For the first time in women’s football history in England, one club could soon hold the FA Cup at all three levels at the same time – Arsenal.
Arsenal’s first team play the FA Women’s Cup semi-final on Sunday against Sunderland Ladies and could reach another final of the famous Cup that started back in 1970/71.
Arsenal Ladies are the record winners with 13 trophies collected through the years and will be looking to go to Wembley, where the final will take place for the second time in the FA Women’s Cup history.
The reserves have also reached their own FA Cup final – the FA WSL Development Cup final – by winning all their games away to Liverpool Ladies, Manchester City Women and Durham Women; an impressive feat against tough opponents.
The final will be played on the 28th May 2016 at Sutton Coldfield against Sheffield Ladies reserves. The FA WSL Development League Cup was created back in 2013/14 and has been won by Arsenal Ladies and Birmingham City Ladies so far.
The Centre of Excellence u17 team will play their own FA Women’s Cup final on the 16th April at St George’s Park behind closed door against Manchester United.
The FA Girls Youth Cup, as it is known, was created at the beginning of the 2011/12 season, when the FA changed the age group for the Centre of Excellence from u16 to u17 in order to align with UEFA’s competitions’s age groups.
The winners so far have been Chelsea Ladies, Arsenal Ladies, Liverpool Ladies and Arsenal Ladies again last season.
The fact that the club could win all three finals in one season is a clear indication of the quality players that are developing through all the age groups at the club with the pathway to the first team well established.