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THFC CONTENTS 5 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR WOMEN FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED. REG. OFFICE: LILYWHITE HOUSE, 782 HIGH ROAD, TOTTENHAM, LONDON, N17 0BX CLUB DIRECTORY Chairman: Daniel Levy Directors: Matthew Collecott Donna-Maria Cullen Rebecca Caplehorn Chief Football Officer: Scott Munn Managing Director: Andy Rogers General Manager: Alex Zurita Head Coach: Robert Vilahamn Senior Assistant Head Coach: Vicky Jepson Goalkeeping Coach: Perry Suckling Head of Performance and Female Athlete Health: Hannah Sheridan Head of Medical: Emily Whatling Team Doctor: Stan Baltsezak Spurs Hotline: 0344 499 5000 Textphone Service for Deaf or Hard of Hearing: 020 8365 5194 Email: [email protected] MATCHDAY PROGRAMME Head of Publications: Jon Rayner Contributors: Louise Gould, Will Holderness, Paul Miles, Billy Shaw REACH SPORT: Operations Editor: Adam Oldfield Commercial Editor: Chris Brereton Senior Production Journalist: Simon Monk Designer: Adam Ward Marketing & Communications Manager: Claire Brown Photography: Shutterstock, THFC, Alamy, Mirrorpix, Getty Images Printed by Paragon Published by For matchday programme subscriptions, email: [email protected] robert vilahamn The Head Coach sets the scene for a huge occasion bethany england A rallying cry from our captain ahead of kick-off WSL @ THS A reminder of previous encounters here in N17 opposition Giving you the lowdown on today’s visitors 6 12 12 26 IN THIS ISSUE
6 ROBERT VILAHAMN THFC
THFC ROBERT VILAHAMN 7 “wednesday’s match gave us a lot of self-confidence, it was a good way to bounce back and to make sure we have good energy for today’s game because it’s going to be a massive day” elcome to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it’s great to be playing on such a fantastic stage – it’s the home of Spurs. This is the biggest game so far this season for us, a north London derby in the WSL. We’re going up against our biggest rival in this league and someone we want to beat, hopefully we can put on a really good performance in front of a big home crowd. I’d like to welcome Jonas, all the Arsenal players, staff and fans to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Of course, we faced Arsenal in the cup on Wednesday and it was a really good game for us to have because we bounced back from our two previous results. We played some really good football, attacking football, we dared to play out from the back, we dared to play through their W press, we created some really nice chances and scored three beautiful goals. That game gave us a lot of selfconfidence, it was a good way to bounce back and to make sure we have good energy for today’s game because it’s going to be a massive day. We want to ensure, most importantly, that the fans can see how we’ve been developing this season and bring all we’ve learnt so far into this match. It’s the last game before the Christmas break and we want to leave everything on the pitch, and make sure we go for it. We’re going to reload over Christmas and New Year and come back even stronger to take on the rest of the season. Enjoy the game.
8 A C T I O N R E P L AY THFC ACTION REPLAY ARSENAL 3 Blackstenius 19, Maanum 37, Turner (og) 68 4-2-3-1 62% 16 7 7 12 LINE-UP POSS. SHOTS ON TARGET CORNERS FOULS D’Angelo, Maritz, Beattie, Codina, McCabe (c) (Catley 61), Kuhl (Russo 83), Cooney-Cross, Lacasse (Mead 72), Maanum (Pelova 72), Miedema (Foord 61), Blackstenius. Substitutes (not used): Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy, Walti, Ilestedt. * Arsenal won 4-3 on penalties
THFC A C T I O N R E P L AY 9 Votikova, James (Ale 73), Buhler (Turner 46), Bartrip (c), Neville (Zadorsky 58), Petzelberger, Thomas (Ayane 49), Graham, Bizet (Percival 58), Naz, Clinton. Substitutes (not used): Spencer, England, Pearse. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3 Thomas 17, Naz 30, 48 38%4-3-3 5 4 0 10 LINE-UP POSS. SHOTS ON TARGET CORNERS FOULS DATE: 13.12.23 COMPETITION: CONTINENTAL TYRES LEAGUE CUP VENUE: MANGATA PAY UK STADIUM REFEREE: EMILY HEASLIP ATTENDANCE: 3,618
1 0 MASCOTS THFC TODAY'S MASCOTS EDISON AGE: 6 MY FAVOURITE PLAYERS: CELIN BIZET I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: HARRY POTTER SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 10 ARSENAL 1 BONNIE AGE: 9 MY FAVOURITE PLAYERS: BARTRIP & SUMMANEN I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: ANT AND DEC SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 5 ARSENAL 1 ROCKY AGE: 5 MY FAVOURITE PLAYER: KIT GRAHAM I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: CRISTIANO RONALDO SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 2 ARSENAL 1 ROSIE AGE: 7 MY FAVOURITE PLAYERS: BARTRIP AND TURNER I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: TAYLOR SWIFT SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 2 ARSENAL 1 LUCY AGE: 9 MY FAVOURITE PLAYERS: SON, BARTRIP & KANE I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: RIHANNA SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 3 ARSENAL 3 JACK AGE: 5 MY FAVOURITE PLAYER: MY SISTER MILLY I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: SANTA (THE REAL ONE!) SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS WIN! KATHERINE ROSE AGE: 6 MY FAVOURITE PLAYERS: THOMAS AND CLINTON I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: BECKY SPENCER SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 2 ARSENAL 0 HENRY AGE: 9 MY FAVOURITE PLAYER: ASH NEVILLE I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: KYLIAN MBAPPE SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 2 ARSENAL 1 ARIAH AGE: 10 MY FAVOURITE PLAYER: BECKY SPENCER I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: STORMZY SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 2 ARSENAL 0
THFC MASCOTS 1 1 AVERY AGE: 9 MY FAVOURITE PLAYERS: DREW SPENCE I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: JENNA ORTEGA SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 3 ARSENAL 0 MAISIE AGE: 8 MY FAVOURITE PLAYERS: SON AND BUHLER I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: HEUNG-MIN SON SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 6 ARSENAL 0 ISABELLE AGE: 9 MY FAVOURITE PLAYER: KIT GRAHAM I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: LIONEL MESSI SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 2 ARSENAL 1 CHARLOTTE AGE: 10 MY FAVOURITE PLAYERS: GRAHAM, ENGLAND & MADDISON I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: LIONEL MESSI SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 2 ARSENAL 1 FRANCESCA AGE: 7 MY FAVOURITE PLAYERS: BIZET, ENGLAND & CLINTON I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: MARY EARPS SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 2 ARSENAL 1 DANI-ELLE AGE: 12 MY FAVOURITE PLAYERS: NEVILLE, ENGLAND & SON I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: THE WEEKND SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 2 ARSENAL 1 MAX AGE: 8 MY FAVOURITE PLAYERS: TURNER AND JAMES I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: GEORGE EZRA SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 1 ARSENAL 1 FLORENCE AGE: 9 MY FAVOURITE PLAYERS: CLINTON & EARPS I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: KATY PERRY SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 2 ARSENAL 3 ELLIE AGE: 15 MY FAVOURITE PLAYERS: MOLLY BARTRIP I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: HARRY STYLES SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 3 ARSENAL 1 MOLLY AGE: 6 MY FAVOURITE PLAYERS: TURNER AND JAMES I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: KATY PERRY SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 2 ARSENAL 1 EDEN AGE: 7 MY FAVOURITE PLAYERS: SPENCER AND RASHFORD I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: MARCUS RASHFORD SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 6 ARSENAL 5 LILY AGE: 13 MY FAVOURITE PLAYERS: ASH NEVILLE I’D MOST LIKE TO MEET: HEUNG-MIN SON SCORE PREDICTION: SPURS 2 ARSENAL 0
1 2 BETHANY ENGLAND THFC
THFC BETHANY ENGLAND 1 3 BETHANY’S RALLYING CALL t a time of year where it’s all about spreading cheer, Bethany England has emphasised her belief and confidence in this ‘very special’ team ahead of a huge Women’s Super League encounter against Arsenal this afternoon. Sidelined for 14 weeks since undergoing surgery on the eve of the season, Bethany’s return from injury feels like Christmas has come early with such an important standard-bearer back in time for a home north London derby. In what will be her first NLD at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the England international is relishing the opportunity to lead the side out and has issued a rallying call ahead of facing our bitter rivals. “Walking out in front of our home crowd at the Stadium will be a really proud moment,” beamed our skipper. “I truly believe this is a very special group and I hope we can regroup to put in a really good performance to make it as difficult as possible for Arsenal. “I know we’re riding a bit of a storm at the minute, but I feel the results haven’t reflected the performances, so I want the team to have the belief and confidence in themselves like I do in them.” In a huge boost to the squad heading into the Gunners clash, the striker returned from a hip injury against Manchester United last time out and, despite the 4-0 defeat, said it felt ‘great to be back’ with the team. Our number nine led the line for 56 minutes in her first league appearance this term and almost marked her comeback with a goal just seven minutes in but saw her instinctive shot blocked on the line. “I don’t actually think the scoreline reflects the performance,” said Bethany. “I thought we had spells that were really positive but, overall, we do need to be better going forward. In terms of when we regain the ball not to turn it over straightaway, making better decisions in the final third and taking our chances when we get them. There is still plenty to build on. “I felt good though, I came off through medical advice and I knew I was only allowed to play a certain amount of minutes. We have a big week ahead so it WORDS BY WILL HOLDERNESS Exclusive interview with club captain BETHANY ENGLAND, who hopes her return from injury can inspire us in this afternoon’s north London derby. A
1 4 BETHANY ENGLAND THFC wasn’t about forcing too much in one game, it was trying to be on the pitch to help the team as much as I could for as long as I could.” Named skipper by Robert Vilahamn ahead of the season, Bethany has been a constant presence around the squad during her rehabilitation, travelling with the team in all but one WSL match whilst out of the side and fulfilled her leadership responsibilities with pre-match team talks in the dressing room. Being close to the players during 2023/24, where a battling opening day defeat at Chelsea and recent losses to Manchester City and United came either side of a six-match unbeaten run in the league – three wins and three draws, with chances to win all six – allowed for a much smoother transition when she returned to action on the pitch in our previous outing. Whilst recent results against the top sides in the division have shown this team is still a work in progress, Bethany is a firm believer in our Head Coach’s vision for the team, expressing her admiration for his people-centric management style and the positive direction the Club is heading in. “The captaincy is a new role for me and then I was having to help manage and lead a team whilst not being on the pitch to help,” she explained. “I was having to find new ways of making sure I was still in and around the team with any advice they needed. “When you get offered the opportunity it’s one “I’ve been in the game a long time. I’ve learned a lot and been successful so I’m hoping I can bring my experience to this team to push us to the next level”
THFC BETHANY ENGLAND 1 5 “I’m just so glad I’m able to play some part before the end of the year, and whatever I can bring, I’ll bring it for the team. We have a huge game coming up and I just want to help the team in any way I can” you can’t turn down. I’ve been in the game a long time. I’ve learned a lot and been successful so I’m hoping I can bring my experience to this team to push us to the next level. “I’ve relished the role. Obviously the injury didn’t help but what I like is that Robert has had me involved all the way through. I’ve been at every game other than Manchester City due to meeting my surgeon for a review. I would still do the team talk before the girls went out and it made me feel more a part of it. “It made it an easier transition onto the pitch because I was present. A massive help in that has been Molly [Bartrip], as vice-captain she’s been amazing and made it more comfortable for me to come back in. “Robert’s a really good people person and my personality resonates with that too. He’s brought a style of play and identity and he’s demanding more from all of us here. We’re not a finished product yet, there’s still a lot of work to put in, but he’s definitely got the wheels in motion and we’re starting to show that we can compete more.” As well as her obvious leadership qualities on and off the pitch, the 29-year-old is an established goalscorer in the top flight – notching a vital 12 in 12 league games for us in the second half of the season – who brings another dimension to our striker department alongside Martha Thomas. Bethany’s goals last term, which included five in three appearances in N17, propelled her into Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses squad that finished runners-up at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year, with our forward not featuring since coming off the bench in England’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the final on 20 August. Asked how she’d got through missing more than three months out, she told us: “It’s been really tough. To date, this is my biggest injury in terms of missing games. “How do you deal with it? You just find little wins every day. There are lots of highs and lows. You need a good network around you and that’s what I’ve had, so much support from the staff here, my partner and my friends. “It feels great to be back. Everyone has looked after me and made sure the hip is strong and stable, so I can’t thank the staff enough for everything they’ve done to get me to this point. “I’m just so glad I’m able to play some part before the end of the year, and whatever I can bring, I’ll bring it for the team. We have a huge game coming up and I just want to help the team in any way I can.”
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In a new series in this season’s matchday programme, we speak to a Spurs player either past or present to find out about the languages they speak and how that translates onto the pitch. In focus today, midfielder EVELIINA SUMMANEN… Watch your language WITH EVELIINA SUMMANEN MIDFIELDER: KESKIKENTTÄ TACKLE: TAKLAUS PASS: SYÖTTÖ STARTING XI: AVAUSKOKOONPANO SUBSTITUTE: VAIHTOPELAAJA STOPPAGE TIME: LISÄAIKA CENTRE CIRCLE: KESKIYMPYRÄ CROSSBAR: YLÄRIMA FOOTBALL PHRASES IN FINNISH NAME: EVELIINA SUMMANEN AGE: 25 BORN: LAPPEENRANTA, FINLAND LANGUAGES SPOKEN: FINNISH, ENGLISH, SWEDISH How and why did you learn your languages? “Finnish is obviously my first language and in school I learned English, probably when I was about 10. You can also pick it up from watching television. “We also study Swedish in school – everyone has to do that – and I played in Sweden for a while, too, so I would say I can speak Swedish as well, but I wouldn’t normally use it. “Because Robert (Vilahamn) speaks English, I don’t need to speak Swedish to him, but if someone needed help in Swedish, for example, I could help them. Obviously when I was playing in Sweden, I was using Swedish a little bit with my friends and I can understand it quite well, but Finnish and English are my main languages. “I studied a little bit of Russian in school too and it was interesting with the different letters. I might be able to say a couple of words now but that’s it.” Which other language do you wish you could speak? “I haven’t really thought about it, to be honest. For me, it’s more important to know languages well so I’d rather know English and Finnish well than study lots of different ones. If I had to choose, I would probably choose a language from Asia, just to learn the different letters.” How does Finnish differ from English when you’re on the pitch in a game? “Obviously Olga (Ahtinen) is the only person I could use it with on the pitch but I’ve never encountered anything in the game where I couldn’t find words to describe it. When I first came here and went to Sweden, I struggled a bit to say things quickly, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how you pronounce things, you just need to convey the message. You can say things in so many different ways, but I don’t know if there are any words or phrases that don’t really translate.” THFC WATC H YO U R L A N G UAG E 1 7
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My First Spurs Christmas ROBERT VILAHAMN HEAD COACH JOINED SPURS: JULY, 2023 GREW UP IN: SWEDEN Describe Christmas Day for you… “Christmas Day is actually Christmas Eve for Swedes so we celebrate on 24 December. We wake up in the morning at my wife’s family home in Vilhelmina up in northern Sweden, we have a really slow morning where we watch an episode of the daily TV series, have a late breakfast, Christmas lunch is normally just porridge, then you just go out in the snow and play some fun games with the kids. At 3pm you always watch Donald Duck! It’s the same programme every year – it has been for 50 years – and lots of people watch it, then after that Santa Claus – ‘Jultomte’ – comes, usually around five or six o’clock. Following that we have a ‘Christmas table’ at dinner time, which is a table with ham, sausage, fish – everything you can imagine – then after that, the kids open their gifts, play with their toys and we just sit down on the couch and relax. On 25 December it’s more about going to meet family. In Vilhelmina there’s snow everywhere – it’s a special place. This year we’re going to fly there from London and have a normal Christmas.” What is your earliest Christmas memory? “I don’t remember how old I was exactly – it wasn’t too early – but I have five siblings and I just remember those nights where we would play board games like Monopoly.” What is traditional at Christmas in Sweden? “I would say our usual family Christmas as I described just now is pretty traditional. We are actually out in the snow, skiing, using a sledge, so we are just playing in the snow and enjoying the beautiful landscape.” What is your favourite Christmas dinner? “Good question! In Sweden, the meatballs on the Christmas table are the best – I love those! At the Christmas table, you need to have ham, meatballs and fish, then you can add a lot of different things, but the meatballs are always there.” What was your most memorable gift as a child? “I don’t know how old I was but my siblings and I got a Nintendo, one of the first ones. That was the first time that we could afford something like that. When we grew up, my mum was not working, just GOALSCORER KIT GRAHAM ON THE BALL AGAINST BIRMINGHAM HERE IN 2021 THFC MY FIRST SPURS CHRISTMAS 2 1 The return of our annual programme feature where we speak to some of our new arrivals from the last 12 months to learn about their Christmas traditions. This year, for the first time, our Head Coach even joins in to share his memories… W O R D S B Y B I L LY S H A W ROBERT VILAHAMN
my dad worked, but we couldn’t afford too much so that was a really big thing for us to receive at that time. We used it a lot when we were kids, so that was the best gift.” LUANA BÜHLER DEFENDER JOINED SPURS: JULY, 2023 GREW UP IN: SWITZERLAND Describe Christmas Day for you… “We celebrate Christmas on 24 December, not 25 December, and in the morning it’s always a bit chaotic! I have a big family, there are six children, so everyone is getting their stuff done, maybe bringing some presents, then in the afternoon we always go to church to see a play. This is all in my home town, a small village that’s close to Lucerne, where there aren’t even 2,000 residents. We have quite a big church for such a small village but the whole church is full and you see all the local families, all your friends and neighbours. I’ll be spending Christmas at home as usual this year.” What is your earliest Christmas memory? “When I was about three or four, I can remember I wished for a toy cleaners’ buggy with all the cleaning equipment. This one year, I got it and on Christmas Eve I started to go around the house and pretend like I was cleaning everything up and my parents had to stop me! I still have pictures of that.” What is traditional at Christmas in Switzerland? “We sometimes go to church in the afternoon, there are even night churches where you can go later on in the evening – they do that a lot – and we have a typical food in the area where I live, which is like a salty soup which you dip meat into and wait until it’s cooked. They’re all different meats like chicken and beef, but not turkey.” What is your favourite Christmas dinner? “I really like that soup and meat, but the area is also known for their cheese as well, so I like to have raclette and fondue.” What was your most memorable gift as a child? “I got a football signed from a player that I really liked, Yann Sommer, the Swiss goalkeeper, when I was younger, which I really loved. I really looked up to him, he was playing for the team we supported. My family got it through friends who were connected with the club.” BARBORA VOTÍKOVÁ GOALKEEPER JOINED SPURS: AUGUST, 2023 GREW UP IN: CZECH REPUBLIC Describe Christmas Day for you… “Since my sister and I have got older, we still do things the same every year so we just wake up, prepare a lot of food, have some shots, which is like a tradition for us, then we go for a walk and meet with family members, then in the evening on 24 December we have Christmas dinner and after that we give gifts from under the tree. On 25 December, we go to visit my grandma from my father’s side, have a lunch together and do the gifting thing.” 2 2 MY FIRST SPURS CHRISTMAS THFC BARBORA VOTIKOVA LUANA BUHLER
What is your earliest Christmas memory? “I have some memories of running in our living room in some camo soldier clothes and equipment that I received as a gift because when I was a kid I really wanted to be a soldier. Maybe I was five or six.” What is traditional at Christmas in Czech Republic? “On 24 December we eat carp – fried fish with potato salad – but the whole nation argues about how to prepare the best potato salad! Every family does it differently. It’s like the question of whether pineapple belongs on pizza – we argue about whether we can put carrot into the potato salad! Away from the food, some families will go to the church, some will play some games, but it’s very specific from family to family.” What is your favourite Christmas dinner? “The carp is my favourite – it’s the tradition and we’ve had it every year since I was a kid. I don’t think we actually have a dessert, but we usually drink beer or wine with it.” What was your most memorable gift as a child? “It was a snowboard! I wished for one for so many years and I remember when I finally got it when I was about 13 or 14, I was so happy! We don’t live in the mountains so when you want to go snowboarding, you have to go to the mountains, but it does snow sometimes in our country.” OLGA AHTINEN MIDFIELDER JOINED SPURS: AUGUST, 2023 GREW UP IN: FINLAND Describe Christmas Day for you… “It’s almost always the same – we spend it with close family. We celebrate Christmas on 24 December and when I was a kid, it was always Santa Claus in the morning – he’s called ‘Joulupukki’ – then we’d go to the sauna. That’s how we start our day – we usually have only candles in there, so it’s a sauna by candlelight which is very cosy, then it’s just chilling, opening presents and eating Finnish traditional Christmas food. This year, I have to stay here a little bit for rehab but I get to be at home in Kokkola for a few days, which is nice. It’s a little bit more to the north and west of the country.” What is your earliest Christmas memory? “Maybe when me and my sister were kids and waiting for Joulupukki. We were super excited, all the time close to the window to try to see when he was going to come. It’s already quite snowy at home, so we’d be there looking out for him.” What is traditional at Christmas in Finland? “I would say the Christmas sauna is quite traditional and then eating dinner as a family on 24 December. Then people go to the cemetery and light up a candle to remember those who have died. Maybe some people go to church, too.” What is your favourite Christmas dinner? “I would say probably fish, mainly salmon. We have salmon in different ways – sometimes cold, warm or raw. We don’t have potatoes with it but we have many other carbs. You also have a big Christmas ham – we have a huge one that we put in the oven. Even though ham and fish doesn’t have anything to do with each other, you have them both and then have small things that you can pick, including things with carrots.” What was your most memorable gift as a child? “When I was a kid, I remember I really wanted to have this one certain type of Barbie and I got it! I would have been really small because I have a picture of that Barbie sitting next to me in the sauna!” THFC MY FIRST SPURS CHRISTMAS 2 3 OLGA AHTINEN
2 4 P R E V I O U S LY AT T H S THFC 2019/20 SPURS 0-2 ARSENAL 17.11.19 WSL The first-ever north London derby in the WSL came here at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in only our sixth fixture in the top-flight following our promotion. And a crowd of 38,262 broke the league’s attendance record at the time, although Arsenal took the points. Kit Graham and Rianna Dean spurned good chances to score for us while Kim Little and Vivianne Miedema netted for the visitors. 2020/21 SPURS 0-3 ARSENAL 27.03.21 WSL The Gunners visited N17 again in March 2021, this time in a behind-closed-doors fixture due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But Rehanne Skinner’s side found it tough going as goals from Caitlin Foord, Miedema and Katie McCabe gave Arsenal the victory as we stayed eighth in the WSL table. 2021/22 SPURS 1-0 BIRMINGHAM 04.09.21 WSL History was made on this occasion as we recorded our first WSL victory here at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, beating Birmingham City on the opening day of the 2021/22 campaign. We’d actually played Arsenal here again in a pre-season friendly a month earlier while this win over the Blues gave us the perfect start to the campaign. Kit Graham was the history-maker, scoring our first-ever WSL goal at this venue. Spurs Women are back in action at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this afternoon – the eighth time we’ve played a Women’s Super League fixture at our new stadium. We take a look back at the previous seven league games… WSL @ THS GOALSCORER KIT GRAHAM ON THE BALL AGAINST BIRMINGHAM HERE IN 2021
THFC P R E V I O U S LY AT T H S 2 5 SPURS 1-0 LEICESTER 08.05.22 WSL We ended the season as we started it – with a 1-0 WSL win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium! With a chance to finish in a highest-ever position of fifth in the table with a win over Leicester City, we achieved just that thanks to Ashleigh Neville netting the only goal of the game in the 49th minute. 2022/23 SPURS 1-2 MANCHESTER UNITED 12.02.23 WSL The first of three WSL games here last season ended in disappointment with Manchester United taking the spoils. Goalless at the break, Leah Galton opened the scoring for the visitors before Bethany England equalised with a wonderful strike with 15 minutes left. But almost immediately, Molly Bartrip put through her own net and United held out for the win despite Ella Toone’s late red card. SPURS 2-2 BRIGHTON 29.04.23 WSL Bethany England struck twice on this ground in April to help us to a vital draw against Brighton in our bid to avoid relegation last season. We twice had to come from behind as Elisabeth Terland gave the visitors the lead early on, but England equalised instantly. Lee Geum-Min put Brighton ahead again in the second half, before our striker smashed in our second and her third goal here in N17. SPURS 4-1 READING 20.05.23 WSL A comprehensive victory over Reading in May secured our WSL status in Spurs Women’s previous appearance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Facing a side that started the game bottom of the table and who would have moved level on points with us had they won, we produced a commanding performance with a double from Bethany England and further goals from Celin Bizet and Kit Graham to guarantee our place in the top flight for 2023/24. CELEBRATIONS AS BETHANY ENGLAND STRIKES VS READING ASHLEIGH NEVILLE NETS AGAINST LEICESTER
2 6 OPPOSITION THFC CLUB INFO NICKNAME: THE GUNNERS FOUNDED: 1987 STADIUM: MEADOW PARK/EMIRATES STADIUM Began his coaching career as a 23-year-old with Lunds BK, before first moving into the women’s game with Rosengard, first as an assistant and then as head coach, winning the Swedish women’s title in 2013 and 2014. After a spell as assistant to Henrik Larsson at Helsingborgs, he returned to Rosengard and led them to the 2018 Swedish Cup and 2019 league title. Appointed Arsenal Head Coach in June 2021, winning the Continental Tyres League Cup last season. The Gunners inflicted a 5-1 defeat on us in our last meeting, at Leyton Orient’s Gaughan Group Stadium in March, on their way to a third-place finish in last season’s WSL. They lifted silverware for the first time since 2018/19 last term when they won the League Cup, while they reached the fifth round of the FA Cup and were Champions League semi-finalists, losing to Wolfsburg in front of over 60,000 at the Emirates Stadium. Summer signings included striker Alessia Russo and experienced Swedish defender Amanda Ilestedt and Arsenal currently sit joint top of the WSL. SINCE LAST TIME… MANAGER PROFILE: JONAS EIDEVALL
THFC OPPOSITION 2 7 MATCHDAY OUR LAST ENCOUNTER: 25.03.23 GAUGHAN GROUP STADIUM WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE SPURS 1-5 ARSENAL (England 38 pen) (Blackstenius 4, Foord 28, 70, Little 66 pen, Maanum 77) Spurs: Korpela, Neville (C), Turner, Bartrip, Harrop, Summanen (Graham 67), James, Spence (Cho 88), Bizet (Ubogagu 78), England, Ayane. Substitutes (not used): Spencer, Ale, Karzewska. Arsenal: D’Angelo, Maritz (Wienroither 67), Williamson, Wubben-Moy, McCabe, Walti (Rafaelle 67), Little (C), Maanum (Kuhl 82), Pelova, Foord, Blackstenius (Taylor 82). Substitutes (not used): Zinsberger, Marckese, Beattie, Gio, Hurtig. SPURS WINS: 0 ARSENAL WINS: 8 DRAWS: 1 ARSENAL’S WSL STATS* WSL HEAD TO HEAD MOST GOALS: STINA BLACKSTENIUS, ALESSIA RUSSO (4) MOST ASSISTS: VICTORIA PELOVA (3) PASS COMPLETION: 78% AVERAGE POSSESSION: 56.9% (*2023/24 WSL SEASON) WHAT THEY SAID: “THE SYNERGY BETWEEN THE CROWD AND THE TEAM WAS INCREDIBLE TODAY. THE TEAM STARTED WELL BUT SO DID THE CROWD, THEY TOOK IT TO A NEW LEVEL.” — HEAD COACH JONAS EIDEVALL AFTER ARSENAL’S 4-1 WIN OVER CHELSEA AT THE EMIRATES “IT WAS GREAT TO GET TWO GOALS AND THE WIN TODAY IN FRONT OF OUR INCREDIBLE FANS.” — FORWARD ALESSIA RUSSO’S DELIGHT AFTER HER BRACE V CHELSEA It was a difficult afternoon last time we met, as Interim Manager Vicky Jepson saw her side suffer a 5-1 home defeat. Stina Blackstenius gave the away side an early lead and Caitlin Foord doubled it in the 28th minute. Bethany England reduced the arrears from the penalty spot with half-time approaching, but Kim Little scored from the spot in the second half to make it three. Foord added another in off the post moments later, and Frida Maanum curled one over Tinja-Riikka Korpela with 13 minutes remaining.
2 8 OPPOSITION THFC FOUR TO WATCH KIM LITTLE AGE: 33 | SQUAD NUMBER: 10 Decorated midfielder in her second spell with Arsenal. Started with Hibernian Ladies before five years with the Gunners, winning the first-ever WSL title in 2011 among a host of other honours. Has also played for Seattle Reign, Melbourne City and OL Reign and won 140 Scotland caps, scoring 59 times. THE CAPTAIN MANUELA ZINSBERGER AGE: 28 | SQUAD NUMBER: 1 Experienced goalkeeper who established herself at SV Neulengbach before five years with Bayern Munich. Joined Arsenal in 2019 and has now made almost 70 first-team appearances. Won the WSL Golden Glove award in 2021/22 after keeping 13 clean sheets and has 93 caps for Austria. THE SHOT-STOPPER AMANDA ILESTEDT AGE: 30 | SQUAD NUMBER: 28 Swedish defender who started her career at FC Rosengard, winning five league titles including two under her current boss, Jonas Eidevall. Had spells with Turbine Potsdam, Bayern Munich and PSG before moving to Arsenal in June and has scored 12 goals in 72 appearances for Sweden. THE NEW ARRIVAL ALESSIA RUSSO AGE: 24 | SQUAD NUMBER: 23 Forward who joined from Manchester United in the summer. Previously with Chelsea, Brighton and North Carolina Tar Heels, she has six goals in 12 appearances for Arsenal. A star with England, she netted at Euro 2022 and the 2023 World Cup, including in the semi-finals at both tournaments. THE GOALSCORER
THFC OPPOSITION 2 9 THE STATS LAST WSL GAME A crowd of 59,042 attending Arsenal’s derby against Chelsea last weekend, a new WSL record. Vivianne Miedema is the all-time Barclays WSL top scorer with 78 goals. She is the quickest player in Barclays WSL history to reach 50 goals (in 50 games) From March 2021 to October 2022, Arsenal broke the record for consecutive Barclays WSL fixtures without conceding a goal (10) DID YOU KNOW? LAST FIVE WSL GAMES W W W W W AGE NATIONALITY GOALKEEPERS 14 SABRINA D’ANGELO 30 CANADIAN 40 NAOMI WILLIAMS 19 ENGLISH DEFENDERS 3 LOTTE WUBBEN-MOY 24 ENGLISH 5 JEN BEATTIE 32 SCOTTISH 6 LEAH WILLIAMSON 26 ENGLISH 7 STEPH CATLEY 29 AUSTRALIAN 15 KATIE MCCABE 28 IRISH 16 NOELLE MARITZ 27 SWISS 26 LAURA WIENROITHER 24 AUSTRIAN 27 LAIA CODINA 23 SPANISH 29 TEYAH GOLDIE 19 ENGLISH MIDFIELDERS 12 FRIDA MAANUM 24 NORWEGIAN 13 LIA WALTI 30 SWISS 21 VICTORIA PELOVA 24 DUTCH 22 KATHERINE MOLLER KUHL 20 DANISH 32 KYRA COONEY-CROSS 21 AUSTRALIAN FORWARDS 9 BETH MEAD 28 ENGLISH 11 VIVIANNE MIEDEMA 27 DUTCH 17 LINA HURTIG 28 SWEDISH 19 CAITLIN FOORD 29 AUSTRALIAN 20 GIOVANA QUEIROZ 20 BRAZILIAN 24 CLOE LACASSE 30 CANADIAN 25 STINA BLACKSTENIUS 27 SWEDISH AND THE REST... ARSENAL 4-1 CHELSEA EMIRATES STADIUM, 10.12.23 GAME STATISTICS TOTAL SHOTS (INCL. BLOCKED) SHOTS ON GOAL FOULS TOUCHES PASSING ACCURACY IN % POSSESSION IN % GOALS 1-0 (8) Mead (assist Pelova), 1-1 (13) Ryting Kaneryd (assist Fleming), 2-1 (36) Ilestedt (assist Catley), 3-1 (38) Russo (assist Walti), 4-1 (74) Russo penalty 12 5 16 574 71% 48% 12 6 2 610 75% 52%
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THFC STATS 3 1 PLD W D L F A GD PTS 1 CHELSEA 9 7 1 1 29 11 +18 22 2 ARSENAL 9 7 1 1 24 9 +15 22 3 MANCHESTER CITY 9 6 1 2 22 6 +16 19 4 MANCHESTER UNITED 9 5 3 1 24 9 +15 18 5 LIVERPOOL 9 4 3 2 13 10 +3 15 6 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 9 3 3 3 14 20 -6 12 7 EVERTON 9 3 2 4 8 15 -7 11 8 LEICESTER CITY 9 2 3 4 14 20 -6 9 9 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 9 2 2 5 10 21 -11 8 10 ASTON VILLA 9 2 0 7 11 22 -11 6 11 BRISTOL CITY 9 1 2 6 10 23 -13 5 12 WEST HAM UNITED 9 1 1 7 7 20 -13 4 table & stats 2023/24 LEAGUE WFA CUP LGE CUP APPS GLS APPS GLS APPS GLS OLGA AHTINEN 6 1 ASMITA ALE 5 2 1 ROSELLA AYANE 6 2 2 MOLLY BARTRIP 9 1 CELIN BIZET 9 2 1 MILLY BOUGHTON 1 ELLIE BRAZIL 2 LUANA BÜHLER 8 GRACE CLINTON 8 2 1 BETHANY ENGLAND 1 KIT GRAHAM 8 2 2 LENNA GUNNING-WILLIAMS ELEANOR HEEPS ANGHARAD JAMES 9 2 NIKOLA KARCZEWSKA ZHANG LINYAN 3 2 1 JESSICA NAZ 9 2 1 ASHLEIGH NEVILLE 9 1 1 GRACIE PEARSE 2 RIA PERCIVAL 5 1 2 1 RAMONA PETZELBERGER 1 2 DREW SPENCE 5 1 BECKY SPENCER 9 EVELIINA SUMMANEN 8 1 MARTHA THOMAS 9 6 1 1 AMY TURNER 2 2 BARBORA VOTÍKOVÁ 2 SHELINA ZADORSKY 2 2 7 6 6 6 5 ELISABETH TERLAND BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION KHADIJA SHAW MANCHESTER CITY LAUREN JAMES CHELSEA MARTHA THOMAS TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR LAUREN HEMP MANCHESTER CITY UP TO AND INCLUDING 10.12.23 WSL TOP SCORERS
3 2 F I X T U R E S & R E S U LT S THFC HOME GAMES AT BRISBANE ROAD UNLESS STATED. *AT TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM ALL FIXTURES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. (CLC) - CONTINENTAL TYRES LEAGUE CUP (WFA) - WOMENS FA CUP DATE H/A OPPOSITION KO/RES ATT STARTING X1 OCT SUN 1 A CHELSEA 1-2 14,776 SPENCER JAMES BUHLER BARTRIP NEVILLE AHTINEN SUMMANEN SUN 8 H BRISTOL CITY 3-1 1,605 SPENCER JAMES BUHLER BARTRIP NEVILLE AHTINEN 1 SUMMANEN 1 WED 11 H READING (CLC) 6-0 531 VOTIKOVA ZHANG 1 PEARSE TURNER ZADORSKY PERCIVAL 1 GRAHAM 1 SUN 15 A BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 3-1 6,951 SPENCER JAMES BUHLER BARTRIP NEVILLE AHTINEN SUMMANEN SAT 21 A ASTON VILLA 4-2 2,810 SPENCER JAMES BUHLER BARTRIP NEVILLE 1 AHTINEN SUMMANEN INTERNATIONAL WINDOW NOV SUN 5 H EVERTON 1-1 1,920 SPENCER JAMES BUHLER BARTRIP NEVILLE ATHTINEN SUMMANEN SUN 12 H LIVERPOOL 1-1 2,155 SPENCER JAMES BUHLER BARTRIP NEVILLE ATHTINEN SUMMANEN SUN 19 A LEICESTER CITY 1-1 TBC SPENCER JAMES BUHLER BARTRIP NEVILLE PERVICAL SUMMANEN WED 22 H BRISTOL CITY (CLC) 3-0 506 VOTIKOVA PEARSE TURNER ZADORSKY ALE GRAHAM 1P PETZELBERGER SUN 26 A MANCHESTER CITY 0-7 TBC SPENCER ALE BUHLER BARTRIP NEVILLE JAMES SUMMANEN INTERNATIONAL WINDOW DEC SUN 10 H MANCHESTER UNITED 0-4 2,152 SPENCER NEVILLE TURNER BARTRIP ZADORSKY JAMES PERCIVAL WED 13 A ARSENAL (CLC) 7PM SAT 16 H ARSENAL 12PM* JAN TBC H SHEFFIELD UNITED (WFAC4) TBC SUN 21 A WEST HAM UNITED 6.45PM THU 25 A SOUTHAMPTON (CLC) 7.45PM SUN 28 H MANCHESTER CITY 2PM FEB SUN 4 A LIVERPOOL 2PM SUN 11 H/A WFA CUP 5TH ROUND TBC SUN 18 H ASTON VILLA 2PM INTERNATIONAL WINDOW MAR SUN 3 A ARSENAL 2PM SUN 10 H/A WFA CUP QUARTER FINAL TBC SUN 17 H LEICESTER CITY 2PM SUN 24 A BRISTOL CITY 2PM SUN 31 H CHELSEA 2PM APR INTERNATIONAL WINDOW SUN 14 H/A WFA CUP SEMI FINAL TBC SUN 21 A MANCHESTER UNITED 2PM SUN 28 H BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2PM SAT 11 N WFA CUP FINAL TBC FIXTURES & RESULTS
THFC F I X T U R E S & R E S U LT S 3 3 # = OWN GOAL 1ST SUB 2ND SUB 3RD SUB 4TH SUB 5TH SUB 6TH SUB YELLOW CARD RED CARD SCORER: BOLD SUBSTITUTES SPENCE BIZET THOMAS 1 CLINTON ALE, NAZ, AYANE, GRAHAM, VOTIKOVA, ZADORSKY, PERCIVAL, TURNER, PEARSE SPENCE BIZET THOMAS 1 CLINTON ALE, NAZ, AYANE, GRAHAM, VOTIKOVA, PERCIVAL, TURNER, ZHANG, PEARSE JAMES AYANE ALE 1 NAZ 1 BARTRIP, CLINTON, PETZELBERGER, THOMAS 1, AHTINEN, BUHLER, SPENCE, SUMMANEN, HEEPS SPENCE BIZET THOMAS 1 CLINTON 1 VOTIKOVA, TURNER, NAZ, PERCIVAL 1, ALE, GRAHAM, ZHANG, AYANE, PEARSE CLINTON BIZET THOMAS 3 NAZ VOTIKOVA, TURNER, PERCIVAL, ALE, GRAHAM, ZHANG, AYANE, SPENCE, PEARSE SPENCE BIZET THOMAS CLINTON 1 VOTIKOVA, TURNER, NAZ, BRAZIL, PERCIVAL, ALE, GRAHAM, ZHANG, AYANE GRAHAM BIZET 1 THOMAS CLINTON VOTIKOVA, ZADORSKY, TURNER, NAZ, BRAZIL, PETZELBERGER, ALE, ZHANG, AYANE CLINTON BIZET 1 THOMAS NAZ VOTIKOVA, ZADORSKY, TURNER, BRAZIL, ALE, GRAHAM, ZHANG, AYANE, PEARSE PERCIVAL AYANE 2 NAZ ZHANG SPENCER, BARTRIP, CLINTON, BIZET, JAMES, THOMAS, BUHLER, NEVILLE, BOUGHTON ZHANG BIZET THOMAS CLINTON VOTIKOVA, ZADORSKY, TURNER, NAZ, PETZELBERGER, PERCIVAL, GRAHAM, AYANE, PEARSE BIZET NAZ THOMAS ENGLAND VOTIKOVA, PETZELBERGER, ALE, GRAHAM, ZHANG, BUHLER, AYANE, PEARSE, BOUGHTON birthday wishes Happy birthday to Ross Philpott, who is celebrating his 46th birthday and is pictured with daughters Ava and Olivia and wife Rachel.
3 2 F I X T U R E S & R E S U LT S THFC
THFC F I X T U R E S & R E S U LT S 3 3
VOLUME 05 - ISSUE 07 MERITO VICTORIAM QUARITE HEAD COACH: ROBERT VILAHAMN Colours: White shirts, blue shorts, white socks MANAGER: JONAS EIDEVALL Colours: Red and white shirts, white shorts, red socks TODAY’S OFFICIALS Referee: Cheryl Foster Assistant Referees: Georgia Ball, Magda Golba Fourth Official: Megan Wilson NEXT HOME MATCH Sheffield United Adobe Women’s FA Cup Date/KO TBC Gaughan Group Stadium (Leyton Orient FC) 1 BARBORA VOTÍKOVÁ 3 SHELINA ZADORSKY 4 AMY TURNER 5 MOLLY BARTRIP 7 JESSICA NAZ 8 GRACE CLINTON 9 BETHANY ENGLAND 10 ELLIE BRAZIL 11 RAMONA PETZELBERGER 12 RIA PERCIVAL 13 ASMITA ALE 14 CELIN BIZET 15 ANGHARAD JAMES 16 KIT GRAHAM 17 MARTHA THOMAS 18 ZHANG LINYAN 19 NIKOLA KARCZEWSKA 20 OLGA AHTINEN 21 LUANA BÜHLER 22 BECKY SPENCER 23 ROSELLA AYANE 24 DREW SPENCE 25 EVELIINA SUMMANEN 26 GRACIE PEARSE 27 ELEANOR HEEPS 29 ASHLEIGH NEVILLE 31 LENNA GUNNING-WILLIAMS 32 ELKIE BOWYER 1 MANUEL ZINSBERGER 3 LOTTE WUBBEN-MOY 5 JENNIFER BEATTIE 6 LEAH WILLIAMSON 7 STEPH CATLEY 9 BETH MEAD 10 KIM LITTLE 11 VIVIANNE MIEDEMA 12 FRIDA MAANUM 13 LIA WALTI 14 SABRINA D’ANGELO 15 KATIE MCCABE 16 NOELLE MARITZ 17 LINA HURTIG 19 CAITLIN FOORD 20 GIOVANA QUEIROZ 21 VICTORIA PELOVA 22 KATHERINE MOLLER KUHL 23 ALESSIA RUSSO 24 CLOE LACASSE 25 STINA BLACKSTENIUS 26 LAURA WIENROITHER 27 LAIA CODINA 28 AMANDA ILESTEDT 29 TEYAH GOLDIE 32 KYRA COONEY-CROSS 40 NAOMI WILLIAMS STAY UP TO DATE tottenhamhotspur.com @SpursWomen Facebook.com/SpursWomen