Millwall To Host FA Women's Cup Final

Football Association – Press Release

The FA is pleased to announce that the FA Women’s Cup Final, in partnership with Nationwide will take place at Millwall’s 20,000 all-seater stadium, The Den on Bank Holiday Monday 1 May 2006. Kick-off is 1pm.

This year’s prestigious final will also be broadcast live on BBC One for the fifth consecutive year.

Millwall Chief Executive Ken Brown said “We are delighted that we will be staging the Final at The Den.
Millwall have a proud tradition of promoting women’s football, and indeed Millwall Lionesses were winners of this competition in 1991 and 1997.

“We have had the honour of hosting the Final previously in 1998 and are looking forward to a magnificent occasion on 1st May.”

The first ever Women’s Cup began in 1970-71 and was called the Women’s Football Association Mitre Challenge Trophy, and in 1993-94, The FA took over the running of the competition. The competition was renamed The FA Women’s Challenge Cup, with Doncaster Belles beat Knowsley United 1-0 in the final, the last time that the cup has been won by a club outside the capital.

In recent years The FA Women’s Cup has been a celebration of the women’s game, with hundreds of girls’ teams from across England travelling to the capital to cheer on the finalists.

The record attendance for the FA Women’s Cup Final was in 2001 when 13,824, turned out at Crystal Palace FC to see a London derby between Arsenal and Fulham. Last year Charlton Athletic won their first FA Women’s Cup Final with a 1-0 victory over Everton at Upton Park, Eniola Aluko scoring the winner/

Ray Kiddell, Chairman of the FA Women’s Football Committee said: “We are delighted that The FA Cup Final will be held at Millwall FC club, a fantastic stadium to host this showcase game of the domestic women’s season.

“I hope that this announcement will excite the players, officials and supporters of all clubs after this morning’s sixth round draw, and that we will witness an exciting game on 1 May”

The 1997 Final was won by Millwall Lionesses who defeated Wembley 1-0, and of the last eight finals, Arsenal have won four times, Fulham twice and Croydon and Charlton Athletic once each.

Millwall Lionesses Player-Manager Pru Buckley, who starred in that 1997 triumph added. “Staging the Final at The Den will provide a real boost for Women’s Football in South London. Our club has never been stronger in terms of the number of girls and young women currently participating in the sport, and it is great that many of them will have the opportunity to see the top players in action at Millwall.”

All teams playing in this season’s competition will be able to apply for two complimentary tickets and clubs will receive a ticket application after the Semi-Finals have been played. Group discounts will be available for schools and clubs, watch out for further details on TheFA.com.