Captain Kim Dixson insists it’s time Charlton Athletic started to fulfil their potential ahead of Sunday’s FA Women’s Premier League Cup Final against Sheffield.
The Addicks, FA Women’s Cup winners in 2005, have flattered to deceive in recent seasons and it is now nine years since they last won the Premier League Cup.
That 2-1 victory over Arsenal at Adams Park in 2006 was their third successive Premier League Cup Final appearance during a glittering spell for the Londoners.
Charlton Athletic v Sheffield
The FA Women's Premier League Cup
The Final
3pm, Sunday 3 May
James Parnell Stadium, Nuneaton Town FC
Tickets priced £5 adults, £2.50 U16s
But Jeremy Parsons’ side have started to turn back time this term having made it all the way to The FA Women’s Cup quarter finals against FA WSL 2 side Everton – a game they eventually lost on penalties.
And midfielder Dixson admits this weekend’s clash against Premier League Cup holders Sheffield could be the perfect springboard to another era of success.
“We haven’t done that well in cups in recent years, but we’ve done really well this season,” said Dixson.
“We’ve never really fulfilled our potential and Sheffield have that experience having won it last year.
“The game against Everton was a massive chance for the whole team. To play against a WSL 2 side is what we all want to be doing on a regular basis, we know we can.
“We left that game with our heads held high, we gave a very good account of ourselves but there is no doubt that is our overall aim – to be in the WSL.”
Charlton, currently third in The FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division, have a slim chance of making the play-offs in order to gain promotion to WSL 2 next season.
Sheffield, meanwhile, are second in the Northern Division and are realistic contenders for a spot in the second tier of women’s football after an impressive season on all fronts.
Dixson has only recently returned from a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury which kept her out for 14 months, but she’s determined to end the campaign with silverware.
“We haven’t had much chance to think about it to be honest, we’ve played eight games in 26 days, so the girls are just happy to be have a week to prepare fully for this Final,” added the midfielder.
“It’s going to be a really big test for us, Sheffield are up there with Coventry in the Northern Division and we beat them in the quarter finals, so we just want to be able to show we can compete with the best sides.”
