Lucia Leon wants to make history in the SSE Women’s FA Cup by helping her club Tottenham Hotspur make the sixth round for the first time.
The 21-year-old defender is gearing up for fifth round clash with high-flying Manchester City this Sunday (February 17).
Leon, 21, quickly picked up the importance of the historic competition after moving to the club from Spain when she was a teenager.
The Spaniard now wants to make history with her Lilywhites teammates, with her side securing a comfortable 3-0 win over Crystal Palace in the last round to earn them a home tie against the Citizens.
“I grew up in Spain not knowing much about the FA Cup but as soon as I came here, and everyone used to talk about it being the biggest cup in women’s and men’s football,” Leon said.
“It’s great that everyone has a chance to play in it, from the bottom up to the top division. It’s a special competition.
“The fifth round is the furthest we have every got so if we make it through we will make history for Spurs. We are hoping to get a result against them.”
Victory would be a marker for the Lilywhites, having cemented themselves as one of the top sides in the FA Women’s Championship.
Leon believes it shows the progress they club has made in recent years, moving through the divisions with the summit of the women’s game now a realistic possibility – especially thanks to some additions this summer.
“Now we have a really strong team and have put so much work into it,” she said.
“The team has been together a long time and knows how it wants to play.
“Obviously there’s a few players who have come in.
“We’ve got Jess Naz who has come in as one of the youngest players in the first team and has made a massive impact with her football and how she plays.
“We’ve got Rianna Dean as well, she’s the top scorer in the league, and Sarah Wiltshire just won player of the month.”
By Sportsbeat
As the energy behind women’s football, SSE’s ambition is to support girls of all ages in England, helping them join in football from grassroots to the elite level. For more information on SSE’s sponsorships and activities visit sse.co.uk
