Watford FC Women are set to play their first home game at Vicarage Road in over a decade, as they host Sunderland in a crucial Barclays Women’s Championship clash on Sunday, March 31 (2pm KO).
The Hornets, who currently play at Grosvenor Vale, have not played at the men’s team’s stadium since 2010, when they faced Arsenal in the FA Women’s Cup semi-final. The club said the move was a way of showing their support and appreciation for the women’s team, who are fighting for survival in the second tier of English women’s football.
Damon Lathrope’s side face a daunting challenge against the Black Cats, who are leading the table with a four-point gap over second-placed Crystal Palace. Sunderland, who were relegated from the Women’s Super League in 2018, have bounced back with a remarkable campaign, winning 15 of their 17 games so far. Watford, on the other hand, have struggled to find consistency, and are currently in 10th place, just three points above the relegation zone.
However, the Hornets have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, securing back-to-back wins and clean sheets against Blackburn Rovers and Coventry United. Lathrope, who took over as head coach in January, said he was proud of his players’ efforts and hoped they would rise to the occasion at Vicarage Road.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the girls to play at such a historic and iconic venue, and I’m sure they will relish the experience,” he said. “We know it’s going to be a tough game against a very strong Sunderland side, but we have nothing to lose and everything to gain. We have been working hard on the training ground and we are confident we can give them a good game.”
The club is also hoping to attract a large crowd for the match, with a special offer of free entry for under-18s with a paying adult. Tickets are available online, over the phone, or in person, with discounts for men’s and Wealdstone FC season ticket holders. Junior Hornets members can also get tickets for just £1.
The club’s chief executive, Scott Duxbury, said he was delighted to welcome the women’s team to Vicarage Road and urged the fans to show their support.
“We are very proud of our women’s team and we want to give them the best possible platform to showcase their talents and achieve their goals,” he said. “We hope that many of our loyal fans will come along and cheer them on, and also introduce a new generation of supporters to the women’s game. It promises to be a great day of football and entertainment for the whole family.”