Though I’ve been a regular in the stands at the men’s game since 1986 (and a glamourous 0-0 draw with Luton Town at Filbert Street) I’m a relative latecomer to women’s football. Galvanised by the Lionesses win in the Euros last summer, I threw myself in to watching City’s women last season – and I’m hooked. Leicester’s Women’s Super League (WSL) team are thriving, but the crowds aren’t quite as big as they should be for a sport mad city like ours.
There are five things that I hope will have an impact on Leicester City Women’s season ahead – both on and off the pitch.
1. The Women’s World Cup.
We’re coming into the 23/24 season off the back of the most successful Women’s World Cup, hosted by Australia and New Zealand. If you watched any of it, you’ll know that in addition to the Lionesses heroics in reaching the final, it had everything, with upsets such as Brazil & Germany failing to get out of their groups, USA not making the Quarter Finals and several other shock results.
Four Leicester players left the East Midlands for the Southern Hemisphere showcase – home grown, but now departed, Ashleigh Plumptre (Nigeria), CJ Bott (New Zealand), Courtney Nevin and Remy Seimsen (both Australia – though Seimsen didn’t make the final 23 player squad). The World Cup had already set a new record for the biggest attendance in the tournament’s history by the round of 16 – with over 1.6 million fans attending across 58 matches, and with every game on BBC and ITV it brought the tournament into living rooms across the country.
- The Lionesses in Leicester
We are very, very lucky to be hosting the Lionesses at the King Power on October 27th. The game, verses Belgium’s ‘Red Flames’ will feature one of our own, new City signing Janice Cayman.
Commenting on a Leicestershire Live article about the Lionesses game, ‘Malagaman’ told us “I’ll be washing my hair that day !!!” (get used to such comments on posts about women’s football – it’s almost a sport in itself for lonely keyboard warriors). He won’t be the only one missing out, as the game is now sold out.
3. Our new players
Wille Kirk and his team have been busy in the transfer market, and also extended the contracts of several fans’ favourites. Their first big announcement – and the one the Foxes faithful had been hoping for, was to sign Janina Leitzig (from Bayern Munich) on a permanent deal. Australia’s Courtney Nevin, who has spent the summer down under with The Matildas, also signed a permanent deal, making the switch from Hammarby IF.
Willie and co then made two impressive signings from the French league – German international Lena Petermann from Montpellier and Belgian Janice Cayman from Olympique Lyonnais, along with Aimee Palmer from Bristol and Dutch International Lize Kop (FAB last name).
It was a summer of change and we saw many players leave the club. Some, more of a shock than others – notably Ashleigh Plumptre. The club announced her departure on the eve of the World Cup, a prime shop window for the Nigeria defender, who headed to the Saudi league following the tournament.
- Building on the ‘Great Escape’
Here in Leicester, we KNOW what can follow a great escape. Wille Kirk arrived last November, in the midst of a horrendous season. City had no points, and relegation was looking like a stark reality. In January’s transfer window Kirk brought in key new players (including Leitzig, Seimsen and Nevin) and just as importantly – a new mentality, formation and belief. The rest is history – City reset their season, and turned around a seven point deficit, the biggest in WSL history. Kirk and the Foxes will not settle for survival this time around, but only time will tell where they are heading.
- YOUR voices
City have an average attendance of 3,000. They were the only team last season that set out to play every league game at their ‘men’s’ team stadium (although league newcomers Bristol City will play at Ashton Gate).
3,000 fans are great, but 3,000 knocking around in a stadium with 10 times that capacity can lack atmosphere. You can give out clappers and employ as many drummers as you like, but at the end of the day, it’s the crowd that make an atmosphere. We need more singing, chanting, cheering, booing, shouting at the ref and the overpaid opposition home and away – because that’s what makes a day out at the footy.
Women’s games at Filbert Way are just £8 for adults, £4 for seniors and under 18s, and free for the under 8s. In fact, did you know a season ticket will only set you back £42, £31.50 under 18s and under 8s go free?
If you’re a football fan or the parent of a football fan and you can’t afford the eye watering prices in the men’s game, there’s little excuse not to turn up at the KP this season and give watching top level women’s football a go. It’s also the perfect opportunity to test out a match day on your youngster if they’re new to football. It’s a wonderful family atmosphere and a fun day out.
Our season kicks off on Sunday 1 October away at Bristol, and the first home game is a week later (8 October) against Wille Kirk’s previous club, Everton. Pencil it in…
Tickets for LCFC Women’s first two home WSL games, versus Everton (8 October) and Manchester City (21 October), as well as their Conti Cup game versus Liverpool (11 October) are on sale now. Please note the Liverpool cup game will be held at Pirelli Stadium. All league games will be held at King Power Stadium. Book tickets directly via tickets.lcfc.com.
Words by Liz Biswas.
Are you a big Leicester City or Leicester Tigers fan who would be interested in writing for Cool As Leicester this season? Get in touch with us on [email protected].
Images via LCFC.com.