The complete story of Palace Women's incredible 2023/24 season.

How they did it

## Annabel Blanchard

> Blanchard joined Palace in 2022 off the back of a remarkable season with Blackburn Rovers in which she earned both Coaches' and Supporters' Player of the Season, and has since grown into one of English football's most exciting playmakers.

Blanchard is a young, two-footed forward capable of playing across the front line or, more regularly, as a No. 10.

Blanchard began her career aged just 16 with Liverpool, but started her time with the England youth setup the year before, and has represented the national side from Under-17-Under-19 levels.

After leaving Liverpool she joined Leicester City and then Blackburn Rovers, with whom she finished joint-top goalscorer in 21/22.

Blanchard then joined Palace in the summer of 2022 and made a strong start in South London, with four goals in 22 Championship appearances in her maiden campaign.

In 2023/24, Blanchard's brilliance shone as Palace Women claimed promotion from the Championship, the forward scoring 11 times in just 19 league games including clinical hat-tricks against both Durham and London City Lionesses.

Such form led to Blanchard not only winning both the Championship Goal and Player of the Month awards in September – as well as a nomination for the latter for November – but also the club's Player of the Month awards for October and March to boot.

At the start of Palace's first-ever top-flight season, Blanchard became our inaugural Women's Super League goalscorer, netting a brace in our first win against Leicester City – 2-0 at the King Power Stadium – in October 2024.

September 2023

Championship Player of the Month

Championship Goal of the Month

Blackburn Rovers, 2021/22

Coaches' Player of the Season

Supporters' Player of the Season

February 2023, October 2023, April 2024

Crystal Palace Player of the Month

Shirts

Twitter

Instagram

Appearances

Goals

Goals Inside Box

Goals Outside Box

Right Foot

Left Foot

Shots

Shots on target

Hit woodwork

Penalties taken

Penalties scored

Touches

Touches in opposition box

Aerial duels

Aerial duels won

Interceptions

Blocks

Recoveries

Tackles won

Duels won

Clearances

Minutes

Attempted passes

Successful passes

Chances created

Crosses

Yellow cards

Red cards

Fouls won

Fouls Conceded

Season

Games

[**Tickets for Sunday's game at the VBS Community Stadium are available here**](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/EDP/Event/Index/521?position=3), with prices starting at just £5.00 for Under-16s.

Palace Women are in Group E of the League Cup this season, along with Aston Villa, Charlton Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur.

Having narrowly missed out on the knockout stages last season, head coach Laura Kaminski and the team will be determined to go one stage further in this year's competition.

Palace faced Villa in the first fixture of the 2024/25 competition, losing 2-0 away at the Bescot Stadium in early October.

Sunday's opponents Charlton lost 2-1 to Tottenham Hotspur in the other fixture in Group E.

Charlton come into this game in 8th place in the Women's Championship, having suffered back-to-back losses against Southampton and Bristol City in the league.

Historically, Palace and Charlton have each had two wins and three draws in this fixture, making Sunday's game a potential turning point in this historic South London rivalry.

Palace will need a win on Sunday if they are to keep their Women's League Cup dreams alive, with both Spurs and Villa winning last time out.

#### Competition Format

The FA Women’s League Cup features a group stage, where only the outright winner of the group goes through to quarter finals. If the game ends as a draw at the end of 90 minutes, a penalty shoot-out will take place for an additional point.

The competition exclusively features the 22 teams from the WSL and the Championship, with teams placed into north and south regional groups.

#### Fixture Details

**Sunday, 24th November:** Crystal Palace vs Charlton (VBS Community Stadium, 14:00 GMT)

**Wednesday, 11th December:** Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur (VBS Community Stadium, 19:00 GMT)

[**Tickets for Sunday's game are available here.**](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/EDP/Event/Index/521?position=3)

Crystal Palace Women host Charlton Athletic at the VBS Community Stadium in the second game of the 2024/25 FA Women’s League Cup group stage on Sunday, 24th November (14:00 GMT). 

Palace vs Charlton: Everything you need to know about the FA Women's League Cup

Crystal Palace Women v Charlton Athletic Women (2024-11-24)

Crystal Palace Women v Tottenham Hotspur Women (2024-12-11)

Crystal Palace Women

English Women's Super League

Aston Villa Women

Last Match

West Ham United Women

Next Match

EXPLORE PALACE WOMEN

Kaminski reflects on late defeat at Villa Park

Despite an 86th minute equaliser from Annabel Blanchard, Ebony Salmon's injury-time strike sealed the win for the hosts as Palace lost 3-2 at Villa Park.

Speaking to Palace TV after the game, Kaminski said: “I'm frustrated and disappointed to let it go in the final seconds of the game.

“I think both myself and the players are frustrated about that and we know that we’ve got to manage those moments in the game better.

“We've done so well, by the way, to take the top side and stay in the game.” 

Despite Villa having the majority of the ball, Palace managed to create a number of high quality chances throughout the game.

“That's easier said than done against the top quality side.

“We managed to turn the game over in terms of momentum and had a long spell on the ball where we have taken the top side and pushed and pushed and at the end of that, we've scored a fantastic goal.”

The late equaliser was created by substitute Ashleigh Weerden, whose pinpoint cross was volleyed in by Blanchard at the back post.

Kaminski was keen to heap praise on Weerden’s contribution as well as the quality on the bench, saying: "It was a great impact from the sub, Ashleigh, to get a great delivery in and it was good contact for the finish.

“But it is not just the starting XI. The bench has offered impact now across a few weeks and that’s a credit to the group of players.”

Whilst Palace had many positive moments throughout the game, it was a last-minute strike from Villa substitute Salmon that won the game for the hosts. 

Kaminski said: “In the final moments of the game, we've let that slip through the management of the game. 

“We know that’s frustrating… we were basically 90 seconds away from finishing the game. If you don’t do that right, you get punished at this level.” 

Despite the disappointing result, Kaminski was keen to emphasise the positives: “They stuck at it for the moment in the second half where it went a little bit flat. And I felt like they rose to the top of that as a group.

“I don’t think the result of the game will show a dip of confidence for the group because we’ve taken a top side to the last stage of the game away.

“It’s one game and we have to just take the lessons… we know it will propel the group forward.

“I have a group that don’t hide away from those problems. They’ll want to fix it so that later down the line, we get what we deserve.”

Palace and Kaminski will now turn their attention to the Women's League Cup, where they will face Charlton at the VBS Community Stadium on Sunday 24th November at 14:00.

[Tickets for that fixture and others are available here.](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/Events?preFilter=6&preFilterName=3.%20Women%27s%20Matches)

Crystal Palace head coach Laura Kaminski offered her post-match reflections after Palace Women lost 3-2 to Aston Villa on Sunday.

Kaminski: There are lessons to be learned from Villa defeat

Aston Villa Women v Crystal Palace Women (2024-11-17)

Get ready to get behind the team as Palace Women prepare for an exciting series of home fixtures in Sutton.

With matches in both the Women's League Cup and the Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) coming up, make sure you’ve secured your seat at the **VBS Community Stadium** in Sutton to back the team as they continue their historic campaign in the top-flight!

Buy tickets now!

Here’s everything you need to know:

### Upcoming Matches at the VBS Community Stadium:

**Crystal Palace Women vs Charlton Athletic**

- **Competition:** Women’s League Cup
- **Date:** Sunday, 24th November
- **Kick-off:** 14:00 GMT
- **Venue:** VBS Community Stadium, Sutton

**Crystal Palace Women vs Tottenham Hotspur**

- **Competition:** Women’s League Cup
- **Date:** Wednesday, 11th December
- **Kick-off:** 19:00 GMT
- **Venue:** VBS Community Stadium, Sutton

**Crystal Palace Women vs Manchester United**

- **Competition:** Women’s Super League (WSL)
- **Date:** Sunday, 15th December
- **Kick-off:** 14:00 GMT
- **Venue:** VBS Community Stadium, Sutton

### Seating Arrangements

Although all supporters at Selhurst Park matches will be seated, matches **in Sutton** will see supporters have the option of purchasing either a **Seating Ticket** – allowing them to reserve a specific seat within the VBS Community Stadium’s stands – or a **Standing Ticket**.

Standing Tickets are not restricted to specific areas. Supporters will be able to move around all terracing stands at the VBS Community Stadium, depending on availability.

If you are a supporter with any **accessibility requirements**, please contact our dedicated Disability Liaison Officer, Rhianna Odartey, either by email [**dlo@cpfc.co.uk**](mailto:dlo@cpfc.co.uk) or call 0208 768 6000. Limited parking is available for supporters with a blue badge.

**Away supporters** should be aware that there is a dedicated away section at each match in the WSL, with clubs responsible for selling seats to their own travelling supporters.

We recommend purchasing all tickets online, in advance of each match, to ensure you don’t miss out.

### Ticket information

**All tickets will be digital** and will be emailed to the account holder before each game (if bought in advance, no later than 48 hours prior to kick-off).

**Tickets for each game** will be sent out as PDF files, which can either be scanned on your phone at the gates, or printed off at home.

Pricing for the Charlton, Spurs and Man Utd games will be the same; please see the details below:

### Prices

**Seated**

- Adults: £12
- Under-16s: £5

**Standing**

- Adults: £10
- Under-16s: £5

For just £25, you can get 2 adults and 2 juniors using code **CPFCWFAMILY** at checkout.

**Mascot Package pricing:**

Charlton - £100

Spurs - £100

Man United - £125

Tickets for Palace Women’s final three home games of 2024 – against Charlton, Spurs and Manchester United – are on general sale now!

Charlton, Tottenham & Man United (H) tickets on sale now

Crystal Palace Women v Manchester United Women (2024-12-15)

Women

Women

Palace vs Charlton: Everything you need to know about the FA Women's League Cup

Latest News

Kaminski: There are lessons to be learned from Villa defeat

Charlton, Tottenham & Man United (H) tickets on sale now

Latest Videos

WSL Highlights: Aston Villa 3 - 2 Crystal Palace

My Cato on first goal for the club against Villa

Kaminski reflects on late defeat at Villa Park

Access All Over: Everton (H)

WSL Highlights: Crystal Palace Women 1 - 1 Everton

Laura reflects on 1-1 draw against Everton

10Annabel
Blanchard

Women

Women

Palace vs Charlton: Everything you need to know about the FA Women's League Cup

Latest News

Kaminski: There are lessons to be learned from Villa defeat

Charlton, Tottenham & Man United (H) tickets on sale now

Latest Videos

WSL Highlights: Aston Villa 3 - 2 Crystal Palace

My Cato on first goal for the club against Villa

Kaminski reflects on late defeat at Villa Park

Access All Over: Everton (H)

WSL Highlights: Crystal Palace Women 1 - 1 Everton

Laura reflects on 1-1 draw against Everton

10AnnabelBlanchard

10Annabel
Blanchard