Birmingham City women: A transformational transfer, an award and a cup final
There are two important matches at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park this weekend. Less than 24 hours after Birmingham City's men play their FA Cup fourth round clash with Newcastle United, Amy Merricks’ women take on Sheffield United looking to extend their lead at the top of the Championship.
Blues bounced back from a defeat to promotion rivals Bristol City to win 1-0 at Sunderland last weekend. They now face a Sheffield United side languishing in 10th place, four points better off than basement side Portsmouth.
Merricks’ team can’t afford any slip ups from hereon with London City and Bristol City hot-on-their-heels.
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“It’s about what we do now,” said Merricks. “We’ve got to keep pushing. I’m certainly never satisfied and I don’t expect them to be. Progress not perfection, every day we stay in the moment and keep pushing.”
Promotion hopes boosted by late deal
Blues’ chances of reaching the Super League have been helped by the signing of 153-cap Australia international Emily van Egmond. The 31-year-old midfielder joined Blues from San Diego Wave late in the transfer window and made her debut as a 67th minute substitute in the win at Sunderland.
Van Egmond enjoyed a brief spell in the Super League with West Ham between 2020 and 2021, initially on loan from Orlando Pride before the deal was made permanent, and has aspirations of reaching the top table with Blues.
“I’m happy to be here and can’t wait to get started,” said van Egmond. “When Birmingham originally came to me, I loved the ambition, they are top of the table right now looking to get promoted and I thought what an opportunity to come to a great club and to be part of something exciting.
“They are looking to really make a stamp on making it to the top league again, and that was something that I really loved when I spoke to Hope [Powell], Ed [Filmer, Head of Recruitment] and Amy [Merricks].
“I feel like the way that they are looking to trend with the Club was something that I aligned with personally. I felt it was a good fit for me right now and I’m excited for the challenge.”
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A POTM nomination
Blues defender Ellie Mason has been nominated for the Barclays Women’s Championship Player of the Month award. Mason trebled her goals tally for Blues with strikes against Portsmouth and Bristol City in January, with her only previous goal for the club coming versus Watford last term.
Mason is up against Sunderland’s Katie Kitching, Charlton’s Charlotte Newsham and Portsmouth midfielder Sophie Quirk. You can cast your vote HERE.
A cup final to come
Blues Women under-21s will contest the PGA Cup final after securing a 1-0 victory over Arsenal courtesy of a goal from Vienna Tokam. Liam Parkes’ side will take on Leicester City in the final, which is due to be played on Sunday, March 30 at Loughborough University (3pm kick-off).
