Ahead of this weekend’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup Final, the silverware paid a visit to both Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City.
For the first leg of the tour, two former players visited a Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation session.
Former England and Brighton star and co-founder of Football in the Community – which is now known as the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation – Julie Hemsley visited along with ex-Brighton player Eileen Bourne.
Both got involved in the session and spoke to the girls about the achievement of Brighton making through it to the Women’s FA Cup Final for the first time. They were also joined by current player Jelena Cankovic who surprised the group.
“My career is long over and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but the girls now have opportunities that we didn’t have,” said Eileen. “I am delighted that my little nieces have the chance to play football and they can have a dream of playing at Wembley Stadium as the Brighton women’s team do on Sunday. I never knew it could come true but now it definitely can.”
Julie and Eileen returned for the second leg of Brighton’s trophy tour where, along with the trophy, they made their way to Brighton’s women’s sport pub, ‘Crossbar’. They were involved in an evening of activity which involved a live Adobe Women’s FA Cup-themed illustration from local artist Connie Noble, a pub quiz and much more!
“I’m so happy for the team and what they’ve achieved and what they’re doing for the future for the women’s game,” added Julie. “It’s well-deserved for them to be in the FA Cup Final and I can’t wait to go up there and support them.”
On the Manchester leg of the trophy tour, the Adobe Women’s FA Cup trophy stopped off at City’s Etihad Campus for a session with kids from across Manchester, hosted by City in the Community.
The children were surprised by a visit from the trophy that was accompanied by Manchester City and Lionesses legend Demi Stokes, who has herself won the trophy three times with the club in 2017, 2019 and 2021.
She joined in a kickabout and answered questions about what it’s like to play in a showpiece at Wembley.
“My favourite memories of the FA Cup are, of course, winning it,” said Stokes. “To be able to say that you’ve played at Wembley is everyone’s dream if you’re a footballer, so to do that three times and win, it’s always special and always nice.
“The FA Cup always has that magic around it and as a player, you feel that. You know how special it is when you’re playing and especially when you walk out at Wembley.”
Find out how you can tune in to watch the Final around the globe by clicking here.
