Thornaby FC Women’s Team to Play in FA Cup First Round After Near Disbandment

A women’s football team, Thornaby FC, which faced potential disbandment earlier this year, has achieved a place in the first round of the FA Cup for the first time. In June, Thornaby FC had announced its decision to discontinue its female teams, citing a “difficult year.” However, this choice was swiftly reversed following significant public opposition, including involvement from England player Beth Mead. The team is scheduled to compete against Liverpool Feds, a club positioned three divisions higher than Thornaby FC, at 14:00 GMT. The match will take place at Teesside Park in Middlesbrough. Andy Campbell, the director of football, commented, “This is only the beginning”. To secure their spot in the tournament’s first round, the team successfully navigated three qualifying rounds. Mr Campbell stated, “It’s a real achievement for a club the size of ours.” He added, “Five months ago, we didn’t have a women’s football team, now we’re in the first round of the FA Cup.” He attributed the team’s revival to extensive “hard work” and “sleepless nights.” Abbey Lyle, Thornaby FC women’s co-manager, remarked, “It is unbelievable for the area to welcome a game like this to Thornaby. It is amazing for the town.” She continued, “This gives us a chance to show where we are at.” According to Mr Campbell, advancing to the tournament’s first round has provided a financial benefit to the club. He expressed, “We want to try and get as many people to the ground as possible.” He further stated, “We’ve got some really talented footballers in our area – we want to try and inspire as many young girls [as we can].”