Selhurst Park is set to host the final of the Women's Continental League Cup next year.
The FA confirmed the news with an announcement on radio broadcaster TalkSPORT this afternoon. The clash will kick off at 3pm on Sunday, March 3 and will mark the first time that the 25,456 seater will have hosted the final in the 11-year history of the tournament.
Home to Premier League side Crystal Palace since 1924, Selhurst Park is no stranger to hosting top level women’s football, with the Vitality Women’s FA Cup Final held there on three occasions between 2001 and 2003.
Manchester City are the defending champions in the competition after beating Chelsea 3-1 back in March, at Wimbledon's Cherry Red Records Stadium. Two goals from Caroline Weir and Ellen White did the damage for City, as they fought back in the second half after Sam Kerr opened the scoring for Chelsea.
8,004 came through the door that night for a record crowd for the fixture, but the FA will be hoping for even more in attendance for this season's final. With demand to watch the women's game higher than ever following England's success at the European Championships last summer, Selhurst Park should see plenty of demand for tickets, in excess of what organisers saw for last year's decider at Wimbledon.
It's hoped the event will also draw a huge TV audience, with the match due to be broadcast live on the BBC.
In 2021, the final was held at Watford's Vicarage Road but was played behind closed doors due to restrictions imposed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Five group winners will advance to the knock-out stage of this year's competition as well as one best placed runner-up.
Former winners Chelsea and Arsenal will enter the competition at the quarter-final stage after they were given a bye from the group stage due to their participation in the UEFA Women's Champions League.
Reflecting on the decision to host the final at Selhust Park, Kelly Simmons, FA Director of The Women's Professional Game, said: "We’re really looking forward to working with Crystal Palace over the coming months to put on a really exciting final.
“Selhurst Park hosts some of the best men’s players in the world over the course of the season in the Premier League and has also played host to the brilliant Crystal Palace in the Barclays Women’s Championship. It is a fitting venue for the Final to be held in March.”
Crystal Palace Chairman, Steve Parish, added: “We are delighted Selhurst Park has been selected to host the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup Final. Crystal Palace has a rich heritage of hosting FA Finals, being the home of the Men’s FA Cup Final for twenty years before the construction of Wembley.
"As the Women’s game continues to go from strength to strength, we are excited to continue this tradition by welcoming this showpiece game to South London.”
Tickets for the final at Selhurst Park are now on sale and are priced as follows:
Adult – £15 (Cat 1), £10 (Cat 2)
- Student / OAP - £5
- Groups, adult tickets (9+) - £7.50 (Cat 1), £5 (Cat 2)
- Under-16s - £2.5
Tickets can be purchased here.
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