Lauren Hemp dey hope say bumper crowd for Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium go help roar Lionesses to big win over Ukraine for their final World Cup qualifying group game.
Back for Boxing Day 1920, Dick, Kerr Ladies of Preston defeat 4-0 for Blues’ former home Goodison Park for front of 53,000 spectators, wey be world record attendance for women’s club game wey stand for over 98 years.
While dem no expect those kind figures by banks of Mersey tonight, Manchester City winger Hemp believe say supporters fit play their part as England dey look to bounce back from 4-0 defeat for Spain on Friday.
That result ensure say, heading into their respective final fixtures (Spain go Iceland at same time with 8pm kick-off), both nations now get 12 points from five games, but Spain’s superior head-to-head record take England’s destiny out of their own hands if dem want qualify automatically for next year’s finals for Brazil rather than go through another two rounds of play-offs.
Hemp talk: “It’s always nice to get game so soon afterwards. We no play how we want, we no execute gameplan like we suppose do. For us as players, the thing we love do na then get back out on pitch and prove ourselves as group and obviously to all our fans as well. The fans wey come out to support us (for Spain), we appreciate am so much and dem dey there throughout the whole game for us. We now look forward to game for Everton’s new stadium. I hear we get massive turnout there, wey be great for us, so the best thing we fit do na put on performance for dem.”
England beat Ukraine 6-1 last time out for reverse fixture (play for Turkey) on March 3. Regardless of whether Iceland fit do dem unexpected favour, Hemp want turn on style.
The 25-year-old talk: “It’s always tough get defeat like that but there only so many times you fit go over game. The important thing for us na look forward to next one. Yes, e no nice to dey on end of defeat but e important for us not to panic because we don dey for those situations before where we don lose games. As professional players, you always go lose games but e where you get biggest learning. Now e dey look forward to next one and make sure we put those wrongs right. E be mentality of group. Coming after defeat like that, e easy to put your heads down but I think that’s what great about this group, we work each other. We don dey train really well and our full focus dey on Tuesday’s game and put in good, relentless performance against Ukraine. We don look at their strengths and weaknesses wey we want exploit. E important say we go out and do that and put on show for fans.”
Having previously play England home games for City Ground, Etihad Stadium, Pride Park and St Mary’s this season in addition to Wembley, Hemp, wey hail from North Walsham for Norfolk, dey look forward to turn out by banks of Mersey.
She talk: “It’s fantastic. I hear say stadium dey unbelievable. E so nice as players say we fit go and play for different stadiums across whole of country. I think e so important for us to see fans from all across and I see say there go be quite a few fans there, so I no fit wait.”
Meanwhile, fans wey attend fixture fit kick things off by stage raucous welcome for Lionesses. Supporters wey arrive early dey encouraged to make their way to Western Wharf (adjacent to stadium), where stepped terrace provide perfect platform to welcome both team coaches on their arrival.
Preceding team arrivals, Lionesses legend and former Everton star Jill Scott go also arrive for Western Wharf at conclusion of second day of her extraordinary charity challenge to raise money for Comic Relief/Sport Relief. Her five-day duathlon involve journey from Wembley Stadium, cycling and running total of 388 miles and visit every club she play for, finish at Stadium of Light for her hometown of Sunderland.
Please note say capacity for Western Terrace dey limited and go operate on first-come, first-served basis. Once capacity reach, area go close for safety reasons. Fans dey encouraged to bring flags and banners to help create vibrant and colourful atmosphere. However, we respectfully remind supporters say pyrotechnics of any kind – including smoke grenades, smoke bombs, canisters and flares – dey strictly prohibited for stadium footprint.
Tickets for fixture still fit purchase. Everton don produce special event guide for supporters wey attend game. The guide, wey dey available for link below, go help all supporters plan their visit, including extensive Travel Hub with advice and directions on how to travel to stadium. The guide also contain information on food and drink options, digital tickets, accessibility, WiFi and phone connectivity, safeguarding, bag and flag policies, and what dey happen for and around ground, including interactive stadium maps.
