The biggest game in the women’s football calendar will be held on Bank Holiday Monday May 3rd with a 1.00pm kick-off and will be televised live on BBC for the third successive season.

 

It will be the first time that Loftus Road has hosted The FA Women’s Cup Final and it is a fitting venue for such a prestigious Final after hosting Premiership football for the past two seasons as Fulham’s temporary home as well as Football League matches with QPR.

 

David Davies, QPR Chief Executive, said: "We are really looking forward to it. It is a great honour to be selected to host the FA Women’s Cup Final."

 

"The increased participation of women in football has been reflected in the increased interest by fans and general support for this competition, and Queens Park Rangers are proud to be associated with this great event."

 

The past three FA Women’s Cup Finals have attracted over 10,000 fans each year to Crystal Palace – in 2001 13,824 saw Arsenal beat Fulham 1-0 in The FA Cup Final, while 10,124 attended the 2002 Final, where Fulham beat Doncaster Belles 2-1 and 10,389 people saw Fulham overcome Charlton Athletic 3-0 last season.

 

"We are looking forward to playing this flagship fixture at Loftus Road," said Ray Kiddell, Chairman of The FA Women’s Committee. "I’m sure the football community in London will welcome a game of this standing and will turn out in force to watch a great showcase for women’s football.

 

"We are also delighted to be working with our broadcast partners, the BBC, to take The FA Women’s Cup Final to an even wider audience for the third successive year. I hope both competing Finalists will put on a proud performance to display the best of the women’s game."

 

The finalists have yet to be decided with the semi-finals taking place on Sunday March 14th. Arsenal, winners in 2001, travel to Bristol Rovers’ Memorial Stadium, while Charlton Athletic, last season’s beaten finalists, will play Birmingham City. Charlton gained revenge for their defeat last season by knocking current Cup holders Fulham out in the Fifth Round in January.

 

Ticket details will be released shortly on TheFA.com. Booking forms for schools, clubs and businesses can be obtained by calling 020 8563 9147.

 

* A record 206 teams entered The FA Women’s Cup this season, with 112 teams competing in the First Qualifying Round on September 7th 2003. The FA Women’s Cup Final will be held on Bank Holiday Monday May 3rd and will again be screened on BBC1, with a 1.00pm kick-off.

 

** The 2003-04 season marks The Football Association’s 10th year anniversary of governing women’s football. To coincide with this anniversary, The FA has decided to more than treble the prize fund for The FA Women’s Cup, which will see added investment into the grassroots senior game. For the first time this season, win bonuses have been paid to teams in the two qualifying rounds. Should a top flight women’s team win the trophy this season, then they will take a combined prize money of over £10,000 – a massive increase from the £2,950 last season with £5,000 coming alone from winning the Final tie.