Katie Chapman relishing watershed Wembley Final

Thursday 30 Jul 2015
Eight-time FA Cup winner Chapman has earned 91 England caps

Staging the SSE Women’s FA Cup Final at Wembley for the first time will be "absolutely massive" for the women’s game, says Chelsea captain Katie Chapman.

The Blues will face Notts County on Saturday with both clubs seeking their first piece of silverware.

And England midfielder Chapman said: "It's another big moment for women's football coming off the back of the World Cup.

Chelsea v Notts County

The SSE Women's FA Cup Final
3pm, Saturday 1 August
Wembley Stadium connected by EE
Tickets priced £15 adults, £5 concessions

"For our FA Cup Final to be played at Wembley for the first time is absolutely massive.

"It would be nice to get a good crowd there to help progress the game even further.

"[But] speaking as the Chelsea captain, we're not just going there for the occasion - we are going there to win."

Chapman, who scored in Chelsea’s fifth round win over Arsenal, has won the Women’s FA Cup eight times, during spells with Millwall Lionesses, Fulham, Charlton Athletic and the Gunners.

The 33-year-old also helped her country win bronze at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in the summer, a historic run which helped attract a legion of new fans to the women’s game.

And Chapman wants to keep the momentum going.

She added: "It's important that we continue pushing the game and The FA's We Can Play campaign can help get more girls playing regularly.

"The way the game is going now, with more opportunities to play than ever before, and although I'm going to continue playing for a bit longer, I'm quite sad that I'm coming to the end of my career."

By Glenn Lavery