Four years ago, Leicester City Women were still playing semi-professional football. Two years 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.
This weekend marks the start of Leicester’s next FA Cup campaign as they host Stoke City Women at Meadow Lane. As anticipation builds, we look back at their extraordinary journey to last season’s FA Cup semi-final and celebrate how far they’ve come in such a short space of time.
A glance back just two years reveals the remarkable progress they’ve made in such a short amount of time. Leicester ended the 2022/23 WSL season on 16 points. A win away at Brighton on the final game of the season secured 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.
The introduction of Jutta ‘the goal machine’ Rantala, Yuka Momiki and Takaranda has helped to transform what was once a struggling Leicester side, allowing them to flourish in the top flight of women’s football. Last season Rantala scored 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 Chelsea into a shock 1-1 draw in December.
Throughout their FA Cup journey to the semi-finals, Leicester delivered remarkable performances, securing impressive victories that highlighted their determination and cemented their status as the ultimate 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 goalfest 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 ‘her-story‘.
This was not just a momentous occasion on the pitch, but in the stands as well. The stadium was awash in a sea of Leicester blue, with 1,000 fans proudly supporting Leicester City Women — their largest away support ever. Every single one of them was there for the women’s team, and the sight sent shivers down my spine and brought tears to my eyes.
It’s clear to see how women’s football has grown with clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea. 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. It looked like Leicester would have to face a penalty shoot-out. That was until the 118th minute. Tottenham won a corner which found the head of Martha Thomas. The Scottish striker looped a header past Kop to send the 17,000 Spurs’ fans wild and leave the Foxes faithful with their heads in their hands.
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 always going to be an emotional day. Seeing Sophie Howard’s face, streaming with tears, nearly pushed me to my emotional breaking point — but it didn’t. What truly broke me was the sight of young girls in the stands, their faces filled with hope and emotion. As I made my way out of the stadium, I saw a woman in a blue home shirt, tears streaming down her face, and it took everything in me to hold it together. I recognise that feeling all too well.
This pain will linger for a while, but let’s be clear — Leicester are no longer the underdog. This won’t be the last time we see them in a semi-final. Leicester City Women will be determined to start another strong FA Cup run, beginning with a win against Stoke City on Sunday.
