The home of Palace Women. Find the majority of games played here in Sutton with our official supporters guide.

Visiting the VBS 

## 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

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Buy tickets here!

The 15-time champions of England will be coming to **Sutton** on **Sunday, 30th March**, kicking off at **14:00** – and we're aiming for a **sell-out crowd to roar the Eagles on** in a crucial London derby!

Speaking to Palace TV this week, head coach Laura Kaminski said: "We’ve had amazing support at Sutton this season, and we now want to take it to the next level. 

"A sell-out crowd for the Arsenal game – which is sure to be a great occasion – would be incredible, and would help us show just how far we’ve come.

"Let’s pack the stadium, make some noise, and create a special moment together!"

Please note both the date and time of this fixture are subject to change, should the fixture be selected for broadcast.

**Please read the information below in full before purchasing your tickets.**

### 📅 **Match Details**

**Crystal Palace v Arsenal:**

- **Opponent**: Arsenal
- **Date**: Sunday, 30th March
- **Time**: 14:00
- **Competition**: Barclays Women's Super League
- **Venue**: VBS Community Stadium

### 🎟 **Early Bird Ticket Price**

*Early bird pricing available until 23:59 GMT on Sunday, 16th March.*

**Seated**

- **Adults:** £12
- **Under-16s:** £5

**Standing**

- **Adults:** £10
- **Under-16s:** £5

### ℹ️ **Ticket Details**

- The early bird ticketing window will run until **23:59 GMT on Sunday, 16th March**, from which point the tickets will then go on general sale at an increased price.

- **Digital Delivery:** All tickets will be delivered digitally no later than 48 hours before kick-off. If you need assistance with ticketing, please contact [boxoffice@cpfc.co.uk](mailto:boxoffice@cpfc.co.uk)

- **Group Packages** are available for this game, [click here to make an enquiry!](https://r1.dotdigital-pages.com/p/10Y7-1JFI/palace-women-v-arsenal-group-booking)

Crystal Palace will host Arsenal in the Barclays Women's Super League at the VBS Community Stadium in Sutton on Sunday, 30th March – and early bird tickets are now available!

Tickets now on sale for Palace Women vs Arsenal!

Crystal Palace Women v Arsenal Women (2025-03-30)

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English Women's Super League

Manchester United Women

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EXPLORE PALACE WOMEN

But football, like life, has its highs and lows. For Hughes, the lowest point came with the dreaded three-letter diagnosis: ACL, an injury she sustained in the first-half of Palace’s win away at Lewes on 21st April 2024.

Hughes said: “It’s a long journey, and it's obviously a journey that quite a few female football players go through now.

“I'm lucky enough to have an amazing medical team and the facilities here to help me get through, but yeah, this is where I spent every day in the summer, just to feel this moment again.”

It was a cruel twist of fate. She had been flying for Palace, leading the Barclays Women’s Championship Golden Boot race, and cementing herself as a pivotal figure for both club and country. Then, in a single moment, everything changed.

Hughes said: “You never think it's going to happen to you. For so long, I was always quite empathetic and sympathetic to people that had done it.

“But I never understood how they felt. And to be honest, I didn't want to understand how they felt.”

The reality hit quickly. Hughes, who had spent years working her way up through the ranks, suddenly found herself on the sidelines, navigating the gruelling road to recovery.

She said: “It was obviously really tough to take. The first few weeks were such a rollercoaster for me.

“It was like, ‘you’ve won the league, you’ve done your ACL, you’ve won all the individual awards,’ then you have your operation. And then it’s like learning to walk again.”

But Hughes is nothing if not resilient. She poured herself into rehab, sacrificing her summer to ensure she could return as quickly – and as strongly – as possible.

“It was just me and my physio for like May, June, July. And we smashed it out,” she said.

Now, the striker is on the other side of that journey. The hard work has paid off, and Hughes is back, ready to make her mark in Palace’s first-ever WSL campaign.

Hughes said: “Obviously when the team got promoted, I was like, well, I want to play as much part of the WSL as I can.

“And then little things along the way then obviously motivate me even more. And I say little things, but it’s like the massive summer that Wales have got ahead.”

Her return couldn’t be better timed. Wales are preparing for a historic summer as they look forward to their first-ever appearance at the UEFA Women’s Euros, and Hughes is eager to be part of it.

“Everything now more than ever... not that I was ever taking anything for granted before, but now when you suffer such a setback at such a stage of my career, I’m obviously more ambitious and more excited and raring to go than ever."

Beyond her own playing career, Hughes is committed to growing the women’s game. Her roots in Connah’s Quay in Northern Wales remain strong, and she’s actively involved in coaching the next generation.

She said: “It was because obviously my brother plays for Connah’s Quay, so that was how I first got involved with them, my local team, the local Cymru Academy.

“And I always wanted to be involved in other aspects of football because I’m so obsessed with it.

“So, it’s not always just playing, it was then like 'how can I be involved in other aspects?' And then it fell into coaching.”

Her work has helped expand opportunities for young female players in North Wales, an area historically dominated by men’s football.

“Connah’s Quay was quite dominated in boys’ football and men’s football at the time and then I was the first female staff member there, and I think it shined a light on the fact that women play football as well.

“Now there’s hundreds and hundreds of girls that train there every week, and they’ve obviously got the 19s scholarship programme and now the women’s team,” she said.

Her work has helped expand opportunities for young female players in North Wales, an area historically dominated by men’s football.

“Connah’s Quay was quite dominated in boys’ football and men’s football at the time and then I was the first female staff member there, and I think it shined a light on the fact that women play football as well.

“Now there’s hundreds and hundreds of girls that train there every week, and they’ve obviously got the 19s scholarship programme and now the women’s team,” she said.

Now, with her return to fitness, Hughes is focused on making up for lost time. She’s ready to play her part in Palace’s Barclays Women’s Super League campaign and hopefully secure a spot in the Wales squad for this summer’s tournament.

She said: “It’s actually a perfect time for me to return. I’ve got the last stretch of the season and then hopefully a busy footballing summer as well.”

For Hughes, the journey has been anything but smooth. But if there’s one thing she’s proven, it’s that she’s more than capable of overcoming any challenge that comes her way.

Palace and Wales fans alike will be thrilled to see her back where she belongs: on the pitch, putting the ball in the back of the net.

For Elise Hughes, football has always been a way of life. From kicking a ball around with her dad, Big Pete, in Connah’s Quay, to representing Wales at just 16, her journey has been one of relentless dedication and passion. 

Elise Hughes: Palace, Wales, and the road back to football 

Palace will be travelling to Kingsmeadow, home of the five-time winners of the Women's FA Cup on **Sunday, 9th March**, kicking off at **14:30 GMT.**

Away tickets for this fixture are on sale now, [and can you buy them here! ](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/EDP/Event/Index/573?position)

Please read the information in full below before purchasing your tickets.

### 📅 **Match Details**

**Chelsea vs Crystal Palace:**

- **Opponent**: Chelsea
- **Date**: Sunday, 9th March
- **Time**: 14:30
- **Competition**: Adobe Women's FA Cup
- **Venue**: Kingsmeadow

### 🎟 **Ticket Price**

- **Adult**: £15
- **Senior (65+)**: £7.50
- **Junior (Under 20)**: £7.50

### ℹ️ **Ticket Details**

- Tickets are pdf documents which will be issued no later than 48 hours to kick-off.
- Please click here to read the [visiting supporters' guide](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/tickets-guides-policies-and-forms).

Tickets for Crystal Palace’s Adobe Women's FA Cup quarter-final match away at Chelsea are now on sale!

Tickets for Palace vs Chelsea in the Women's FA Cup on sale now!

Chelsea Women v Crystal Palace Women (2025-03-09)

Women

Women

Tickets now on sale for Palace Women vs Arsenal!

Latest News

Elise Hughes: Palace, Wales, and the road back to football

Tickets for Palace vs Chelsea in the Women's FA Cup on sale now!

Latest Videos

WSL Highlights: Manchester United 3-1 Crystal Palace

Kaminski on a tough loss at United

Green reflects on defeat in Manchester

Pre-match Press Conference Manchester United (A)

Women's FA Cup highlights: Palace 2-0 Newcastle United

Kaminski praises team on FA Cup fifth round win

10Annabel
Blanchard

Women

Women

Tickets now on sale for Palace Women vs Arsenal!

Latest News

Elise Hughes: Palace, Wales, and the road back to football

Tickets for Palace vs Chelsea in the Women's FA Cup on sale now!

Latest Videos

WSL Highlights: Manchester United 3-1 Crystal Palace

Kaminski on a tough loss at United

Green reflects on defeat in Manchester

Pre-match Press Conference Manchester United (A)

Women's FA Cup highlights: Palace 2-0 Newcastle United

Kaminski praises team on FA Cup fifth round win

10AnnabelBlanchard

10Annabel
Blanchard