cottage at 2pm.
Fulham, soundly beaten in the FA Cup last weekend by Watford, are hoping to improve on last season when they made it to the third round of the Capital Cup, before losing on penalties.
Chelsea return from their recent international break determined to peg back early high-flyers Spurs, who now lie fifth in the WSL table.
Striker Sam Kerr wants fans to turn up in numbers. “Hopefully we can pack out the Bridge,” she said. “It’s a London derby, it’s always a good game against Tottenham.”
Chelsea Women have two critical games in four days. After Sunday’s league cruncher, the players are back at their Kingsmeadow home on Wednesday night for European action against Real Madrid.
Matchday 3 in the group stage of the Women’s Champions League promises to be a floodlit humdinger, with tickets £9 (£1 kids and seniors) available here.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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