The home of Palace Women. Find the majority of games played here in Sutton with our official supporters guide.

Visiting the VBS 

## Annabel Blanchard

> Blanchard joined Palace in 2022 off the back of a remarkable season with Blackburn Rovers in which she earned both Coaches' and Supporters' Player of the Season, and has since grown into one of English football's most exciting playmakers.

Blanchard is a young, two-footed forward capable of playing across the front line or, more regularly, as a No. 10.

Blanchard began her career aged just 16 with Liverpool, but started her time with the England youth setup the year before, and has represented the national side from Under-17-Under-19 levels.

After leaving Liverpool she joined Leicester City and then Blackburn Rovers, with whom she finished joint-top goalscorer in 21/22.

Blanchard then joined Palace in the summer of 2022 and made a strong start in South London, with four goals in 22 Championship appearances in her maiden campaign.

In 2023/24, Blanchard's brilliance shone as Palace Women claimed promotion from the Championship, the forward scoring 11 times in just 19 league games including clinical hat-tricks against both Durham and London City Lionesses.

Such form led to Blanchard not only winning both the Championship Goal and Player of the Month awards in September – as well as a nomination for the latter for November – but also the club's Player of the Month awards for October and March to boot.

At the start of Palace's first-ever top-flight season, Blanchard became our inaugural Women's Super League goalscorer, netting a brace in our first win against Leicester City – 2-0 at the King Power Stadium – in October 2024.

September 2023

Championship Player of the Month

Championship Goal of the Month

Blackburn Rovers, 2021/22

Coaches' Player of the Season

Supporters' Player of the Season

February 2023, October 2023, April 2024

Crystal Palace Player of the Month

Shirts

Twitter

Instagram

Appearances

Goals

Goals Inside Box

Goals Outside Box

Right Foot

Left Foot

Shots

Shots on target

Hit woodwork

Penalties taken

Penalties scored

Touches

Touches in opposition box

Aerial duels

Aerial duels won

Interceptions

Blocks

Recoveries

Tackles won

Duels won

Clearances

Minutes

Attempted passes

Successful passes

Chances created

Crosses

Yellow cards

Red cards

Fouls won

Fouls Conceded

Season

Games

Smerud praises the team's fight in loss against Chelsea

In what was just Smerud’s second game in charge, Palace – up against an opponent who are unbeaten in all competitions so far this season, and dominant in the Women’s Super League – were in the running for long stretches at Kingsmeadow, despite being without a number of key players.

In the end, Lauren James’ well-taken finish midway through the second-half saw Palace bow out of the quarter-final tie, having reached that stage for the first time in their history.

Smerud told Palace TV: “I think we played with our hearts on our sleeve. I think we're in a quite difficult situation, challenging when it comes to injuries, and everyone who got the chance today, even out of position, even without having much training in the rucksack, they gave everything.

“We played a really good team and to give it and make it a real fight, that was good to see and it makes me proud – and it makes me believe in what's going to happen next.

“I think I learned a lot today about the fight in the team. We got to work on our shape – we had to do a lot of defensive work today and we were good in many of the phases.

“We need to improve in a few, we need to get people compact and ready to go again, and hopefully some more can also join in, and then we can look forward to a very interesting game next [Sunday against Aston Villa](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/Events?preFilter=6&preFilterName=3.%20Women%27s%20Matches).”

On the club reaching the quarter-finals for the first time, Smerud reflected: “It's a good thing, breaking barriers.

“I hope we can break more going forward and this is what we want: we want to challenge ourselves, playing against the best teams and going as far as we can in every competition.

“I think from that, we should just be proud, and know that next year it's possible to maybe take it one step more or maybe two, so that's what we should aim for.”

Leif Smerud says he learned plenty about the heart and spirit of Crystal Palace squad in their battling defeat to Chelsea in the Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals.

Smerud: We played with our hearts on our sleeves

Chelsea Women v Crystal Palace Women (2025-03-09)

Crystal Palace Women

Women's FA Cup

Chelsea Women

Last Match

Aston Villa Women

English Women's Super League

Next Match

EXPLORE PALACE WOMEN

The February international break has been a busy one for Palace Women, as 13 players jetted off to represent their nations across the world.

Palace players representing Wales, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland competed in the 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League, while others have taken part in invitational cups and friendlies across the globe.

### **New Zealand**

**Indiah-Paige Riley**

The Football Ferns managed a win and a draw in their double header against Costa Rica, with summer signing Indiah-Paige Riley starting in both fixtures.

It was 1-1 in the first game, with Riley scoring a sensational equaliser for New Zealand just after half-time. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a goal from Indi 😮‍💨🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CPFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CPFC</a> <a href="https://t.co/aar0CYtXBu">https://t.co/aar0CYtXBu</a></p>&mdash; Crystal Palace F.C. Women (@cpfc_w) <a href="https://twitter.com/cpfc_w/status/1893657515117666576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Playing on the right wing, Riley picked the ball up from just outside the box and hit a fierce shot that beat the goalkeeper and found the far corner.

Riley also played in the second fixture and kept a clean sheet as New Zealand won 1-0, thanks to a late Maya Hahn goal.

### Wales

**Josie Green, Lily Woodham & Elise Hughes**

Both Josie Green and Lily Woodham featured in their Nations League opener against Italy, where Wales narrowly lost 1-0 in Monza.

Hughes was an unused substitute, Woodham played the full game, and Green came on as a substitute in the 85th minute as The Dragons pushed to overturn the one-goal deficit.

All three Palace players featured in the second fixture against Sweden, as Wales drew 1-1 in Wrexham.

Green started in defence, whilst Woodham entered the fray midway through the second half.

Elise Hughes’ return to action in the 77th minute was an emotional one, as she played for Wales for the first time since suffering her ACL injury in April 2024.

These results leave Wales bottom of Group 4 in League A, with one point in the Nations League so far.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So good to have you back in a Cymru shirt, <a href="https://twitter.com/elise__hughes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elise__hughes</a>! 🥰<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForHer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForHer</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherStronger?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherStronger</a> <a href="https://t.co/mL8fOamYJ8">pic.twitter.com/mL8fOamYJ8</a></p>&mdash; Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@Cymru) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cymru/status/1894528714970370256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Republic of Ireland

**Izzy Atkinson & Abbie Larkin**

Whilst Wales' qualification to Euro 2025 meant both Abbie Larkin and Izzy Atkinson, who featured prominently throughout the Republic of Ireland's campaign, failed to qualify, big fixtures continue to come thick and fast for the duo at international level.

In Carla Ward's first game in charge as manager, Ireland beat Türkiye 1-0 in a nervy Nations League opener in Dublin. Neither Atkinson nor Larkin started the game, but the latter came on to replace Lucy Quinn on the 62nd minute.

An away trip to Slovenia followed for the Ireland team, where they lost 4-0 in Ljubljana. Atkinson didn't feature whilst Larkin was brought on 66 minutes in.

Despite the disappointment in Slovenia, Ireland find themselves in second place in Group 2 of League B in the Nations League.

### **Sweden**

**My Cato**

Cato's stellar performances for Palace this season earned her a third call-up to the Sweden senior team, as her team compete in the Nations League having booked their place in Switzerland for Euro 2025.

Sweden marked their first game of the Nations League tournament with a 2-1 win against Denmark, with Cato not featuring.

Cato remained on the bench for Sweden's 1-1 draw against Wales, with the Blågult now top of Group 4 in League A with four points.

### **England**

**Lexi Potter (England Under-19s)**

Lexi Potter was called up to Lauren Smith's squad, as England WU19s headed to Spain to play in the Albir Garden Tournament.

Potter played every minute against UEFA Women’s U19 EURO champions Spain as the Young Lionesses lost 2-0, thanks to goals from Real Madrid duo Paula Comendador Prado and Maria Luisa Garcia Antolin.

She then came on as a substitute against the USA, as England ran out 2-0 winners on Sunday afternoon.

The final game of the tournament was against the Netherlands on Wednesday, where Potter captained England to a win on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular time. 

### **Denmark**

**Katrine Veje & Mille Gejl**

Like Sweden and Wales, Denmark have already secured their place in Switzerland for Euro 2025.

Denmark's first fixture was against Sweden, and Katrine Veje played the entire game as Sweden grabbed a 2-1 win away from home.

Mille Gejl has been withdrawn from Denmark's squad and has returned to the club due to injury, ahead of their Nations League match against Italy.

An impressive away performance followed for Denmark as they beat Italy 3-1 with neither Veje nor Gejl featuring.

This result means that Denmark currently sit in second place of Group 4 in League A with three points.  

### **Finland**

**Ria Öling**

January signing Ria Öling was called up to the Finland national team for their Nations League fixtures against Serbia and Hungary.

Öling played the entire game on Friday against Serbia in midfield, as her team narrowly lost 1-0 in Vojvodina.

She started for the game in Budapest as Finland got off the mark with a 1-0 against Hungary on Tuesday.

As a result, Finland now sit in second place in Group 3 of League B in the Nations League. 

### **Jamaica**

**Allyson Swaby**

Similar to New Zealand, Jamaica are also halfway through their friendly double-header, as the *Reggae Girlz* take on Peru in Callao after beating them in Lima.

January signing Allyson Swaby captained her side to a 2-0 win in Lima, marking a third straight win for the Girlz.

The teams met again on Wednesday evening as Swaby and the team made it two wins out of two in South America.

Swaby started and played the first half, where Jamaica raced into a 3-0 lead in Callao. 

She was substituted on the 46th minute, and despite a late rally from the hosts to make it 3-2, the Girlz held firm and won their second game in Peru.

### **Canada**

**Clarissa Larisey**

Canada Women are one of four teams competing in a round-robin tournament called the Pinatar Cup, an invitational women's association football tournament typically held in Murcia, Spain.

Larisey came off the bench in the 1-1 draw against China on Wednesday, and was an unused substitute in the 2-0 win against Mexico on Saturday.

Canada then faced Chinese Taipei on Tuesday, and came away with an impressive 7-0 win in Murcia.

Just ten minutes after she was brought on in the second half, Larisey scored Canada's seventh goal on 75 minutes, with a deft header into the corner.

This victory secured Larisey and Canada’s triumph in the fifth edition of the Pinatar Cup in Spain.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">GOAL 🇨🇦x7<br><br>Clarissa Larisey makes it 7-0 for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CanWNT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CanWNT</a> vs. Chinese Taipei, getting a great header from a Jayde Riviere cross to beat the &#39;keeper off the ground 😎<br><br>🔴 Watch LIVE on OneSoccer <a href="https://t.co/7irQCZNvyJ">pic.twitter.com/7irQCZNvyJ</a></p>&mdash; OneSoccer (@onesoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/onesoccer/status/1894471852459753695?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

From Nations League clashes to invitational tournaments and friendlies, the Eagles have been well represented on the global stage during February's international break. Allyson Swaby captained her side to back to back wins in Peru, Clarissa Larisey won silverware in Spain, and a stunner from Indiah-Paige Riley earned her country a draw against Costa Rica. You can find out more below!

February Internationals: Swaby leads, Larisey lifts silverware & Riley scores stunner

But football, like life, has its highs and lows. For Hughes, the lowest point came with the dreaded three-letter diagnosis: ACL, an injury she sustained in the first-half of Palace’s win away at Lewes on 21st April 2024.

Hughes said: “It’s a long journey, and it's obviously a journey that quite a few female football players go through now.

“I'm lucky enough to have an amazing medical team and the facilities here to help me get through, but yeah, this is where I spent every day in the summer, just to feel this moment again.”

It was a cruel twist of fate. She had been flying for Palace, leading the Barclays Women’s Championship Golden Boot race, and cementing herself as a pivotal figure for both club and country. Then, in a single moment, everything changed.

Hughes said: “You never think it's going to happen to you. For so long, I was always quite empathetic and sympathetic to people that had done it.

“But I never understood how they felt. And to be honest, I didn't want to understand how they felt.”

The reality hit quickly. Hughes, who had spent years working her way up through the ranks, suddenly found herself on the sidelines, navigating the gruelling road to recovery.

She said: “It was obviously really tough to take. The first few weeks were such a rollercoaster for me.

“It was like, ‘you’ve won the league, you’ve done your ACL, you’ve won all the individual awards,’ then you have your operation. And then it’s like learning to walk again.”

But Hughes is nothing if not resilient. She poured herself into rehab, sacrificing her summer to ensure she could return as quickly – and as strongly – as possible.

“It was just me and my physio for like May, June, July. And we smashed it out,” she said.

Now, the striker is on the other side of that journey. The hard work has paid off, and Hughes is back, ready to make her mark in Palace’s first-ever WSL campaign.

Hughes said: “Obviously when the team got promoted, I was like, well, I want to play as much part of the WSL as I can.

“And then little things along the way then obviously motivate me even more. And I say little things, but it’s like the massive summer that Wales have got ahead.”

Her return couldn’t be better timed. Wales are preparing for a historic summer as they look forward to their first-ever appearance at the UEFA Women’s Euros, and Hughes is eager to be part of it.

“Everything now more than ever... not that I was ever taking anything for granted before, but now when you suffer such a setback at such a stage of my career, I’m obviously more ambitious and more excited and raring to go than ever."

Beyond her own playing career, Hughes is committed to growing the women’s game. Her roots in Connah’s Quay in Northern Wales remain strong, and she’s actively involved in coaching the next generation.

She said: “It was because obviously my brother plays for Connah’s Quay, so that was how I first got involved with them, my local team, the local Cymru Academy.

“And I always wanted to be involved in other aspects of football because I’m so obsessed with it.

“So, it’s not always just playing, it was then like 'how can I be involved in other aspects?' And then it fell into coaching.”

Her work has helped expand opportunities for young female players in North Wales, an area historically dominated by men’s football.

“Connah’s Quay was quite dominated in boys’ football and men’s football at the time and then I was the first female staff member there, and I think it shined a light on the fact that women play football as well.

“Now there’s hundreds and hundreds of girls that train there every week, and they’ve obviously got the 19s scholarship programme and now the women’s team,” she said.

Her work has helped expand opportunities for young female players in North Wales, an area historically dominated by men’s football.

“Connah’s Quay was quite dominated in boys’ football and men’s football at the time and then I was the first female staff member there, and I think it shined a light on the fact that women play football as well.

“Now there’s hundreds and hundreds of girls that train there every week, and they’ve obviously got the 19s scholarship programme and now the women’s team,” she said.

Now, with her return to fitness, Hughes is focused on making up for lost time. She’s ready to play her part in Palace’s Barclays Women’s Super League campaign and hopefully secure a spot in the Wales squad for this summer’s tournament.

She said: “It’s actually a perfect time for me to return. I’ve got the last stretch of the season and then hopefully a busy footballing summer as well.”

For Hughes, the journey has been anything but smooth. But if there’s one thing she’s proven, it’s that she’s more than capable of overcoming any challenge that comes her way.

Palace and Wales fans alike will be thrilled to see her back where she belongs: on the pitch, putting the ball in the back of the net.

For Elise Hughes, football has always been a way of life. From kicking a ball around with her dad, Big Pete, in Connah’s Quay, to representing Wales at just 16, her journey has been one of relentless dedication and passion. 

Women

Women

Smerud: We played with our hearts on our sleeves

Latest News

February Internationals: Swaby leads, Larisey lifts silverware & Riley scores stunner

Elise Hughes: Palace, Wales, and the road back to football

Latest Videos

FA Cup highlights: Chelsea 1-0 Palace

Smerud praises the team's fight in loss against Chelsea

Pre-match Press Conference: Chelsea (A)

Smerud reflects on loss at home

First interview with Leif Smerud

WSL Highlights: Manchester United 3-1 Crystal Palace

10Annabel
Blanchard

Women

Women

Smerud: We played with our hearts on our sleeves

Latest News

February Internationals: Swaby leads, Larisey lifts silverware & Riley scores stunner

Elise Hughes: Palace, Wales, and the road back to football

Latest Videos

FA Cup highlights: Chelsea 1-0 Palace

Smerud praises the team's fight in loss against Chelsea

Pre-match Press Conference: Chelsea (A)

Smerud reflects on loss at home

First interview with Leif Smerud

WSL Highlights: Manchester United 3-1 Crystal Palace

10AnnabelBlanchard

10Annabel
Blanchard