Friday, 21 March 2003.
Four teams do battle this Sunday for the chance to compete in The FA Women's Cup Final. On offer to the winners is the chance of TV stardom, with the Final being broadcast live on BBC1 and an audience of over 10,000 expected to Selhurst Park for the third successive year.
Charlton Women v Arsenal LFC
The Valley, 12.00 noon KO
This will be the first meeting of these two heavyweights this season and it promises to be a classic. The match will be played at The Valley - the second time Charlton Women have played there. The Addicks will be hoping to repeat the entertainment on offer at The Valley earlier this season when they enthralled a crowd of 1,500 by holding league leaders Fulham to a 1-1 draw.
Charlton reached the semi-finals last season but were beaten by Fulham so boss Keith Boanas will be hoping to go one better this time around.
Arsenal boss Vic Akers is going into the semi-final once again without influential skipper Faye White, who is out with a cruciate knee ligament injury, but the diminutive striker Ellen Maggs is fully fit. Akers, however, will be sweating on the fitness of seven of his players who are currently away on international duty and will not return until Friday. Emma Byrne, Ciara Grant, Yvonne Tracy, Sian Williams, Ayshea Martyn, Michelle O'Brien and top scorer Jayne Ludlow are representing their countries at a tournament in The Algarve.
Arsenal go into the game as slight favourites having won the FA Cup five times and they twice beat Charlton 3-1 last season.
Ticket details: For Charlton Athletic v Arsenal at The Valley, tickets are priced at £3 for adults and £1 for children. The club has a special offer on for Charlton and Arsenal season ticket holders to get in for £1 when showing their season ticket at the gate on entry.
The ticket hotline is 020 8333 4010
Bristol Rovers Women v Fulham LFC
Memorial Stadium, 15.00 KO
This semi-final pits top of the Southern Division against top of the National Division in what promises to be a fiercely contested match. Rovers have home advantage and will be hoping for a big crowd to spur them on.
Their manager Tony Ricketts has a fully fit squad to choose from and, although recognising the strength of Fulham, knows his team have nothing to lose and are confident going into the game.
Fulham boss Gaute Haugenes has had a nightmare with injuries this season but he has no new injury concerns this week. Katie Chapman is out still due to pregnancy and Jess Wright remains unavailable with a fractured ankle, but apart from that Haugenes has a fully fit squad. Fulham will also be buoyed by the inclusion in the squad of Marieanne Spacey for the first time this season. She completed an hour last week in a reserve game and will be hoping for a spot on the Cottagers bench.
The two teams met twice last season in the Southern Division with Fulham winning both - scoring 18 goals - but newly-promoted Rovers will undoubtedly be a different proposition this time around.
Ticket details: For Bristol Rovers v Fulham at the Memorial Stadium, tickets are priced at £3 for adults and £1 for children. The club is holding a special offer for local schools, allowing schools to keep 50 pence of every ticket sold.
Special booking forms are available from the club hotline on 0117 924 7474.