She Emerge Global Magazine


The original Southampton side were trailblazers who romped to repeated victories, reaching all of the first nine finals and 10 of the first 11, winning eight of them.

One of their key stars, forward Sue Lopez, won 22 England caps in her 20-year playing career and also had a one-year spell at Italian Serie A side Roma.

Nearly 50 years on from Lopez and co’s first successes, Warren’s team’s cross-city rivals, with links to the St Mary’s-based men’s side, are coached by England legend Marieanne Spacey-Cale and also face third-tier opposition in Cardiff City.

Both Southampton clubs came through penalty shootouts in a dramatic second round, with Spacey-Cale’s side knocking out former WSL side Yeovil Town.

But they are not the only lower-league clubs dreaming of causing an upset and claiming a place in Monday’s fourth-round draw (17:00 GMT).

Sitting seventh in the fourth tier’s south east region, West London-based Actonians LFC are the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition.

They travel to Billericay Town, who sit four places higher than them in the table, in one of two all-fourth-tier ties.

In the other, Brighouse Town FC host their National League Division One North title rivals Barnsley.

Both those sides are unbeaten in the league this term, with Brighouse seven points behind the leaders Barnsley with a game in hand.

Those two ties will ensure that at least two fourth-tier outfits reach this season’s fourth round.

But Ipswich – who are top of tier four’s south east region – will hope to join them with a home victory over third-tier Portsmouth, while both Southampton clubs also bid to represent the lower tiers further.

There are nine ties in all on Sunday, with the nine victors joining the 23 teams from the top two divisions for Monday’s draw for the last 32, including holders Manchester City.

This year’s final will be held at Wembley on Saturday, 9 May.

BBC Sport has launched #ChangeTheGame to showcase female athletes in a way they never have been before. Through more live women’s sport available to watch across the BBC, complemented by our journalism, we are aiming to turn up the volume on women’s sport and alter perceptions. Find out more here.



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