Fulham Women are set to face AFC Wimbledon at Craven Cottage in the first round of the Capital One Cup on 20 November.
The match, which will kick off at Fulham FC’s home ground at 2pm, marks the first time the women’s team will play at the 22,000 seater-stadium since their re-formation in 2014.
The game is the latest of a growing trend of women’s football games being played at the same grounds as men’s teams.
Dons’ defender Rosie Russell, 20, expressed her excitement at the prospect of playing at Craven Cottage.
She said: “Personally it was a pinch me moment and not an opportunity that presents itself every day, so it will most definitely be an experience that I saviour every second of.
“The overwhelming emotion is excitement, you also need to recognise the gratitude too because obviously, it is a Premier League pitch we are getting to play on.
“The Fulham girls will be thrilled as well because it is the first time they will be playing at Craven Cottage and this gives them the opportunity for growth, especially coming off the back of the Euros success for the Lionesses.”
The exposure from playing at Craven Cottage has led to an estimated 1,900 tickets sold for the game, more than the capacity of Fulham Women’s home ground Motspur Park.
Russell said: “I obviously understand the practical and financial limitations of playing at these stadiums all the time but if it is within a club’s budget, it is something that is beneficial for women’s teams, it just boosts the exposure that we usually receive.”
AFC Wimbledon Women have also played regularly at the men’s pitch at Plough Lane, which has a capacity for 9,215.
Russell said: “I absolutely love it. We are incredibly lucky that we can play at Plough Lane relatively regularly and every time I do step onto that pitch I am extremely thankful because its something that cannot be facilitated for other teams in a similar position to us, so I’m always grateful in the opportunity that we have been given.
“It has given us a platform to grow as a club, by increasing exposure and creating more interest.
“That’s something that can’t be underestimated, it’s given us the stage to demonstrate what we are about.”
Featured image credit: Glyn Roberts
