Coventry City Ladies have announced that they will kick-off their FA Women's Premier League Southern Division campaign with a home tie at the Ricoh Arena.
The Sky Blues, who usually play their home fixtures at the Bedworth Oval, will start their season by hosting Sussex-based Lewes Ladies at the currently-vacant stadium on Sunday 25th August.
It promises to be a day where the entire club pulls together, with the youth teams playing on the pitch at half-time, as well as acting as ball girls during the main event. There will also be a bucket shake before the game, to raise much-needed funds to support the club over the course of the season ahead. Cheerleaders will be entertaining the fans before the game and refreshments will be available throughout the day.
It is a welcome boost for the Ladies who were denied a place in the revised FA Women’s Super League towards the end of last season. Manager Chris Holloway resigned in June and was replaced by Craig Nicholls, who boasts a previous coaching role with Super League side Bristol Academy on his impressive CV.
Last season, the Sky Blues clinched their second successive Birmingham FA County Cup, as well as finishing fifth in the FA Women’s Premier League, the highest-ever league finish in the club’s history.
On the eve of their new campaign, Coventry City will head into the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division as one of the clear favourites for the title.
Sky Blues Ladies already have experience of taking on three out of the fellow ten teams in the reorganised league – Cardiff City, Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic – having taken a superb 16 points out of a possible 18 against the trio of teams in the Premier League last year.
Lewes also have a good pedigree, having finished fifth in the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division last season, as well as reaching the last 16 of the FA Women’s League Cup. The visitors have welcomed the opportunity of playing at the Ricoh and are having to lay on coaches to meet the demand in interest from their supporters to attend the game.
Chairman Bill Newnes commented: “This has given our season the start the players deserve and everyone at the club is made up to be able to play our first game of the season at the heart of women's football at the Ricoh Arena.
“We want everyone to get behind the Ladies Team and come along and support the only Premier League team in Coventry. Bring your family and friends along and experience women’s football at its best”.
The match will take place on Sunday 25th August at the Ricoh Arena, and will kick-off at 2pm with doors opening at 12.30pm. Tickets cost £5 for adults and £3 for concessions and children, and can be purchased online at www.theticketfactory.com.
Alternatively you can purchase tickets at the Ricoh Arena box office.
Opening times:
Thursday 22nd August – 4-7pm
Friday 23rd August – 4-7pm
Saturday 24th August – 10am-4pm
Sunday 25th August – 10am-12:30pm
Parking will be available at £2. Access to the ground will be through the main atrium.