Luton Town will be the first Premier League stadium to host the FA Women’s National League Cup Final tomorrow – 40 years after playing host to the first-ever Women’s European Championships showpiece.
Newcastle United and Hashtag United will do battle for the silverware which, for the Magpies, could be the start of a league and cup double as they sit 12 points clear at the top of the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division.
More than 3,000 Magpies fans will make the 500-mile round-trip to the Hatters’ 11,500-capacity seater, which will be the first top-flight stadium to host the competition’s final.
It mirrors the pioneering spirit of 1984 when 2,566 fans flocked to Kenilworth Road to watch as England’s Lionesses lost 4-3 to Sweden in a penalty shootout on a quagmire of a pitch to decide the first-ever UEFA Women’s Championship final.
As part of this year’s game, The FA plan to celebrate the occasion by inviting all players from the squad to attend the final.
But 1984 wasn’t the first time Kenilworth Road played host to a women’s football match. Defying a ban that ran from 1921 to 1971 after the Football Association had said the sport was “quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged” two women’s football matches took place at Kenilworth Road, in 1935, believed to be the Bazaar Cup Final between Woolworth and Marks & Spencer, and a Widows v Spinsters tie.
And following on from Luton leading the way with women’s football in England, local bus driver Harry Batt and his wife June also defied the FA ban to set up Chiltern Valley Ladies FC. They made Crawley Green Recreation Ground their home, where a blue heritage plaque was last year unveiled to commemorate how the Batts pioneered women’s international football in England, taking the team, now known as the Lost Lionesses, to the unofficial 1969 European Championships and the first-ever World Cup in 1970.
Now, in 2024, with women’s football more popular than ever, and continuing to grow after the England Lionesses European Championship triumph in 2022, Kenilworth Road will host the domestic FA Women’s National League Cup Final.
An annual competition open to the 72 teams in the FA WNL it will also be played on Women’s Football Weekend (23-24 March), which is an initiative to encourage fans to attend a women’s football game over the weekend.
Gary Sweet, Luton Town chief executive said: “The women’s game has rightly grown to new heights in so many ways in recent seasons and we’re truly seeing a new era for women’s football.
“That’s why we are delighted to have the backing of the Football Association to provide Kenilworth Road as the host stadium for this hugely respected and exciting national competition, a fitting venue that the two finalists will deserve for such a big occasion.
“The success of our own women’s team this season has added to the already growing interest in the women’s game locally. And with Kenilworth Rd set to be recognised by UEFA for the 40th anniversary of hosting the first Women’s European Championship, we are looking forward to opening the our doors and arms to thousands of fans who feel similarly inspired.”
Luton Ladies were the lowest-ranked team in the Women’s FA Cup this season, when the Eastern Region Premier League side reached the fifth round and hosted Women’s Super League side Brighton, losing 6-0 to the side who are four divisions above them.
The club secretary of the Luton Town Ladies team, David Baker, said: “Luton Town Ladies Football Club are so thrilled to be involved in the FA Women’s National League Final this year.
“Our relationship with Luton Town FC has really moved forward in the last 12 months and it is great to be able to work so closely with the club.
“Additionally, as former members of the FA WNL, Luton Ladies know how exciting this competition is and want to get as much of the local community involved as possible.”
Sue Hough, Chair of the FA Women’s National League Board added: “Recent years have been really exciting for the FA WNL, with accelerated growth supported by the Premier League through our strategy ‘Empowering For Success’. Having the opportunity to play the FA WNL Cup Final at a Premier League stadium really embodies this progress. We are very excited for the Final to be hosted at Kenilworth Road and thank Luton Town FC for all their help in making this possible.”
The final will also be broadcast live the BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app, as well as worldwide on on The FA Player.
