When Yeovil Town knocked Sunderland out of the FA Cup in
1949, the result made the footballing world sit up and take notice of the
Glovers.
It is a result that is still regarded as one of the
competition’s greatest upsets of all time and also underlined the potential of
the then Southern League Yeovil had of becoming a Football League side one day.
Now, in 2016, as Yeovil Town Ladies prepare to face
Sunderland Ladies in the Women’s FA Cup, a win for the Lady Glovers over the
Lady Black Cats would create a level of interest that would increase the club’s
profile and could help bring them one step closer to becoming a WSL One club.
Whereas in 1949, the Sunderland side that faced Yeovil at
the ‘old’ Huish included England internationals such as Raich Carter and Len
Shackleton, the Lady Black Cats side is set to feature Republic of Ireland
international - and 2014 Puskas award runner-up - Stephanie Roche, as well as
England hopefuls Lucy Staniforth and Beth Mead – who will both be looking to
impress England manager Mark Sampson.
The Lady Glovers will be going into the tie on the back of a
morale boosting win over Bristol City Women – formerly Bristol Academy – in the
previous round, which they won on penalties.
Their last meeting in the WSL, shortly before Sunderland’s
promotion to the top-flight, ended in a 2-1 victory for the Lady Black Cats,
with Sarah Wiltshire – prior to her move to Manchester City Women – netting for
Yeovil.
Wiltshire’s goal for the Lady Glovers served to draw them
level with Sunderland at the Jones Stadium, and she was unlucky not to score a
second shortly afterwards that would have served to give them a 2-1 lead.
The magic of the cup means that, on any given day, anything
can happen – and it often does.
