Valley to host Women

Kick-off is at 8.05pm, and the game will also be televised live on Sky Sports.

The game will be only the second time that England's Women have come to the home of Charlton Athletic. The first fixture was in November 1995, when The Three Lions defeated Croatia 5-0, a game that featured current England Head Coach Hope Powell in the centre of midfield and former Addicks custodian Pauline Cope in goal.

Crowds averaging 10,000 have followed the team at home during the current campaign, and Charlton Athletic's Deputy Chairman Bob Whitehand, who is also Chariman of Women's Football at the club is hopeful that the local community will come out in force to support an England squad that may feature Charlton players Eniola Aluko, Casey Stoney, Katie Chapman, Jo Potter and Amanda Barr.

"Charlton Athletic are delighted to have been chosen to host this very important FIFA World Cup Qualifier at the Valley" said Whitehand. 

"We are committed to the development of the women's and girls' game and hope that our fans who are very supportive of our own women's team will come out in force to support Hope Powell and the England team in their bid to reach the 2007 World Cup Finals."

England currently top their group having won five games and drawn one to-date, scoring 24 goals and conceeding just one in the process. In the corresponding fixture in November, England secured a narrow 1-0 away victory against the Dutch thanks to a Fara Williams penalty, after Addicks striker Amanda Barr was felled in the box.

Two victories from their final two games would see Hope Powell's side qualify for the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup in China, having not reached the Finals since 1995, although a tough away game on 30 September against France in Rennes still awaits.

Hope Powell said today: "This is a very important fixture for the players as another three points would take us one step closer to what has been our objective for the last year; qualification for the 2007 World Cup. I'm very proud of what the players achieved last season, going undefeated, but we all have to start again now.

"Most of the players will have been able to take a break and recharge their batteries these last couple of months, and I'll be looking for everyone to be fit and ready to impress at a training camp to be held at the beginning of August.

"From our first qualifier away to Austria we have guarded against any complacency, and the game away to Holland showed us that the Dutch are very competitive and won't be easy to break down.

"It is fitting that Charlton Athletic, one of the most progressive clubs in the country in their support of the women's game should be hosting this fixture. The Stadium has changed immeasurably in the last decade, and I hope that those supporters who have got behind the club during that time will come out in force to support our team next month."

Tickets for the game are now on sale priced £5 for adults and £2.50 for concessions. Tickets can be purchased from the Charlton Athletic FC ticket office or by calling the ticket hotline on 0871 226 1905.