When the University of Nottingham head out on to the pitch against Cambridge United this weekend, they will be making history.
It is the first time they have made it to the first round proper of the Women’s FA Cup, and they are the only university side still in the competition.
They’ve been through three qualifying rounds to get this far – beating Boston Town 10-1, then Belper Town 9-1, and edging past Brunsmeer Athletic 4-3.
And they’ve ended up with a plum draw – hosting a fourth-tier side at the David Ross Sports Village facility.
SheKicks.net spoke exclusively to University of Nottingham first-year sports science student Iris Lacey and fourth-year medical student Lucy Robinson as the Women’s FA Cup trophy arrived on campus for a photo opportunity.
SK: How are you feeling ahead of the big match? It must be so much fun for University of Nottingham to become the centre of attention this weekend!
Iris: It’s just so exciting, going into this and getting so far. Cambridge is a big side. I think we just need to put all that into it and really go for it – and I think we can show them, we can do it.
Lucy: It’s a really big moment. We’ve definitely had really huge moments in these four years I’ve been here, but it’s always been centred around university football, which is its own bubble. Now we’re doing something that’s not just uni big, it’s like whole world big! It’s really taken it up a notch and it’s definitely a bit more pressure, but we’ve all really risen to it. We all thrive in these situations. We’ve all come from quite big clubs and all different backgrounds, but we make a really good, solid team. We’re all just really excited to see how we fare. We all back ourselves, but know that it’s going to be a challenging game, of course.
SK: You’ve already played three qualifying rounds to get to this point – you must feel like you’re already halfway to the final.
Iris: They’re not going to want to lose to a uni team, but we have to show them that we’re not just a uni team, but we are a proper side to play against.
SK: Is there any pressure on you at this point?
Lucy: Every time we’ve played, people are like, ‘Oh, it’s just a uni team.’ There are four or five women’s football teams here, so it’s very competitive.
SK: How did you start playing football?
Iris: I started very young. I think my parents just wanted me to get me out of the house, and so I played with boys until I was under 14s, and then I went to Crystal Palace for four seasons and then I joined Dulwich Hamlet, which is tier 4, so the same league as Cambridge last year.
Lucy: I’ve got four brothers, so probably started there! I think I just got bored of watching them. It was a massive part of my family’s life, and I think I just thought, I’ll just get involved. When we were younger, not so much probably a problem now, but there weren’t any girls’ teams around, so I played for a boys’ team for four or five seasons. Then I joined Brighton, and then I played for Crystal Palace from the age of 12 till I came to uni.
SK: Studying medicine as well as playing football at a very high standard – how are you finding the time?
Lucy: I thrive on being busy! I love football and I love my course. Football is just such a massive outlet for me, like after a busy day in the library or on placement where I’m doing 8 to 6 or something and then going to training and seeing all the girls and where it’s like a big buzz and it’s competitive, there’s nothing more that I prefer to do. It’s quite intense, but I love it.
SK: Iris, you’re a fresher – how have you settled in? You must only be about six weeks into your University of Nottingham life!
Iris: This is our fifth week, but we’ve had pre-season obviously for another three weeks. It was quite a big adjustment, especially like leaving my family and coming in with people you don’t know, and living in accommodation. The girls have been so helpful, they already feel like family, they’re so welcoming. They’ve made it so much easier. Without them I would have really struggled.
SK: And then this weekend, have you got lots of family, friends, fellow students who can pack the stands and make it noisy?
Iris: Yeah, hopefully! I’ve got my parents coming up and my brother, and then some friends coming, so that’ll be nice.
Lucy: I’ve got a big family and everyone’s having to get an AirBnb – I was like, ‘I can’t host you!’ They’re coming, and all my house, and some of my coursemates. I think everyone’s just as excited for it as we are!
