2002 FA Women's Cup Final
Encyclopedia
The 2002 FA Women's Cup Final was the 32nd final of the FA Women's Cup
, England's primary cup competition
for women's football teams. The showpiece event was played between Doncaster Belles and Fulham Ladies
at Selhurst Park
in London
on 6 May 2002. Fulham made its second final appearance, after losing the 2001 final. Doncaster Belles entered a record 13th final having won the trophy on six previous occasions.
Fulham entered the competition at the third round stage and beat Newport County, Birmingham City
, Coventry City
, Everton
and Charlton Athletic
to reach the final. As a top–flight club, Doncaster Belles entered at the fourth round and faced Brighton & Hove Albion, Barry Town, Arsenal
and Tranmere Rovers
before reaching the final.
Fulham entered the match as favourites, in a contest billed as a contrast of styles. Watched by a crowd of 10,000 and a BBC television audience of two and a half million, Fulham won the match 2–1, with goals from Rachel Yankey
and Katie Chapman
. Jody Handley
countered for Doncaster Belles.
As Doncaster Belles were an FA Women's Premier League National Division
club, they entered the competition in the fourth round; one round later than Fulham. Doncaster Belles' cup run started with a rescheduled trip to the Withdean Stadium
to face Brighton & Hove Albion. Despite Brighton taking the lead after only 10 minutes, Doncaster Belles mastered the wet and windy conditions and hit back strongly to win 5–2. In another delayed fixture in the fifth round, Doncaster Belles travelled to Wales to meet Barry Town. The match at Jenner Park was again played in wind and heavy rain. A goal from Jody Handley
and a strong midfield performance from debutant Carly Hunt
earned a 1–0 win and a quarter final meeting with Arsenal
.
The subsequent 2–1 win over Cup holders Arsenal at Brodsworth Welfare Ground surprised many, who had predicted a repeat of the previous year's Arsenal–Fulham final. Doncaster Belles had gone two goals ahead within the first half hour through Handley and Karen Burke. Although Marieanne Spacey
replied for Arsenal, a resilient second half display saw Doncaster Belles end a run of six successive defeats—stretching back almost two years—against their old rivals. The BBC reported that the final whistle was "joyously celebrated" by the Doncaster Belles players. In the semi final against Tranmere Rovers
at Prenton Park
, defeat appeared likely when Tranmere went ahead through a 28th–minute penalty
and Burke missed a penalty for Doncaster Belles. But Carly Hunt scored an equalising goal from close range, then Tranmere were reduced to ten players when Faye Dunn was shown the red card. England
captain Karen Walker
secured a 3–1 win and Doncaster Belles' place in the final with two late goals.
Fulham's competition began with a trip to fellow Southern Division
outfit Newport County. Having already beaten Newport 14–0 in the league, Fulham this time ran 12 unanswered goals past their hapless opponents. "The final score was 12–0 and it could have been more," noted the match report on the Fulham website. In the fourth round Fulham faced a trickier assignment at Birmingham City
. Under the leadership of Queen's Park Rangers player Marcus Bignot
, Birmingham City's young team were top of the Northern Division
and had already beaten Doncaster Belles to qualify for the Premier League Cup final, where they would meet Fulham. One goal ahead at half time, Fulham's superior fitness and Marianne Pettersen
's eighth hat-trick
of the season resulted in a 5–0 win. Bignot lamented "our girls were overawed – they were waiting for Fulham to score."
In the fifth round Fulham routinely dispatched more Northern Division opposition, Coventry City
, with an 11–0 win at Nuneaton
's Pingles Stadium. The quarter final meeting with National Division Everton
followed a similar pattern to the earlier win over Birmigham. A Margunn Haugenes
penalty gave Fulham a one goal advantage at the interval, before a second half increase in tempo saw them depart Merseyside
with a 4–0 win and their place in the semi finals. During the match with Charlton Athletic
at Woking
's Kingfield Stadium
, Pettersen and Kristy Moore
put Fulham two goals ahead in the first half, but Charlton reduced the deficit when Astrid Johannessen
allowed Fara Williams
' tame free kick through her legs
. According to The Guardian
report, "there was always going to come the time to ask a familiar question: how many would Fulham score?" Pettersen and Moore added another goal each to seal a 4–1 win. Charlton manager Keith Boanas
praised the application of his side but admitted they were undone by Fulham's superior fitness.
. They had previously won the Women's Cup on six occasions in 1983, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, and 1994. The match was Fulham's second time in the final after they lost the previous season's event to Arsenal
. A former incarnation of the club, known as Friends of Fulham, had competed in three finals; winning in 1985, but losing in 1989 and 1990. Although the competition had been run by the Women's Football Association
(WFA) since 1970, the Football Association (FA) took over in 1993–94. The 2002 final was the 32nd final overall, the ninth to be played under FA control and the first to be shown live on BBC One
.
Despite not yet playing in the FA Women's Premier League National Division, Fulham were already considered "the dominant force in England" by the BBC. In their second year as the only full–time professional women's club in Europe, they had already won that season's FA Women's Premier League Cup by beating Birmingham City 7–1 in the final. In securing the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division
championship Fulham beat one team 22–0. The total amount of goals they had put past their opponents in 34 league and cup matches stood at 267. Fulham's striker Pettersen—a World Cup winner and Olympic gold medallist
with Norway
—went into the final looking for her 87th goal of the season. Fulham's Katie Chapman felt the defeat to Arsenal in the previous season's final was extra motivation for her team mates: "At the end of the day we're professional, and we should win. Last year we didn't, and this year we want that FA Cup."
Norway's Dagbladet
reported that Doncaster Belles favoured a typically English style: "heavy, solid and with many long balls." Although the Belles were a completely amateur outfit, the BBC reported that they would present a much more difficult challenge than Fulham had been accustomed to that season. In the 2001–02 National Division Doncaster Belles had finished as runners–up for the third season in succession. In the Premier League Cup they suffered a shock semi final defeat to Birmingham City, collapsing from 3–1 ahead to lose 4–3 to the Northern Division leaders. In April 2002 they had "stunningly" inflicted a 4–0 defeat on Arsenal, the eventual champions' first league defeat in over two and a half years. Manager Julie Chipchase accepted that Fulham were favourites but noted the strength of her own squad: "It's an unusual situation for us to go into a match as the underdogs and I am hoping it will work in our favour. The pressure will be on Fulham but they have some excellent international class players just as we do and it will all be down to who performs on the day."
—who scored the winner in the 2000 semi-final—left on the substitutes' bench alongside veteran Gail Borman
. The Hunt twins
, signed earlier in the season from Charlton Athletic
, were both selected; having brought "grit, commitment and shape" to a previously disorganised team. Experienced defender Mandy Lowe was given a marking job on Pettersen. Fulham fielded a 4–3–3 formation, with Rachel Yankey
and Kristy Moore
flanking Pettersen in attack. Both teams wore their home kits; Doncaster Belles in yellow and blue, while Fulham lined up in white and black.
In what the Daily Telegraph
called a "breakneck speed" start to the match, Leanne Hall
saved a low 20 yard (18m) shot from Rachel McArthur
and Moore later kicked over the bar from close range. At the other end of the pitch, early chances included Walker failing to control Exley's through ball, Michelle Barr
shooting narrowly over and Astrid Johannessen
parrying Carly Hunt's effort. As the match wore on Pettersen was largely subdued by the close attentions of Lowe. Reports in The Guardian, The Independent
and the BBC indicate that the physical and direct approach of the Doncaster Belles stifled Fulham's passing game, keeping scoring opportunities at both ends to a minimum.
Although the teams remained level at the break, Fulham went ahead ten minutes into the second half. Carly Hunt was cautioned for a foul at the edge of the penalty area, then Yankey curled
the resultant free kick
low around a poorly–placed defensive wall and past unsighted Belles goalkeeper Hall. On the hour, with Doncaster Belles still recovering, Chapman volleyed in a second goal for Fulham from 20 yards (18m). Seconds later Burke supplied an accurate cross for Handley to head a reply for Doncaster Belles.
Doncaster Belles continued to defend but Fulham won 2–1 to collect their first FA Women's Cup and complete a treble; along with their Premier League Cup and Premier League Southern Division wins. Ray Kiddell, Chairman of the FA Women's Committee, presented the cup in bank holiday
sunshine.
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center>
FULHAM LADIES:
|
GK
Astrid Johannessen
DF
Kim Jerray-Silver
DF
Lene Terp
DF
Mary Phillip
DF
Rachel Unitt
MF
Margunn Haugenes
MF
Rachel McArthur
MF
Katie Chapman
FW
Rachel Yankey
FW
Marianne Pettersen
(c)
FW
Kristy Moore
Substitutes:
MF
Deena Rahman
MF
Sanchia Duncan
DF
Lynn Rebecca Mork
GK
Jody Smith
DF
Ronnie Gibbons
Manager:
Gaute Haugenes
Fulham coach Gaute Haugenes was glad to put the previous year's defeat to Arsenal behind them: "The feeling we had here last year – we didn't want to have that again." He added: "It was a tough game but we expected a tough game. Many people put us as favourites but that is the price you pay for being professional." Midfielder Margunn Haugenes, the manager's wife, told Dagbladet that private celebrations in the Haugenes household were unfit for description in a newspaper.
The match attracted a crowd of 10,000 and a television audience of two and a half million. In a Parliamentary debate the following week, John Grogan MP
praised the BBC's coverage of the match but expressed regret that Doncaster Belles, "the pride of Yorkshire," had been beaten by a team from London
. Richard Caborn
MP agreed that the coverage, along with the contemporaneous film Bend It Like Beckham
, would increase participation levels amongst youngsters: "Anything that we can do to encourage such participation must be welcome."
During the summer break Doncaster Belles turned semi–professional after securing a major sponsorship deal with Green Flag
. After their promotion Fulham beat Doncaster Belles again, 4–0 this time, on the opening day of the 2002–03 league season.
FA Women's Cup
The Football Association Women’s Challenge Cup Competition, commonly referred to as the FA Women's Cup, is the top cup competition for women's football clubs in England – designed as an exact equivalent to the FA Cup created 99 years earlier...
, England's primary cup competition
Single-elimination tournament
A single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...
for women's football teams. The showpiece event was played between Doncaster Belles and Fulham Ladies
Fulham L.F.C.
WFC Fulham, previously known as Fulham LFC, was a Ladies Football Club formerly associated with Fulham Football Club. The team were dissolved as of 16 May 2006, but were later re-established with independence from Fulham F.C....
at Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 6 May 2002. Fulham made its second final appearance, after losing the 2001 final. Doncaster Belles entered a record 13th final having won the trophy on six previous occasions.
Fulham entered the competition at the third round stage and beat Newport County, Birmingham City
Birmingham City L.F.C.
Birmingham City L.F.C. is a semi-professional English Women's football club who are affiliated to Birmingham City F.C.. They play their home games at Knights Lane, the home of Stratford Town F.C., and were named as founder members of the FA Women's Super League which started in 2011.-History:The...
, Coventry City
Coventry City L.F.C.
Coventry City Ladies Football Club is an English women's football club affiliated with Coventry City F.C.. Founded in 1991, they currently play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division after two successive promotions from the Midland Combination Women's Football League.The club also...
, Everton
Everton L.F.C.
Everton Ladies Football Club are a semi-professional women's association football team from the city of Liverpool, who compete in the FA WSL. They were runners-up to Arsenal in the 2009–10 Premier League National Division season. They have won the title once in 1998 and the FA Women's Cup on...
and Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic L.F.C.
Charlton Athletic Women's Football Club play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division in England. Between 2000, the year it was founded from Croydon Women's F.C. and 2007, Charlton had one of the most successful women's teams in England...
to reach the final. As a top–flight club, Doncaster Belles entered at the fourth round and faced Brighton & Hove Albion, Barry Town, Arsenal
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
and Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers L.F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Ladies Football Club are an English team founded in 1990, based in the Wirral, and affiliated with Tranmere Rovers F.C. Between 1996 and 2004 they competed in the FA Premier League National Division, then the top tier of the English women's football pyramid. Since 2011, they have...
before reaching the final.
Fulham entered the match as favourites, in a contest billed as a contrast of styles. Watched by a crowd of 10,000 and a BBC television audience of two and a half million, Fulham won the match 2–1, with goals from Rachel Yankey
Rachel Yankey
Rachel Abba Yankey, MBE is an English football player. She plays for the English side Arsenal, and for the England national team. She plays as a left-winger or forward, and wears the number 11 for Arsenal and England. She is of Ghanaian descent, from her father's side.Yankey is the most-capped...
and Katie Chapman
Katie Chapman
Katie Sarah Chapman is an English footballer who plays for English club Arsenal Ladies in the FA WSL and is a former member of the England women's national team. She primarily plays as a central midfielder, although she has also been deployed in central defence while playing for England. Chapman...
. Jody Handley
Jody Handley
Jody Handley is an English football player from Stafford. She is a pacy and experienced attacking player, and plays mainly as a wide midfielder for England Women, and as a striker for Everton Ladies...
countered for Doncaster Belles.
Doncaster Belles
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 4th | Brighton & Hove Albion (a) | 5–2 |
| 5th | Barry Town (a) | 1–0 |
| 6th | Arsenal Arsenal L.F.C. Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten... (h) |
2–1 |
| Semi-final | Tranmere Rovers Tranmere Rovers L.F.C. Tranmere Rovers Ladies Football Club are an English team founded in 1990, based in the Wirral, and affiliated with Tranmere Rovers F.C. Between 1996 and 2004 they competed in the FA Premier League National Division, then the top tier of the English women's football pyramid. Since 2011, they have... (n Prenton Park Prenton Park is an association football stadium in Birkenhead, England. It is the home ground of Tranmere Rovers F.C. The club moved to the current Prenton Park in 1912. The ground has had several rebuilds, with the most recent occurring in 1995 in response to the requirement of the Taylor Report... ) |
3–1 |
As Doncaster Belles were an FA Women's Premier League National Division
FA Women's Premier League National Division
The FA Women's Premier League National Division is the second level of the English women's football league pyramid. From 1991 until the introduction of the summer competition FA Women's Super League the National Division functioned as the top league in England. Below it are simultaneously the...
club, they entered the competition in the fourth round; one round later than Fulham. Doncaster Belles' cup run started with a rescheduled trip to the Withdean Stadium
Withdean Stadium
Withdean Stadium is an athletics stadium in Withdean, a suburb of Brighton. Between 1999 and 2011 it was the home ground of football team Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.....
to face Brighton & Hove Albion. Despite Brighton taking the lead after only 10 minutes, Doncaster Belles mastered the wet and windy conditions and hit back strongly to win 5–2. In another delayed fixture in the fifth round, Doncaster Belles travelled to Wales to meet Barry Town. The match at Jenner Park was again played in wind and heavy rain. A goal from Jody Handley
Jody Handley
Jody Handley is an English football player from Stafford. She is a pacy and experienced attacking player, and plays mainly as a wide midfielder for England Women, and as a striker for Everton Ladies...
and a strong midfield performance from debutant Carly Hunt
Carly Hunt
Carly Hunt is a retired English footballer. She played as a midfielder and has represented England at senior international level....
earned a 1–0 win and a quarter final meeting with Arsenal
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
.
The subsequent 2–1 win over Cup holders Arsenal at Brodsworth Welfare Ground surprised many, who had predicted a repeat of the previous year's Arsenal–Fulham final. Doncaster Belles had gone two goals ahead within the first half hour through Handley and Karen Burke. Although Marieanne Spacey
Marieanne Spacey
Marieanne Spacey is an English former international women's footballer. Having played 91 times for England, Spacey is considered one of the greatest English footballers of all time.-Club career:...
replied for Arsenal, a resilient second half display saw Doncaster Belles end a run of six successive defeats—stretching back almost two years—against their old rivals. The BBC reported that the final whistle was "joyously celebrated" by the Doncaster Belles players. In the semi final against Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers L.F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Ladies Football Club are an English team founded in 1990, based in the Wirral, and affiliated with Tranmere Rovers F.C. Between 1996 and 2004 they competed in the FA Premier League National Division, then the top tier of the English women's football pyramid. Since 2011, they have...
at Prenton Park
Prenton Park
Prenton Park is an association football stadium in Birkenhead, England. It is the home ground of Tranmere Rovers F.C. The club moved to the current Prenton Park in 1912. The ground has had several rebuilds, with the most recent occurring in 1995 in response to the requirement of the Taylor Report...
, defeat appeared likely when Tranmere went ahead through a 28th–minute penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
and Burke missed a penalty for Doncaster Belles. But Carly Hunt scored an equalising goal from close range, then Tranmere were reduced to ten players when Faye Dunn was shown the red card. England
England women's national football team
The England women's national football team represents England in international women's football. The side has been quite successful of late, qualifying for three World Cups, 1995, 2007 and 2011...
captain Karen Walker
Karen Walker
Karen Walker is a noted New Zealand fashion designer. She left school, after attending Epsom Girls Grammar School in 1988 to begin her fashion training, graduating in 1990. She has said that she started with NZ$100, which she used for material for a shirt. By 1995, she had opened two stores...
secured a 3–1 win and Doncaster Belles' place in the final with two late goals.
Fulham
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd | Newport County (h) | 12–0 |
| 4th | Birmingham City Birmingham City L.F.C. Birmingham City L.F.C. is a semi-professional English Women's football club who are affiliated to Birmingham City F.C.. They play their home games at Knights Lane, the home of Stratford Town F.C., and were named as founder members of the FA Women's Super League which started in 2011.-History:The... (a) |
5–0 |
| 5th | Coventry City Coventry City L.F.C. Coventry City Ladies Football Club is an English women's football club affiliated with Coventry City F.C.. Founded in 1991, they currently play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division after two successive promotions from the Midland Combination Women's Football League.The club also... (a) |
11–0 |
| 6th | Everton Everton L.F.C. Everton Ladies Football Club are a semi-professional women's association football team from the city of Liverpool, who compete in the FA WSL. They were runners-up to Arsenal in the 2009–10 Premier League National Division season. They have won the title once in 1998 and the FA Women's Cup on... (a) |
4–0 |
| Semi-final | Charlton Athletic Charlton Athletic L.F.C. Charlton Athletic Women's Football Club play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division in England. Between 2000, the year it was founded from Croydon Women's F.C. and 2007, Charlton had one of the most successful women's teams in England... (n Kingfield Stadium Kingfield Stadium is the home of Woking F.C.. It is situated in the Kingfield area of Woking, Surrey. The stadium has a capacity of 6,036 of which 2,500 are seated. The main stand, called the Leslie Gosden Stand, is much higher than the rest of the ground and towers above the other stands. The... ) |
4–1 |
Fulham's competition began with a trip to fellow Southern Division
FA Women's Premier League Southern Division
The FA Women's Premier League Southern Division is a league in the Third level in the women's football pyramid in England, along with the Northern division. These two divisions are below the FA Women's Super League and National Division...
outfit Newport County. Having already beaten Newport 14–0 in the league, Fulham this time ran 12 unanswered goals past their hapless opponents. "The final score was 12–0 and it could have been more," noted the match report on the Fulham website. In the fourth round Fulham faced a trickier assignment at Birmingham City
Birmingham City L.F.C.
Birmingham City L.F.C. is a semi-professional English Women's football club who are affiliated to Birmingham City F.C.. They play their home games at Knights Lane, the home of Stratford Town F.C., and were named as founder members of the FA Women's Super League which started in 2011.-History:The...
. Under the leadership of Queen's Park Rangers player Marcus Bignot
Marcus Bignot
Marcus Bignot is an ex-English professional footballer, currently manager of Solihull Moors.-Playing career:...
, Birmingham City's young team were top of the Northern Division
FA Women's Premier League Northern Division
The FA Women's Premier League Northern Division is a league in the third-level in the women's football pyramid in England, along with the Southern division. These two divisions are below the FA Women's Super League and National Division....
and had already beaten Doncaster Belles to qualify for the Premier League Cup final, where they would meet Fulham. One goal ahead at half time, Fulham's superior fitness and Marianne Pettersen
Marianne Pettersen
Marianne Iren Pettersen is a Norwegian footballer. She was a forward for the club Asker, whom she joined from Gjelleråsen after the 1996 season, and became the top scorer with 36 goals in the 1998 season of 18 matches. For the Norwegian national team, she debuted in 1994, scoring against Italy....
's eighth hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
of the season resulted in a 5–0 win. Bignot lamented "our girls were overawed – they were waiting for Fulham to score."
In the fifth round Fulham routinely dispatched more Northern Division opposition, Coventry City
Coventry City L.F.C.
Coventry City Ladies Football Club is an English women's football club affiliated with Coventry City F.C.. Founded in 1991, they currently play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division after two successive promotions from the Midland Combination Women's Football League.The club also...
, with an 11–0 win at Nuneaton
Nuneaton
Nuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for...
's Pingles Stadium. The quarter final meeting with National Division Everton
Everton L.F.C.
Everton Ladies Football Club are a semi-professional women's association football team from the city of Liverpool, who compete in the FA WSL. They were runners-up to Arsenal in the 2009–10 Premier League National Division season. They have won the title once in 1998 and the FA Women's Cup on...
followed a similar pattern to the earlier win over Birmigham. A Margunn Haugenes
Margunn Haugenes
Margunn Haugenes is a Norwegian footballer and Olympic champion.Haugenes debuted for the Norwegian national team in 1990 at the age of 20, also moving from her lower-division club Kaupanger IL to the Toppserien club Asker SK...
penalty gave Fulham a one goal advantage at the interval, before a second half increase in tempo saw them depart Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
with a 4–0 win and their place in the semi finals. During the match with Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic L.F.C.
Charlton Athletic Women's Football Club play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division in England. Between 2000, the year it was founded from Croydon Women's F.C. and 2007, Charlton had one of the most successful women's teams in England...
at Woking
Woking F.C.
Woking Football Club is a football club from in Woking, Surrey, England, formed in 1889. They are playing in the Conference South in the 2011–12 season. For the 2011/2012 season, Woking are sharing their ground with Conference National club Hayes & Yeading United.-Promotion to the...
's Kingfield Stadium
Kingfield Stadium
Kingfield Stadium is the home of Woking F.C.. It is situated in the Kingfield area of Woking, Surrey. The stadium has a capacity of 6,036 of which 2,500 are seated. The main stand, called the Leslie Gosden Stand, is much higher than the rest of the ground and towers above the other stands. The...
, Pettersen and Kristy Moore
Kristy Moore
Kristy Moore is an English-Australian footballer. She plays in Norway as a winger or striker for Stabæk and has represented both Australia and England at international level.-Club career:...
put Fulham two goals ahead in the first half, but Charlton reduced the deficit when Astrid Johannessen
Astrid Johannessen
Astrid Johannessen is a former Norwegian football player who played for the Norway women's national football team as a goalkeeper.She played on the Norwegian team that finished fourth at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup in United States....
allowed Fara Williams
Fara Williams
Fara Tanya Franki Williams Merrett is an English football player. She is a central midfielder for England Women and Everton Ladies.A consistent goalscorer and set-piece specialist, Williams is considered one of England's leading players...
' tame free kick through her legs
Nutmeg (football)
A nutmeg is a technique used in football or field hockey, in which a player rolls the ball through an opponent's legs. This can be whilst passing to another player, shooting or occasionally to carry on and retrieve it themselves.- Origin :...
. According to The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
report, "there was always going to come the time to ask a familiar question: how many would Fulham score?" Pettersen and Moore added another goal each to seal a 4–1 win. Charlton manager Keith Boanas
Keith Boanas
Keith Robert Boanas is an English football manager and the current coach of the Estonia women's national football team.-Playing career:...
praised the application of his side but admitted they were undone by Fulham's superior fitness.
Background
The 2002 final represented a record 13th final appearance for Doncaster Belles and the first since 2000, when they lost 2–1 to CroydonCharlton Athletic L.F.C.
Charlton Athletic Women's Football Club play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division in England. Between 2000, the year it was founded from Croydon Women's F.C. and 2007, Charlton had one of the most successful women's teams in England...
. They had previously won the Women's Cup on six occasions in 1983, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, and 1994. The match was Fulham's second time in the final after they lost the previous season's event to Arsenal
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
. A former incarnation of the club, known as Friends of Fulham, had competed in three finals; winning in 1985, but losing in 1989 and 1990. Although the competition had been run by the Women's Football Association
Women's Football Association
The Women's Football Association was formed in 2002 and folded in 2003.-Teams:*Birmingham Steel Magnolias*Carolina Crusaders*Georgia Enforcers*Indianapolis Vipers*Jacksonville Dixie Blues*Orlando Fire*Tampa Bay Force-Championship game:...
(WFA) since 1970, the Football Association (FA) took over in 1993–94. The 2002 final was the 32nd final overall, the ninth to be played under FA control and the first to be shown live on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
.
Despite not yet playing in the FA Women's Premier League National Division, Fulham were already considered "the dominant force in England" by the BBC. In their second year as the only full–time professional women's club in Europe, they had already won that season's FA Women's Premier League Cup by beating Birmingham City 7–1 in the final. In securing the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division
FA Women's Premier League Southern Division
The FA Women's Premier League Southern Division is a league in the Third level in the women's football pyramid in England, along with the Northern division. These two divisions are below the FA Women's Super League and National Division...
championship Fulham beat one team 22–0. The total amount of goals they had put past their opponents in 34 league and cup matches stood at 267. Fulham's striker Pettersen—a World Cup winner and Olympic gold medallist
Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics
The football tournament at the 2000 Summer Olympics was the 20th official Olympic football tournament. A women's tournament was held for the second time.-Medal winners:-Venues:*Olympic Stadium, Sydney*Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney*Bruce Stadium, Canberra...
with Norway
Norway women's national football team
The Norway women's national football team represents Norway in international women's football. The team, controlled by the Football Association of Norway, are former European, World and Olympic champions and thus one of the most successful national teams...
—went into the final looking for her 87th goal of the season. Fulham's Katie Chapman felt the defeat to Arsenal in the previous season's final was extra motivation for her team mates: "At the end of the day we're professional, and we should win. Last year we didn't, and this year we want that FA Cup."
Norway's Dagbladet
Dagbladet
Dagbladet is Norway's second largest tabloid newspaper, and the third largest newspaper overall with a circulation of 105,255 copies in 2009, 18,128 papers less than in 2008. The editor in chief is Lars Helle....
reported that Doncaster Belles favoured a typically English style: "heavy, solid and with many long balls." Although the Belles were a completely amateur outfit, the BBC reported that they would present a much more difficult challenge than Fulham had been accustomed to that season. In the 2001–02 National Division Doncaster Belles had finished as runners–up for the third season in succession. In the Premier League Cup they suffered a shock semi final defeat to Birmingham City, collapsing from 3–1 ahead to lose 4–3 to the Northern Division leaders. In April 2002 they had "stunningly" inflicted a 4–0 defeat on Arsenal, the eventual champions' first league defeat in over two and a half years. Manager Julie Chipchase accepted that Fulham were favourites but noted the strength of her own squad: "It's an unusual situation for us to go into a match as the underdogs and I am hoping it will work in our favour. The pressure will be on Fulham but they have some excellent international class players just as we do and it will all be down to who performs on the day."
Summary
Doncaster Belles lined up in a traditional 4–4–2 formation. Walker overcame a neck injury to start alongside Handley in attack, with Mel GarsideMelanie Garside-Wight
Melanie "Mel" Garside-Wight is an English footballer, and former England women's national football team player. A forward or winger comfortable on either flank, Garside-Wight began her career with local club Bradford City and later joined Doncaster Belles...
—who scored the winner in the 2000 semi-final—left on the substitutes' bench alongside veteran Gail Borman
Gail Borman
Gail Borman is a former English women's international footballer, who played club football for the Doncaster Belles. She was described by journalist Pete Davies, author of the book I lost my Heart to the Belles, as a "quick and elegant England striker."-Club career:In 1991–92 Borman hit 17...
. The Hunt twins
Carly Hunt
Carly Hunt is a retired English footballer. She played as a midfielder and has represented England at senior international level....
, signed earlier in the season from Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic L.F.C.
Charlton Athletic Women's Football Club play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division in England. Between 2000, the year it was founded from Croydon Women's F.C. and 2007, Charlton had one of the most successful women's teams in England...
, were both selected; having brought "grit, commitment and shape" to a previously disorganised team. Experienced defender Mandy Lowe was given a marking job on Pettersen. Fulham fielded a 4–3–3 formation, with Rachel Yankey
Rachel Yankey
Rachel Abba Yankey, MBE is an English football player. She plays for the English side Arsenal, and for the England national team. She plays as a left-winger or forward, and wears the number 11 for Arsenal and England. She is of Ghanaian descent, from her father's side.Yankey is the most-capped...
and Kristy Moore
Kristy Moore
Kristy Moore is an English-Australian footballer. She plays in Norway as a winger or striker for Stabæk and has represented both Australia and England at international level.-Club career:...
flanking Pettersen in attack. Both teams wore their home kits; Doncaster Belles in yellow and blue, while Fulham lined up in white and black.
In what the Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
called a "breakneck speed" start to the match, Leanne Hall
Leanne Hall
Leanne Hall is an English female footballer. She is a goalkeeper for FA WSL club Birmingham City and also played at full international level for England.-Club career:...
saved a low 20 yard (18m) shot from Rachel McArthur
Rachel Stowell
Rachel "Macca" Stowell is a former English football player, who played as a central midfielder. She finished her career with Leicester City Women after season 2009-10, and is a former member of the England squad....
and Moore later kicked over the bar from close range. At the other end of the pitch, early chances included Walker failing to control Exley's through ball, Michelle Barr
Michelle Barr
Michelle "Shelley" Barr is a Scottish international footballer. She currently plays in the Scottish Women's Premier League for Celtic.-External links:* Celtic FC profile...
shooting narrowly over and Astrid Johannessen
Astrid Johannessen
Astrid Johannessen is a former Norwegian football player who played for the Norway women's national football team as a goalkeeper.She played on the Norwegian team that finished fourth at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup in United States....
parrying Carly Hunt's effort. As the match wore on Pettersen was largely subdued by the close attentions of Lowe. Reports in The Guardian, The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
and the BBC indicate that the physical and direct approach of the Doncaster Belles stifled Fulham's passing game, keeping scoring opportunities at both ends to a minimum.
Although the teams remained level at the break, Fulham went ahead ten minutes into the second half. Carly Hunt was cautioned for a foul at the edge of the penalty area, then Yankey curled
Magnus effect
The Magnus effect is the phenomenon whereby a spinning object flying in a fluid creates a whirlpool of fluid around itself, and experiences a force perpendicular to the line of motion...
the resultant free kick
Direct free kick
A direct free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football following a foul. Unlike an indirect free kick, a goal may be scored directly against the opposing side without the ball having first touched another player.-Award:...
low around a poorly–placed defensive wall and past unsighted Belles goalkeeper Hall. On the hour, with Doncaster Belles still recovering, Chapman volleyed in a second goal for Fulham from 20 yards (18m). Seconds later Burke supplied an accurate cross for Handley to head a reply for Doncaster Belles.
Doncaster Belles continued to defend but Fulham won 2–1 to collect their first FA Women's Cup and complete a treble; along with their Premier League Cup and Premier League Southern Division wins. Ray Kiddell, Chairman of the FA Women's Committee, presented the cup in bank holiday
Bank Holiday
A bank holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom or a colloquialism for public holiday in Ireland. There is no automatic right to time off on these days, although the majority of the population is granted time off work or extra pay for working on these days, depending on their contract...
sunshine.
Details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | DONCASTER BELLES: | ||
| GK | Leanne Hall Leanne Hall Leanne Hall is an English female footballer. She is a goalkeeper for FA WSL club Birmingham City and also played at full international level for England.-Club career:... |
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| DF | Mandy Lowe |
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| DF | Claire Utley Claire Utley Claire Utley is an English female footballer. She currently plays for Whitley Bay Ladies after a long association with Doncaster Rovers Belles. She has represented England at full international level.-Club career:... |
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| DF |  Michelle BarrMichelle Barr Michelle "Shelley" Barr is a Scottish international footballer. She currently plays in the Scottish Women's Premier League for Celtic.-External links:* Celtic FC profile... |
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| DF | Carly Hunt Carly Hunt Carly Hunt is a retired English footballer. She played as a midfielder and has represented England at senior international level.... |
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| MF | Karen Burke |
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| MF | Becky Easton Becky Easton Rebecca "Becky" Easton is an English footballer, currently playing for Everton Ladies as a right-back, having previously played as a central midfielder, particularly for England at full international level.-Club career:... (c) |
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| MF | Vicky Exley Vicky Exley Vicky Exley is an English international women's footballer, who plays for Doncaster Rovers Belles in the FA WSL, the top division of women's football in England. She has also played over 50 times for England's national side.-Club career:... |
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| MF | Gemma Hunt |
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| FW | Karen Walker Karen Walker (footballer) Karen Walker is an English former international football centre-forward. She played for Doncaster Belles for 17 years, starting at the age of 16, and began playing for England as a teenager, making 83 appearances and scoring a record 40 goals until she retired from international football in... |
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| FW | Jody Handley Jody Handley Jody Handley is an English football player from Stafford. She is a pacy and experienced attacking player, and plays mainly as a wide midfielder for England Women, and as a striker for Everton Ladies... |
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| Substitutes: | |||
| MF | Sarah Abrahams |
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| FW | Gail Borman Gail Borman Gail Borman is a former English women's international footballer, who played club football for the Doncaster Belles. She was described by journalist Pete Davies, author of the book I lost my Heart to the Belles, as a "quick and elegant England striker."-Club career:In 1991–92 Borman hit 17... |
||
| FW | Melanie Garside Melanie Garside-Wight Melanie "Mel" Garside-Wight is an English footballer, and former England women's national football team player. A forward or winger comfortable on either flank, Garside-Wight began her career with local club Bradford City and later joined Doncaster Belles... |
||
| DF | Lizzie Gomersall |
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| DF | Sammy Howarth Sammy Howarth Samantha "Sammy" Howarth is an English international footballer. She played in the FA Women's Premier League National Division with Liverpool, Doncaster Belles and Tranmere Rovers... |
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| Manager: | |||
| Julie Chipchase |
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Astrid JohannessenAstrid Johannessen
Astrid Johannessen is a former Norwegian football player who played for the Norway women's national football team as a goalkeeper.She played on the Norwegian team that finished fourth at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup in United States....
Kim Jerray-SilverKim Jerray-Silver
Kimberley "Kim" Jerray-Silver is a former English international footballer. She was a full–time professional player with Fulham, whom she joined from Arsenal.-Club:...
Lene TerpLene Terp
Lene Terp is a Danish former football defender. She captained the Danish national team from 1998 until her retirement in 2003.-Club career:Terp began her career with Kolding, moved on to Vejle, then signed for Odense in 1997...
Mary PhillipMary Phillip
Mary Rose Phillip is a former English international footballer. A versatile player, she played in all four positions at the back and also in midfield. Phillip captained England and—until 2011—was the only player to represent the country in two World Cup squads...
Rachel UnittRachel Unitt
Rachel Elizabeth Unitt is an English football player. She currently plays as a left back for England Women and Everton Ladies.-Club career:...
Margunn HaugenesMargunn Haugenes
Margunn Haugenes is a Norwegian footballer and Olympic champion.Haugenes debuted for the Norwegian national team in 1990 at the age of 20, also moving from her lower-division club Kaupanger IL to the Toppserien club Asker SK...
Rachel McArthurRachel Stowell
Rachel "Macca" Stowell is a former English football player, who played as a central midfielder. She finished her career with Leicester City Women after season 2009-10, and is a former member of the England squad....
Katie ChapmanKatie Chapman
Katie Sarah Chapman is an English footballer who plays for English club Arsenal Ladies in the FA WSL and is a former member of the England women's national team. She primarily plays as a central midfielder, although she has also been deployed in central defence while playing for England. Chapman...
Rachel YankeyRachel Yankey
Rachel Abba Yankey, MBE is an English football player. She plays for the English side Arsenal, and for the England national team. She plays as a left-winger or forward, and wears the number 11 for Arsenal and England. She is of Ghanaian descent, from her father's side.Yankey is the most-capped...
Marianne PettersenMarianne Pettersen
Marianne Iren Pettersen is a Norwegian footballer. She was a forward for the club Asker, whom she joined from Gjelleråsen after the 1996 season, and became the top scorer with 36 goals in the 1998 season of 18 matches. For the Norwegian national team, she debuted in 1994, scoring against Italy....
(c)
Kristy MooreKristy Moore
Kristy Moore is an English-Australian footballer. She plays in Norway as a winger or striker for Stabæk and has represented both Australia and England at international level.-Club career:...
Deena Rahman Sanchia Duncan Lynn Rebecca Mork Jody Smith Ronnie GibbonsRonnie Gibbons
Ronnie Suzanne Gibbons is an English-born Irish former professional footballer. She played as a right-back for Fulham Ladies and the Republic of Ireland national team.-Club career:...
Gaute HaugenesMATCH OFFICIALS
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MATCH RULES
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Post match
Doncaster Belles striker Walker admitted that Fulham had been the better team, but rejected the idea that the professionals' superior fitness had been decisive: "We matched them for fitness, and that was not the problem. It was the quality which was the difference. They play together week in and week out, and it showed in the end."Fulham coach Gaute Haugenes was glad to put the previous year's defeat to Arsenal behind them: "The feeling we had here last year – we didn't want to have that again." He added: "It was a tough game but we expected a tough game. Many people put us as favourites but that is the price you pay for being professional." Midfielder Margunn Haugenes, the manager's wife, told Dagbladet that private celebrations in the Haugenes household were unfit for description in a newspaper.
The match attracted a crowd of 10,000 and a television audience of two and a half million. In a Parliamentary debate the following week, John Grogan MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
praised the BBC's coverage of the match but expressed regret that Doncaster Belles, "the pride of Yorkshire," had been beaten by a team from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Richard Caborn
Richard Caborn
Richard George Caborn PC is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Central from 1983 to 2010...
MP agreed that the coverage, along with the contemporaneous film Bend It Like Beckham
Bend It Like Beckham
Bend It Like Beckham is a 2002 comedy-drama film starring Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Myers, Anupam Kher, Shaznay Lewis, and Archie Panjabi first released in the United Kingdom. The film was directed by Gurinder Chadha...
, would increase participation levels amongst youngsters: "Anything that we can do to encourage such participation must be welcome."
During the summer break Doncaster Belles turned semi–professional after securing a major sponsorship deal with Green Flag
Green Flag
Green Flag is a roadside rescue company based in the UK. It was formed in 1971 as the National Breakdown Recovery Club and operated under this name under the ownership of National Car Parks until 1994, when it was renamed Green Flag as a symbolic brand name...
. After their promotion Fulham beat Doncaster Belles again, 4–0 this time, on the opening day of the 2002–03 league season.