Doncaster Rovers Belles 0
Fulham 1 (Unitt 80)
Field Mill, Mansfield
6 August 2003
Attendance 1,642
LATE GOAL EARNS NEW LOOK FULHAM COMMUNITY SHIELD
Three months after completing the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Premier League Cup, it was a significantly changed Fulham team that took on Doncaster Belles in the 2003-04 season opener at Mansfield Town’s Field Mill stadium.
The January 2003 decision by the Cottagers’ then chairman, Mohamed Al Fayed, to end the club’s three-year spell as Europe’s first full-time professional outfit had led to an exodus of star foreign players such as Denmark captain Katrine Pedersen and Norway internationals Marieanne Pettersen, Astrid Johannessen and Margunn Haugenes (wife of manager Gaute Haugenes).
Al Fayed had invested several million pounds into what was the only professional women's outfit in Europe after the team had gone full-time in the summer of 2000.
At that time the FA had announced that a professional women’s league would be in operation by the start of the 2003-04 season. But that was not now going to happen and Al Fayed said: “It was my vision for Fulham Ladies to be at the forefront of realising the true potential of women's football in this country with the support of the FA.
“However, no steps have been taken by this governing body to enable the game to progress on a domestic level and opportunities for media exposure to raise its profile have been neglected. The mediocre advances in women's football during this period have made it impossible for me to continue at a professional level.
“Fulham shall continue to support women’s football with a semi-professional team that we hope will endeavour to compete with the best clubs in the country.”
The FA responded to Al Fayed's allegations through Acting Chief Executive David Davies. “The FA is hugely committed to the women's game,” he said, “and is proud of its achievements to date by increasing participation and helping to make it the number one sport for women.”
A further response to Al Fayed’s decision came from manager Haugenes, who quickly announced that he would quit his post at the end of the season. But by then there was already a new boss in place, former England striker Marieanne Spacey having signed as a player from Arsenal the previous summer, stepping up to take on the managerial position.
Co-incidentally as Spacey was to set to take charge at Fulham, Doncaster also had a new manager following the departure of Julie Chipchase to Leeds United. Her replacement was former Doncaster Rovers winger John Buckley, who had also turned out for Leeds United and Rotherham United in his playing days.
Buckley was taking on a Belles team that had finished as 2002-03’s Premier League runners-up to Fulham, while Spacey’s new look side was understandably weakened by the loss of key players but which nevertheless still boasted England internationals Rachel Yankey, Katie Chapman, Rachel Unitt, Rachel McArthur and captain Mary Phillip.
And it was the Cottagers who edged a closely fought game, the winning goal arriving 10 minutes from time when Unitt blasted the ball into the net from a Phillip free-kick.
The goal came from a much-practised set piece and a delighted Spacey said: “The training ground came to Mansfield tonight! The attitude the players have shown in training came to fruition and they've given a good, sharp performance.
“It's nice to start with a win. I'm proud of the players, who have given everything for 90 minutes and on the balance of play won deservedly. There are lots of positives to take.”
Buckley was understandably not as happy as his opposite number but said of his team’s performance: “I was pleased with the endeavour. I thought they competed.
“In the first half I was delighted with the way we defended. The two central defenders were excellent. I think we've got good players, but I think we've got to do it physically – I thought there was a big gap in that tonight.”
Doncaster Rovers Belles (4-4-2) Young; C. Hunt, Lowe, Utley, McCool; Borman (Smith 54), Easton, Exley, G. Hunt; Handley, Walker (c).
Substitutes not used: Devine, Newton, Slater, Drewery.
Fulham (4-4-2): Chamberlain; Jerray-Silver, Phillip (c), Yorston, Unitt; Ritchie, McArthur, Chapman, Hickmott (Wright 72); Waine, Yankey.
Substitutes not used: Duncan, White, Bird, Cox.
Referee Mr P. Cottam
Assistant referees Mr C. Henry, Mr R. Vaughan.
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