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FC United Women's league fixtures announced

Monday was the day, the one we’ve all been waiting for! That’s right, first thing on Monday morning the fixtures for the 2017/18 North West Women’s Regional League Division 1 South were announced with FC United Women scheduled to start their league campaign away at Curzon Ashton LFC on Sunday 3rd September.

After finishing runners-up in the league for the last two seasons, the Reds will be hoping to go one better and lift the league title this time out in the North West Women’s Regional League Division 1 South.

With big kick-off scheduled for Sunday 3rd September, the Reds are pencilled in to get their campaign underway at the Tameside Stadium with Curzon Ashton LFC the hosts. However, the 1st Qualifying Round of the 2017/18 Women’s FA Cup takes place on the same day meaning that the Reds will most likely have their league season kick-off pushed back to Wednesday 6th September in order to accommodate the FA Cup tie. Curzon Ashton LFC will still be the opponents if that’s the case for the midweek kick-off.

The only way our league campaign could start on Sunday 3rd September is if we were to be awarded with a bye in the 1st Qualifying round of the Women’s FA Cup.

The five month wait to see a league game at Broadhurst Park then ends as FC face City of Liverpool City on Sunday 10th September followed by the small matter of a game week 3 derby game away at Altrincham LFC the following Sunday. However, should the Reds get through their 1st Qualifying Round tie of the Women’s FA Cup, the 2nd Qualifying Round will take place on Sunday 17th September meaning the short trip to Altrincham may have to wait a little longer.

One week on and the Reds return to Broadhurst Park to face the team that finished up one place behind them in 3rd last season; Warrington Wolverines. The return fixture takes place at Grappenhall Sports Club on Sunday 26th November - the venue the Reds closed out their 2016/17 league season with a 1-1 draw.

The first Broadhurst Park back to back games are on the 8th and 15th October with Northwich Vixens the visitors before Stockport County Blues make the trip over to Broadhurst Park a week later. Again this is still to be confirmed with the Women’s FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round on the 8th, meaning that should FC still be in the competition, the Northwich visit would be re-arranged to be played at a later date.

Not only could fixtures be re-arranged due to possible FA Cup ties, but for Manchester FA Women’s Cup and Argyle Cup ties too. Both of which we are yet to know round dates/draws of just yet as the Reds look to begin their defence of both in the upcoming season after doing the cup double in the 2016/17 campaign.

Our first test against a new league opponent comes on Sunday 22nd October as we make the trip to Crewe to face Crewe Alexandra’s Development Squad with the return fixture at Broadhurst scheduled to be our last home game of the season and first of 2018 on Sunday 7th January. As you may recall, the Reds have already got one over on the Crewe Alexandra first team, edging a narrow pre-season friendly 1-0 at Broadhurst Park just over two weeks ago.

The Reds could make history this year by making their debut in the Women’s FA Cup 1st Round proper after playing in the Qualifying stages for the first time last season. Should that history be made, it will take place on Sunday 12th November, with our visit to City of Liverpool therefore having to be rescheduled for a later date.

One week later comes the return derby fixture against Altrincham LFC at Broadhurst Park with our last fixture before the Christmas break coming nearly a month later away at Stockport County Blues on Sunday 17th December.

The Reds are scheduled to finish their 2017/18 league campaign at Brookburn Road, the ground where we lifted the Manchester FA Women’s Cup last season, by facing West Didsbury & Chorlton WFC.

With the fixtures out, manager Luke Podmore is raring to go and assures his squad will be come September "I’m excited to get started and hit the ground running. By then we will have been working with a select group of players for a full month which will mean us being in the best shape possible for the 3rd September. Whether that’s the FA Cup or the league, I can assure you the group will be ready".

"I’m really looking forward to the season and seeing what we can achieve in a full season together and with a squad and setup myself and the staff have been able to build up as we want it".

As for captain Kirsty Chambers, 2017/18 will be her sixth season at FC and now that the fixtures are out, our record goal-scorer is raring to lead the squad out once again in the upcoming season “Now that the fixtures have been released, I can’t wait for us to begin the league competition. There is some tough opponents [in our division], but we have proven so far throughout pre-season what we are capable of achieving and how far we can go???.

“I truly believe that over my time at FC, this year is going to be the best one yet and I can’t explain how I feel about not only being a part of it but being captain as well. We have gone from strength to strength and we will only continue to get stronger. We have such an amazing mix of players; the retained players from last season and the new players too…we are going places and this is the year we can prove that!???

As well as that, Kirsty knows that this season will take a lot of hard work and effort and has highlighted the key factors of what will make this a successful twelve months for the team “The commitment, the passion and determination from everyone involved is what is going to get us there. The support from the fans doesn’t go unnoticed; they will play a big part towards success this year and will help drive us forward. Luke [Podmore] has big goals and aims for us and I have no doubt at all that he is the man to take us there!???

Despite all of the excitement the fixture announcement brings, don’t forget that you can still see the Reds in pre-season action before the big kick-off on Sunday 3rd September. Next up is Leeds United LFC at Broadhurst Park on Sunday before the visits of Brighouse Town LFC, Rhyl & Prestatyn LFC, Blackburn Community and Doncaster Belles DS with a midweek trip to Nelson Ladies sandwiched in the middle of it all!

And you can check out our full list of league fixtures for yourself using the link below…

FC United Women’s 2017-18 league fixtures

NOTE: Fixtures are subject to change (e.g. cup weekends and weather postponements)

So now that the fixtures are out, get those dates in your diary and the trips planned...2017/18 is coming!


First Posted ~ 18:33 Wed 26 Jul 2017
News ID ~ 7522
Last Updated ~ 00:47 Tue 16 Feb 2021