Episode 7 The Women's Football Show

wants you to support Good evening and welcome to The

Women's Football Show. For the first time in a decade, we

have new champions of England. Coming up, the race for the title

draws to a thrilling conclusion. We look ahead to the introduction of

WSL2 with promotion favourites Sunderland.

And stand by for our Goal of the Season.

And tonight for the final time this season we have Faye and Sue giving

their views! Is that right? Well, we begin with Widnes. Where yesterday

Liverpool and Bristol Academy went head-to-head in a straight shoot out

to become WSL Champions. Perched in the commentary box for us was Nigel

Adderley. One football's most famous names is now 90 minutes away from

making a real impact in the women's game, but it is sure to be a very,

very tense afternoon. It is the same Liverpool side which won the

Merseyside derby in such memorable fashion before the international

break. Only two of the three and he goes is in from the Bristol Academy.

-- three Amigos. There is a very cosmopolitan feel to

the Liverpool side these days. A fine save from Chamberlain. 11 goals

so far this season for the German. And again, she is denied by

Chamberlain! Well, Bristol Academy giving far too much room there.

And Liverpool dominance so far. Given the room to shoot! And

clipping the frame of the goal! And Bristol Academy here, hanging on by

their fingernails! And all he wants to note down is a Liverpool goal.

The challenge, and it is a penalty! The pressure was building. Alex

looks distraught. But Nicole is such a tricky customer. But she makes no

mistake and Liverpool are on their way! In the circumstances, such a

confident penalty. Delight on the bench as well.

And here is a rare attack for Bristol Academy. It is del Rio...

And she is lucky to see that one pass beyond the far post. Will --

well, Laura del Rio has not seen much of this. An opportunity for the

team. Bristol Academy, they need goals here, and they need them quick

key. Del Rio! She does have the ability. -- they need them quickly.

Back into this game. Liverpool beginning to rediscover their

rhythm. And that should have been the title wrapped up there and then.

Working hard outside the penalty area. And Liverpool get the free

kick. One of two Americans in the side

will take it. It's Liverpool's title now! Great play by Natasha Dowie and

Catrin man stopped here. To put Liverpool's red ribbons on the

trophy! Such a transformation in this club. They have gone from worst

to first in the space of a season! Liverpool are the champions!

Disappointment for Mark Sampson and the Bristol Academy. And Arsenal's

Iraqi dominance is finally over! -- the Bristol Academy. And Arsenal's

era of dominance. So it's congratulations to

Liverpool, and earlier this evening, I caught up with Reds manager Matt

Beard and striker Natasha Dowie as they arrived for their End of Season

Awards at Anfield. So Liverpool and Bristol was the

main event of the weekend, but there were three other games played

yesterday, including Sue Smith's Doncaster. A great performance and

I'm delighted for the team because they fully deserved to win this

title. It was a great day, the team played well and we had a good night

out last night and it is great the club have put this on for us tonight

as well. At the start of the season, you would have been

surprised if this had happened, would you? Or did you always know

you would get it? We always knew we were building a side that could

compete at the top of the table. But they just had to understand how we

wanted them to play. And the players have been crossing that line and

performing week in, week out, so, as I say, I would be happy with Europe

but to win the league is a fantastic achievement. There are some who say

you have brought in some foreign players. Is that right for the WSL?

What is your response? Well, we have put in the best players that we

could. The English system with regards to not many clubs being able

could. The English system with to pay for players and lots of the

players are under 24, so with the new format, the players are

contracted and you would have to pay a transfer fee and I don't think any

clubs want to do that. But as one of the reasons I was at tempted to

bring in players from overseas. I felt I needed a fresh start and the

opportunity to be training every day, I really felt it would improve

my game. I had a disappointing year last year so to have the season I

have had this year, it is like a dream come true, and I have enjoyed

every minute. What was the atmosphere like? We went out for a

few drinks last night and let our hair down. Most of us obviously

recovering and then took the time to come here and have this meal

tonight. They have supported us and I think it has been a huge factor in

tonight. They have supported us and our success, and how much they have

invested in us. Has it sunk in? Not really, no. It will take a couple of

days for it to sink in and then I can reflect on the season and start

focusing on next year. It will be tough to defend the title because

Arsenal will come back strong next year. We'll so have man city coming

into the division, so it will be interesting to see what happens. --

we also have Manchester City. People will want to knock us off the top

now and it is up to us to defend ourselves. What is the favourite

memory of the season? Oh, gosh! Too many to think of. The Emirates, but

obviously, yesterday was the best by far. As soon as that whistle was

blown, it was a dream country. And they will have another big night

tonight. I am sure! You motivated that beard and his players, so he

said, by predicting on the BBC website at the start of the season

that they would finish mid-table! How do you feel? Guilty! . I am just

pleased that my opinion holds so much weight! It is impressive what

they have done and they certainly deserve the title. For a team that

has got there that quickly. And he said he could take the pressure and

expectation from them because 12 players were completely new to the

team, but, yes, they have done well. Lots of the players scoring and I

think they got three in the top five of goal-scorers. All credit to

them. They got the most points and they deserve it. Good to hear you

say that! The support they have got is brilliant! Sue, talking of the

forward line, helped in some measure by 14 goals in 21 games by Natasha

Dowie. She is a natural goal-scorer and I think we were saying it all

through the year rose. She doesn't just score the same type of goal.

This goal is just a lovely, cool finish, and that is what she can

do. She is confident in goal. That is their natural instinct, their

natural goal-scoring, and she justifies it in, knows exactly where

the goal is. But again, confidence. It shows how she was so delighted to

score against her Everton, old club, in the Derby. And, again, it means

so much to her to school these goals, and she has continually done

that through the season. And I have been continually impressed by her

forward line. They have all been scoring goals. Lots of people have

forward line. They have all been been saying, Liverpool, they have

finished bottom in previous seasons but now they are at the top but they

have the budget. And think it is natural when you see such a massive

change and people say, how has that happened? It has to be money to

attract those foreign players. But like you say, Chelsea have a big

budget, and Lincoln as well, but they have not necessarily done well.

They have attracted the players but not necessarily been able to do that

and get higher up in the league. So it is great for Liverpool to have

made it work in their first season. What a season for Bristol! They got

to the FA Cup final again and took it to the final day. Not too many

would have tipped them for that at the start of the season? No. The

girls are going to be so disappointed that they got to the

final game of the season and they will be really disappointed, but

they have to look back at the whole season and be really proud of

themselves, because, as you have mentioned, they've had an amazing

season and they are so together at the team. They looked down and

disappointed but they have to be proud of themselves. They finished

second but that was ultimately because of the deduction after those

lost points. But what a fantastic experience for them going into

Europe? Yes, and it will help them grow that bit more and attract

players for next year. But it is a grow that bit more and attract

vital experience as a player and grow that bit more and attract

club, just to develop and get that experience of playing foreign

teams, the travelling and the togetherness that can bring.

Confidence as well. It is just a good thing to look to. Rate effort

and fantastic spirit they have there. Three other games were played

yesterday. Including Doncaster. But it was the end of an era. This was

your last match, Sue, before getting relegated. You did finish bottom in

the end but you found out after one match of the season that the club

would be relegated. How much of an impact do you think that had? I

think we could use that as an excuse. We didn't perform well in

the games. We were bottom. We did play well at times but we could not

get the results. It was quite an emotional day and we couldn't get

the results. I had tears in my eyes. It was a whole emotion and we wanted

to finish on a high and we didn't. Obviously, the John Buckley thing,

more than anything, the fact that he won't be managing next season, for

me, especially, I was down about that, because I have been managed by

him for the last two years and he has been a fantastic manager and

person. I'm just gutted he isn't going to be involved. I've thought

he would be the man to take us back up into the WSL 1. So hopefully

things can mean he gets another job in women's football. It sounds like

it was a shock? Yes. I am still in a bit of shock now. He was a great

guy, a great character, and has done so much for the club.

Arsenal won 14 Championships during Donny's top-flight stay but not this

season. They did finish with a 2-1 win over Everton thanks to a late

Rachel Yankey winner. And Lincoln played their final ever

League game before reforming as Notts County. They secured a 2-0 win

over Chelsea courtesy of goals from Courtney Sweetman-Kirk and Lara Fay.

And that result means the Lady Imps leapfrog Chelsea in the table, but

they could end the season on a real high with victory in the League Cup

final on Friday against Arsenal. So one more big game in the domestic

season, Arsenal against Lincoln, Arsenal still smarting presumably

from not having won the league after nine years of dominating, what do

you make of their chances? They have got a cup double still to fight

for, important to bounce back from their disappointment, looking at the

points deduction as well. They have only lost one game, so they will

feel very aggrieved that bad. Lincoln have had a good season, they

have drawn with them, that could be why the league has slipped away, but

they have set a very defensively, made it frustrating to play against,

but I think they will give it a good go in this final because they will

want to finish on a high, the fact that they are not going to be

Lincoln next year as well. Let's have a look at your team of the

season, a couple of Arsenal players, a joint decision between you.

How tough was that? Jordan Nobbs has had a great season, best player for

Arsenal in my opinion. It was not just me picking the Arsenal players!

Siobhan Chamberlain in goal has had a great season, played every minute

of every game. I also picked out Lizzy of Everton, but I think

Siobhan deserved it in goal. Yes, we are going to pick some Bristol

players as well, especially Jemma Rose and Corinne Yorston, they have

stood out as being really strong, quality defenders, they made it

difficult for teams to break down, but we were looking at wide players,

went we? Gemma Davidson could have been in there, so many different

went we? Gemma Davidson could have players. To get it down to 11 was

difficult, but that shows the standard of the league this season.

Fara Williams, Alex Greenwood as well. We had quite a debate! Nikki

to Harris is brilliant for a young player, to do so well for Everton.

After a thrilling WSL campaign, the game is thriving in this country,

and adding to the vibrancy is an expansion to a second tier this

season. One of the favourites for promotion will be Sunderland, who

narrowly missed out on a place in the inaugural WSL after failing to

meet the FA bid criteria, but three years on the Black Cats are

determined to make their case on the pitch.

Sunderland are a team on the up, and ahead of their entry into WSL2, they

have now formalised their partnership with the men's club. We

needed a strong partnership to put in a bid for the super league. We

have always had a good relationship in a bid for the super league. We

with Sunderland football club, and this time around they afforded a lot

of their facilities and staff in putting together what proved to be a

successful bid, so we are delighted to have a proper partnership with

Sunderland football club. It is to have a proper partnership with

massive for us, the men have done loads for us in the past, given as

the ground and the transport, and now that we are under the umbrella,

I think it will take us to the next level. 2009, the appearance in the

FA Cup final in front of a worldwide audience on TV, again, we were

excited, and we thought we had arrived. We thought it was just a

matter of course before we could apply successfully to the Super

League, and we were devastated when we were turned down. Yes, it hurt

everyone at the club, but we got over that, and our attitude was,

well, let's go and win the league and prove everybody wrong, and we

have done that three years on the bounce. Out of something that upset

as and disappointed us, we have had three years of success, and we got

there in the end. The Lady Black Caps have an excellent reputation

for developing talent, four of the current England side. I think we

have definitely got to mention the work of Mick Mulhern, the amount of

players he has brought through the system has been me, Steph, Jordan,

Lucy, the players who have come through the centre of excellence.

Lucy, the players who have come For me, that fills me with immense

pride that we are challenging clubs that have been established for

years, it is great that they have got to an international level. To be

honest, the north-east just loves its football, whether you are a boy

or a girl, you always encouraged to play from a young age, and

Sunderland is no different, and Sunderland has been the team that I

support, and having a chance to play Sunderland has been the team that I

for them from such a young age was a great opportunity for me, but in

terms of breeding them players, I think Sunderland is the best club in

the north-east that does that. The Wearsiders are hoping their current

crop can propel them into the top tier. Were going in as Premier

League champions, we can hold our heads high, we have made a few

signings to strengthen the squad, but we have not lost any body, which

is a bonus. We have got that family atmosphere around the globe,

everyone is buzzing to get in. Hopefully we will keep producing

players, hopefully we will keep them and succeed from there. It is going

players, hopefully we will keep them to be very tough, everybody has the

same aims and ambitions. Everyone wants to play in the top league in

same aims and ambitions. Everyone the women's game, and that is where

we want to be, and hopefully this time next year we might have done

that, but we will see. It would be great to achieve our ambition of

WSL1 status, and perhaps look at some of our form players and say, if

you would like to come home, we would welcome you with open arms.

So this is how the brand-new WSL1 looks next season. Lincoln become

Nottinghamshire County. Sunderland won the Premier League

for the last three seasons in a row, they really fancy their chances.

They are a top team, they will be difficult to beat, Mick Mulhern has

brought through some fantastic players, a very good coach, and they

will be the team to beat. He deserves a huge amount of credit,

maybe they will get some of those Sunderland players back. What about

Manchester City, the new kids on the block in WSL1? People are wondering

what they will bring, lots of signings from other clubs, players

from abroad, will they throw money at it? Until they sign a first

player, it is hard to know, because you hear rumours about foreign

player, it is hard to know, because players. They have got a lot to

offer. They have a lot of facilities as well, that is a big draw, so we

shall wait and see. They will be able to train five times a week,

which Nottinghamshire County will be doing next season, Arsenal four

times, Liverpool five times, it makes a difference. It will be a

great opportunities for the players, I wish I was still playing! It will

be a big draw for those players to join those teams. Interim coach

Brent Hills' first England squad contained four players who started

Brent Hills' first England squad at Sunderland. Let's see how they

got on in the World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Turkey.

No Hope Powell for the first time in 15 years, but it took Brent Hills'

side just three minutes to break the deadlock through Karen Carney, and

the winger effectively ended the contest before half-time, completing

a hat-trick in front of 7000 fans in Bournemouth's gold sounds stadium.

Natasha Dowie grabbed the first international goal as a second-half

substitute to help England finish with a 6-0 win. Turkey were the

victims of another stuffing at with a 6-0 win. Turkey were the

Fratton Park five days later. This time it was Toni Duggan's turned to

grab a first-half hat-trick which put the Lionesses on their way to a

drubbing. Brent Hills putting his name in the shop window for the

permanent job. This is how the group looks after

two games. England versus Wales will be the

first game for the new head coach. This is Helen Ward's gold, the

Chelsea player for Wales, laid This is Helen Ward's gold, the

against Belarus at the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday night. A great

week for Brent Hills and England, interesting comment from Hope

Powell, who said that appointing the next England manager as a male would

be a backward step, do you agree Quetta at all. I think it has to be

the best person for the job, as long as they are as qualified as they

need to be. I do not think Brent Hills would be too happy about that!

He has done fantastically well, look at his results, he has to be quite

high up in the pecking order, the fact that they won by a lot of

goals, haven't they? Thank you! And not conceded many. It does not

matter in my eyes if it is male or female. We will find out Hope

Powell's successor in the next two female. We will find out Hope

or three weeks. Scotland rounded off good week for the British sides when

or three weeks. Scotland rounded off they followed up a 7-2 win in the

Faroe Islands with another seven against Bosnia-Herzegovina at Fir

Park. Seven different goal-scorers, Lisa Evans with the first, Suzanne

Lappin completing the rout late on. This is our group four stands, so

far so good for Scotland. You would think Sweden would be the

main challenger to the end of that group and automatically qualifying.

They play Northern Ireland next, Scotland, on the same day as the

England-Wales game. OK, we could not finish the show without the

customary goal of the season contenders, so here the top five

strikes from the 2013 WSL1 campaign. Four days later, Corine Yorston

provided this goal, showing great composure and technique to deliver a

superb strike past Everton keeper Rachel Brown.

Gold C comes from Steph Houghton against Lincoln. With Arsenal on the

brink of a second successive defeat, she killed this past Karen Bardsley

to salvage a point for the Gunners. -- curled. This is a beautifully

constructive team goal from Chelsea. Winning possession in the

middle of the park, they patiently strung together 20 passes, finished

with a stroke to match. And last but not least, a wonderful

trike from Liverpool's Catrin Omarsdottir, pulling the trigger to

devastating effect against Bristol Academy.

Not an easy decision, who do you think was the best? I will sit on

the fence normally, but there were so many great girls. I will go.

Fulton, I thought it was the fact that it was the last minute of the

game. -- I will go. Photo on. Looked up, top corner, fantastic finish. I

will go with Blondel's goal for Chelsea, just purely because you

pick the best of the long-range efforts. -- Blondel. So you will go

for the team effort. Thank you to both of you, that is it for another

season, it has come to an end. We hope you enjoyed it, WS L will be

back bigger and better next year, Liverpool kicking off as defending

champions. Goodbye for now.