Chelsea Women start their build-up to the new Women’s Super League season this weekend with a friendly against Roma at Kingsmeadow.
OK, schools are still on holiday... but who in their right mind chose 8pm on a Sunday for the game?
Turns out the Roma women are just flying in from Italy earlier in the day (air traffic control permitting), so it was decided to push the start back from the customary 7pm women’s evening time.
With many World Cup participants still enjoying a welcome break, it will be a partly unfamiliar Blues line-up for the game (tickets from £4 on the Chelsea FC website).
Fans will have an early chance to assess new American striker Mia Fishel, who has signed until the summer of 2026. Gaffer Emma Hayes has high hopes for the 22-year-old, but most eyes will be on returning forward Fran Kirby, now back in training after a long, long injury lay-off.
Also expected to play a part on Sunday evening will be new keeper Nicky Evrard. Chelsea now have an embarrassment of top-class goalies, with Ann-Katrin Berger, World Cup star Zecira Musovic and Hannah Hampton to choose from, too.
Newcomers Catarina Macario, who has bagged the centre forward’s No9 shirt, and midfielder Sjoeke Nusken, wearing No6, have gone straight into training, and should also feature on Sunday night.
There’ll also be starting roles for Erin Cuthbert and Sophie Ingle, who had a relatively relaxed summer away from the World Cup drama.
Hayes is champing at the bit to get going with the new season (although the first game still seems a lifetime away on 1 October). “We’re still adjusting to life without Magda Eriksson,” she admitted, following the influential captain’s decision to leave for Germany alongside teammate and partner Pernille Harder.
“Magda was our captain and a big part of what we’ve achieved in recent years, but changes happen and I think the team will evolve to a different place this year.”
And that remains a thinly veiled code for ‘We’re determined to get our hands on that Champions League trophy’.
Because of their European involvement, Chelsea Women will only enter the League Cup at the quarter-final stage.
Chelsea’s Sunday night friendly against Roma at Kingsmeadow will make history as the first time VAR has been trialled at an English WSL stadium. It’s something Emma Hayes has long called for.
Matchday ref Abi Byrne and her assistants Georgia Ball, Nicoleta Bria and Mel Burgin will be backed by video assistant referees Emily Heaslip and Chloe-Ann Small, operating remotely.
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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