it’s matchday
Welcome back to the VBS Community Stadium in Sutton, where Crystal Palace Women take on Durham in the Barclays Women’s Super League 2!
We will be running a raffle in the Fanzone, with some amazing prizes to be won. You could win a pair of signed Ashleigh Weerden boots, some signed Panini stickers and two tickets to an upcoming Palace Women game!
As always there will be live music from DJ SRae, free facepainting, and a special Arts and Craft station in the Fanzone!
Get behind the team, be loud, be proud, and be Palace!
do so anonymously.
Scan here to view a full matchday supporters’ guide.
Annabel blanchard
jopotter
Welcome back to everyone at the VBS Community Stadium. I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Years with your families and friends.
It was great to get some time off over the winter break, but we are all excited to be back here at the VBS to take on Durham.
We ended 2025 in a really positive way, with four consecutive wins in the WSL2 against some top opposition.
Our first test of the new year was against Sheffield United, and I was thrilled to get all three points.
That trip to Bramall Lane on the 12th January was never going to be easy, but I was delighted with the team’s attitude and performance.
We knew it was going to be a battle, and we knew that there wasn’t going to be many chancesso to win it in the way we did was really satisfying.
I was particularly happy for new signing Hayley Ladd, whose free-kick proved to be the difference in South Yorkshire.
She only joined us the day before, so for her to step up and deliver that moment of quality so soon into her Palace career was special.
As she stood over the free-kick, Elise Hughes leaned in: 'She’s going to score this, you know.' She wasn't wrong!
It was the perfect way to kickstart our 2026, and those three points will prove crucial as we continue to build in this campaign.
I’m delighted to welcome both new signings Hayley and Kelly Brady to Palace, I’m sure that they will both prove crucial as the season progresses.
Last weekend’s defeat against Chelsea was always going to be tough; it’s testament to how well we have been performing that they decided to go full-strength.
Result-aside, I was impressed with aspects of our performance –but I thought we lacked a little bit of the bravery that we showed against Arsenal, when we played them in the League Cup quarter-final.
Either way, these are the games that we want to be playing in and these are the teams and the players that we want to be facing.
We heard you guys loud and clear too – your support on the day was truly incredible.
Today we take on a strong Durham side at home – they gave us a very tough game in the North East last time, and we are expecting nothing less from them this time around.
It’s imperative that we keep our good form up and ensure that our four-game winning streak in the league doesn’t stop here.
That means taking pride in our defensive work, taking care of the ball, and making sure we take our opportunities when they come up.
If we get the basics right, there is nothing stopping us from making it five in a row today.
As always - get behind the team and enjoy the game today!
Jo Potter
aimee everett
I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and New Year surrounded by family and friends.
While it was nice for the girls to have a bit of a reset over the winter break, there is nothing quite like the buzz of being back at home.
We’ve missed the atmosphere here, and we’re ready to get back to business against Durham.
We finished 2025 in exactly the way we wanted - building serious momentum with three straight league wins. Coming into the New Year, the challenge was to keep that standard high, and I couldn't be prouder of how the group responded away at Bramall Lane last week.
Playing Sheffield United away is always a scrap. We knew from the first whistle that it was going to be a battle of wills rather than a goal-fest. As a defender, keeping a clean sheet in these types of games is incredibly satisfying, but you need that one moment of magic to turn a point into three.
That moment came from Hayley Ladd. To join the club on a Sunday and score the winner on a Monday is the stuff of dreams.
Seeing that ball hit the back of the net was a special moment for
the whole squad and the perfect welcome for Hayley.
I also want to give a huge welcome to Kelly Brady; both she and Hayley have settled in brilliantly, and I know they’re going to be massive for us as we push on.
Last weekend’s result against Chelsea was a tough one to take, but there are plenty of positives to find if you look closely.
The fact that they felt they had to put out a full-strength side against us shows how much respect we’ve earned.
We want to test ourselves against the best in the world. And honestly, hearing you guys in the away end was incredible - you out-sang the home fans for ninety minutes, and the girls definitely felt that energy on the pitch.
Today, our focus shifts back to the league and making it five wins in a row. Durham are a side that never give you an inch.
They made life very difficult for us up in the North East earlier this season, and we know they’ll be just as physical and organised today.
For us to get the result, we have to do the dirty work: taking
pride in our defensive shape, keeping our composure on the ball, and being clinical when that one big chance falls our way.
If we nail the basics and play with the heart we’ve shown all season, I’m confident we can keep this run going.
Make some noise, stay loud, and let’s get those three points together.
Up The Palace!
last time out
Crystal Palace Women managed to secure all three points away at Bramall Lane, as they beat Sheffield United 1-0 in the Barclays Women's Super League 2.
It was the perfect start to 2026 for Jo Potter's side, as they snatched a late 1-0 win away at Sheffield United, courtesy of a debut goal from Hayley Ladd.
Palace were much the better side in South Yorkshire, with Elise Hughes forcing a great save from Sian Rogers early on before Hayley Nolan hit the post with a header.
Abbie Larkin thought she had put Palace in the lead on 63 minutes after she finished superbly from Ashleigh Weerden's pass, but the flag was up.
The Blades could have gone ahead on 75 minutes after Eva Butler raced through on goal and squared the
ball to her teammate, but there was Jamie-Lee Napier to clear the ball away from danger.
The deadlock was finally broken on 86 minutes though, as Palace's new signing curled in a sumptuous free-kick from 25 yards.
The free-kick was given after Kirsty Howat was brought down on the edge of the box a minute earlier.
Ladd, who had come on for her debut at half-time, stepped up to take the free-kick and curled her effort into the top right corner.
The Wales international was mobbed by her teammates as she celebrated, it was the perfect way to make your Palace debut.
The late victory marked Palace's fourth successive league win, with the team in fifth place - just three points outside of a promotion play-off spot.
durham women f.c.
the wildcats
Uniquely Independent
Durham Women's FC holds a unique status in English professional women's football, as they are one of only a handful of clubs in the top two tiers that is not affiliated with a professional men's team.
WSL2 Mainstays
Since their formation in 2014, Durham have been an ever-present force in the second tier of English women's football, achieving their highest league finish of second place in the 2020-21 season.
University Partnership
Durham Women's FC benefits from a unique partnership with Durham University, granting them access to state-of-the-art training and playing facilities at Maiden Castle. However, there are plans for Durham to move their current base to a new state-of-the-art facility shared with Durham Cricket.
Hepple the recordbreaker
Midfielder Beth Hepple became the first player in Durham club history to reach 250 appearances in 2024. Signed in 2014, Hepple has been with the club throughout it’s journey and is currently the joint second highest scorer in the WSL2 with six goals.
Durham legend Beth Hepple has been on fire this season, scoring six goals in the campaign so far. She was the first Durham player to surpass the 250 appearance mark in 2024 and has bagged over 70 goals for the club. Despite playing in midfield, Durham’s number seven has a knack for scoring goals, whether it’s a tap in or a long-range screamer.
Goals from Veatriki Sarri, Chelsea Cornet and Lily Crosthwaite sealed a dominant win for the Blues at St Andrews, where Durham could only muster one attempt on goal.
HOW THE EAGLES SOAR.
Crystal palace f.c.
Eve ANNETS (GK)
Jamie-Lee NAPIER
Chloe ARTHUR
My CATO
Aimee EVERETT
Isabella SIBLEY
Molly-Mae SHARPE
Elise HUGHES
Kirsty HOWAT
Ashleigh WEERDEN
Lola BROWN
Josie GREEN
Hayley NOLAN Hayley LADD
Annabel BLANCHARD
Justine VANHAEVERMAET
Kelly BRADY
Indiah-Paige RILEY
Zara BAILEY
Ruesha LITTLEJOHN
Abbie LARKIN
Allyson SWABY
Shae YAÑEZ (GK)
Grace AYRE
Lauren BRIGGS
Tyler TOLAND
Sarah WILSON
Sarah ROBSON
Beth HEPPLE
Mollie LAMBERT
Lucy WATSON
Hannah BLAKE
Abbi GRANT
Anna KING (GK)
Becky SALICKI
Grace EDE
Mariana SPECKMAIER
Angela ADDISON
Ella WILSON
Michaela FOSTER
Amber STOBBS
Leyla McFARLAND
Abbey JONES Cat SHEPPARD (GK)
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