Blackburn Rovers have been knocking on the door of The FA WSL for some time – and midfielder Lynda Shepherd believes they are finally about to burst through ahead of The FA Women's Premier League Play-Off final.
Gemma Donnelly’s side have been inspired all season, wrapping up The FA WPL Northern Division six weeks ago, as they swept aside all before them in an unbeaten campaign.
Seventeen wins and three draws from 20 games means they arrive at The Valley in high spirits, as they prepare to take on Tottenham Hotspur – a side that has already lifted three pieces of silverware this season.
But Shepherd thinks this could be Rovers’ year after back-to-back third-place finishes before this season, which has served as motivation.
She said: “Obviously going through the season unbeaten is going to put us in good stead for Sunday. So all the girls are in high spirits and confidence is flying.
“We won our league six weeks ago. It was about trying to set a target after we won the league to try and do it unbeaten, which we did. Then it was about us finally lifting the trophy.
“When we found out Spurs had won their league we have been able to concentrate on them, to make sure we’ve got everything down to a tee.
“I think the experience of the two years before has put us in really good stead. We’re a really young squad apart from a few of us. The rest of the girls are really so young.
“There are four or five of them who have just stepped out of youth football. Last year gave those girls experience and experience of losing.”
Blackburn have a number of weapons with which they can hurt Spurs, with the likes of Saffron Jordan, Faye McCoy and Jess Holbrook all adding star quality.
But Shepherd suggests it is their team spirit which makes them such a formidable force.
She added: “There’s a really togetherness in the squad this year and it’s not just the players who have done well.
“We set our targets at the start of the season. We didn’t set targets for the sake of it, we set those targets because we believed we could achieve them.
“We’ve achieved those targets which has been great.”
FA Women’s Premier League history
The FA WPL in its current format began in the 2014-15 season. Northern Division Sheffield FC were the first Championship Play-Off Final winners, while Brighton & Hove Albion, from the Southern Division, are the most recent champions, in 2016. Both were promoted to FA WSL 2.
Did you know?
Blackburn have lifted the Lancashire Challenge Cup for an incredible 11 seasons in a row.
One to watch
Spurs will need to have done their homework on Blackburn striker Saffron Jordan, who has 22 goals this season. The forward is quick, skilful and a consummate finisher inside the box.
The prize
The prestigious title of FA WPL champion is up for grabs, as well as the possibility of promotion for the winner, should they meet all the necessary criteria to become an FA WSL 2 club.
