Charlton Athletic v Everton
The FA Women's Cup Final
West Ham United FC, Upton Park
02 May 2005, 1.00pm

Former Charlton Athletic midfielder Fara Williams is aiming to pile more Cup Final agony on the Addicks when she lines up against her old team-mates for new club Everton in Monday’s showpiece fixture at Upton Park.

Williams figured in the Charlton sides which lost the 2003 Final to Fulham and last year went down to Arsenal – and now she is hoping to help the Toffees make it a harrowing hat-trick of failures for the Addicks.

“I’ve got nothing against Charlton,” said the 21-year-old England international, “but I obviously want Everton to win on Monday and that’s more important than any feelings I might have for my old club after they missed out in the last two Finals.

“It was great to be involved in those games because The FA Cup final is such a massive occasion. But it wasn’t a nice experience losing both times - and I certainly don’t want to have the same experience again this year.”

Charlton will go into the final as favourites after not only reaching their third successive FA Cup Final but also having reached the last two Premier League Cup finals and finishing second in the League table in each of the last two seasons.

Everton also have reason to feel confident, however, after a renaissance in the current campaign following a number of mediocre seasons - including a struggle against relegation only two years ago.

Williams was one of several internationals brought to the club last summer by manager Mo Marley, who was a player in the team when Everton - then known as Leasowe Pacific - won The FA Cup for the only time back in 1989.

They have finished third in the table this season, their best performance since winning the League in 1998, and demonstrated their vast improvement with a surprise - but well deserved - 3-0 FA Cup Semi-Final victory over holders Arsenal.

“We’ve done really well this season,” said Williams. “On a personal note I think it’s been my best ever season and I’ve really enjoyed playing in a team whose style totally suits my own game.

“Charlton have got their own style and it’s very effective for them. They’ll be favourites on Monday because they should be after what they’ve achieved over the last couple of years, whereas we’ve only come together as a unit this season.

“But we feel we are capable of beating them, especially after the way we beat Arsenal in the Semi-Final. If we can defend as well as we did that day and keep them out, we’ve got a number of players who can score at the other end.

“I’ve scored a few goals myself this season and it would be great to great to get one in the final, but we’ve also got players like Jody Handley and Kelly McDougall who’ve scored a lot so we won’t be short of confidence in front of goal.

“We’ve also got tremendous team spirit and that could help take us through. I’m desperate to get a Cup winners medal for myself, but I also want to win the Cup for everybody else involved because it’s been a real team effort this season.”

Tickets

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