From near WSL relegation to the Women’s FA Cup semi-final

By Alice Wright

Four years ago, Leicester City Women were still playing semi-professional football. A year ago, they looked like they would be relegated from the Women’s Super League. On Sunday 14th April 2024, they competed in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup semi-final for the first time in their history. 

You only have to look back a year ago to see how far they’ve come in such a short space of time. Leicester ended the 2022/23 WSL season on 16 points. A win away at Brighton on the final game of the season secure City’s top-flight status for a second season. The Foxes finished the season in 10th and created history as the first team in the WSL to turn around a seven-point deficit at the bottom of the table. Now they sit 9th on 17 points with four games left to play in the 2023/24 season. 

The introduction of Jutta ‘the goal machine’ Rantala, Yuka Momiki and Takarada has helped to transform what was once a struggling Leicester side and allowed them to flourish in the top flight of women’s football. Rantala currently has 10 goals in all competitions and helped turn Leicester into a resilient side with strength and skill in all areas of the pitch. So far this season they have managed to challenge the ‘top’ teams and even forced Man United into a shock 1-1 draw in October. 

In their FA Cup journey to the semi-final, Leicester displayed incredible performances with impressive victories showcasing their determination and emerged as the ‘underdogs’.

The cup campaign kicked off with a comfortable 4-0 win against Derby County in January. The fifth round of the competition saw the Foxes host Birmingham City in a 6-2 goal-fest at the Pirelli Stadium. In the quarter-finals, Leicester headed to Liverpool as they hoped to make the semi-finals for the first-time in their history. Jutta Rantala scored both goals of the game to claim the headlines in City’s historic 2-0 victory. 

At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the stage was set for a momentous occasion in women’s football. There would be a new finalist at Wembley this year. 

This was my first away game for Leicester City Women. I’m usually tucked up behind a laptop screen watching from home and writing up a match report. For one day I took my journalist hat off and decided to enjoy the game with my dad. With it being such a momentous occasion for both teams I had to be there. This was women’s football herstory. 

The club put on 6 free coaches for travelling fans. It was a fantastic incentive. Inside the ground, I heard the people behind me say ‘bet half these lot won’t go to Arsenal away next weekend’. So what?! If one person comes away from the game and decides to go to another game, then that’s mission accomplished. 

This was not only a momentous occasion on the pitch but in the stands too. Around and inside the stadium was a sea of Leicester blue. 1000 fans were there to see Leicester City Women. Their biggest ever away support. Every single one was there for the women’s team. It sent shivers down my spine and filled my eyes with tears. 

It’s clear to see how much women’s football has grown with clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea. But for the ‘smaller’ sides there’s still a long way to go but they’re going in the right direction. Last season just 50 fans were at Leicester’s final game away at Brighton. Now they’re taking 1000 fans to Tottenham. 

Leicester went ahead after 12 minutes through a spectacular goal from Jutta Rantala which sent the Foxes’ fans into raptures. 

It looked like the East Midlands side had one foot comfortably in the final at Wembley, but the Lilywhites didn’t give up lightly. 

Tottenham equalised in the 83rd minute as Jess Naz raced through to haul Spurs back into the tie. 

The game headed to the dreaded extra time and the clock ticked closer to the 120th minute. It looked like Leicester would have to face a penalty shoutout. That was until the 118th minute. Tottenham won a corner which found the head of Martha Thomas. The Scottish striker looped a header past Lize Kop to send the 17,000 Tottenham fans wild and leave the Foxes faithful with their heads in their hands. 

Credit: Kerrie Jacobs-Bryant

The full-time whistle blew and there was jubilation for Spurs. But for Leicester the story was different. After giving absolutely everything on the pitch the Leicester players dropped to their knees from tiredness and disappointment. They were almost there. 

It was bound to be an emotional day. I’ve only been following the team since the 2021/22 season and for me to see how far they’ve grown felt incredibly emotional. For those that travel home and away every week this day would’ve been very special. 

Seeing Sophie Howard’s face streaming in tears was close to pushing me to my emotional limit. It didn’t. Seeing the faces of young girls in the stands is what sent me over the edge. I saw a lady with the blue home shirt on crying in her seat when I made my way out of the stadium, and it choked me up. I know this feeling oh so well. 

This will hurt for a while. But this isn’t little old Leicester anymore. Leicester City Women are a force to be reckoned with and this is not the last time you’ll see them in a semi-final.