Hope Patricia Powell, CBE is an English former international footballer and former women's first-team manager of Brighton & Hove Albion. She was the coach of the England women's national football team and the Great Britain women's Olympic football team until August 2013. As a player, Powell won 66 caps for England, mainly as an attacking midfielder, scoring 35 goals. She made her England debut at the age of 16, and went on to play in the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup, England's first World Cup appearance. She was also vice-captain of her country. At club level Powell played in four FA Women's Cup finals and captained Croydon to a League and Cup double in 1996.
Charlton Athletic Women's Football Club (CAWFC) play in the Women's Championship. Founded in 1991 as Bromley Borough, later under the name Croydon Women's F.C., between 2000–2007 as Charlton Athletic, the club was one of the most successful women's teams in England.
Katie Sarah Chapman is an English former footballer who last played for English FA WSL club Chelsea Ladies and was a member of the England women's national team. She primarily played as a central midfielder, although she was also deployed in central defence while playing for England. Chapman has been described as "a physical player who handles a brunt of the dirty work in the middle of the pitch." Her playing ability, profile and influence have drawn comparisons to former England captain David Beckham.
Rachel Brown is an English former football goalkeeper who played for Liverpool from 1995 to 1998 and Everton from 2003 until 2014. A product of the American college system, Brown spent five years playing varsity soccer for Alabama Crimson Tide and Pittsburgh Panthers. She also spent the 2003 season on loan in the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild, playing for ÍBV.
Casey Jean Stoney is an English professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of San Diego Wave. A versatile defender, she was capped more than 100 times for the England women's national football team since making her debut in 2000. After being a non-playing squad member at UEFA Women's Euro 2005, she was an integral part of the England teams which reached the UEFA Women's Euro 2009 final and the quarter finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2007 and 2011. In 2012, Stoney succeeded Faye White as the England captain and also became captain of the newly formed Team GB squad for the 2012 London Olympics. She ended her playing career at Liverpool Ladies. She was appointed as the first head coach of the newly-formed Manchester United Women on 8 June 2018.
Mary Rose Phillip is a former English international footballer and a football team manager who manages men's Kent County League team Peckham Town. A versatile player, she played in all four positions at the back and also in midfield. Phillip captained England, the first black player to captain an England women's international football team, and until 2011 was the only player to represent the country in two World Cup squads. During her playing career she had 65 international caps. She enjoyed a successful club career with Millwall Lionesses, Fulham, Arsenal and Chelsea. After retiring as a player in 2008 she became a team coach and manager and in 2020 became the first female manager of a cup-winning men's senior side.
Fara Tanya Franki Merrett MBE is a former English footballer who played as a central midfielder for multiple clubs, as well as the England national team. A consistent goalscorer and set-piece specialist, Williams was considered one of England's leading players. After making her senior debut in 2001, Williams earned 172 caps for the England Women's Team, making her their highest capped player. She played at the 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017 European Championships, as well as the World Cups in 2007, 2011 and 2015. Williams also featured for Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics.
Jody Handley is an English former footballer from Stafford, who most recently played for FA WSL 2 club Doncaster Rovers Belles. A pacy and intelligent attacking player, she featured as both a wide midfielder and striker for England as well as clubs including Wolves Women, Liverpool Ladies and Everton Ladies. She has featured in four FA Women's Cup finals with three clubs, losing the first three but captaining Everton Ladies to their win in 2010.
Deborah Bampton, MBE, is an English former international footballer who played as a midfielder. During her career Bampton won a treble at Arsenal and two doubles with Croydon. She also was capped a sum of 95 times for England, scoring seven goals all in all.
Pauline Cope, whose married name is Pauline Cope-Boanas, is an English former football goalkeeper. She won 60 caps for the England women's national football team between her debut in 1995 and retirement from international football in 2004. Cope was England's first choice goalkeeper at the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup and UEFA Women's Euro 2001. Ted Copeland, England's coach at the former competition, described Cope as the best female goalkeeper in the world.
Tina Ann Mapes is an English football coach and former player, who represented the England women's national football team at senior international level. She played for England in the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup finals.
Sian Williams is an English former footballer and ex–manager of Watford Ladies. As a player she represented both England and Wales, and later managed Wales.
Louise "Lou" Waller is an English former international women's football defender. She was a member of the England squad for the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup Finals. In a long association with Millwall Lionesses, Waller served the club as a player, coach, development officer, secretary and chairperson.
Ann-Marie "Annie" Heatherson is an English former footballer who most recently played as a forward and captain for Yeovil Town of the FA Women's National League. She began her career with Charlton Athletic and played for rival London clubs Fulham, Millwall Lionesses and Chelsea Ladies after Charlton folded their women's team in 2007. Heatherson also enjoyed short spells in Iceland and the United States before joining Bristol Academy ahead of the inaugural 2011 FA WSL season, where she was also employed by the club as an ambassador. Heatherson represented England up to Under-21 level and was named in senior squads but never capped. She was named the FA Women's Young Player of the Year in 2004.
Danielle Murphy is an English former footballer who played as a defender or midfielder for Millwall Lionesses, Charlton Athletic, Watford and Barnet. She won 23 caps for England at senior international level.
Joanne Broadhurst is an English football coach and former player. As an attacking midfielder or forward she represented England at full international level. Broadhurst also played for English clubs Doncaster Belles, Arsenal and Croydon/Charlton Athletic.
Justine Joanna Lorton is an English footballer, and former England international player. A deep–lying forward player, Lorton enjoyed two spells at Arsenal Ladies as well as playing in Iceland and Sweden.
Tara Proctor is a former English footballer, and former England international captain. An inspirational central midfielder, Proctor featured for Croydon/Charlton Athletic on the club level.
Carmaine Walker is a former English footballer, who represented England women's national football team. A tall and powerful striker, Walker won the FA Women's Cup once and the Premier League twice with home town club Croydon. Now working as a driver for Initial Medical
The 1997 FA Women's Cup Final was the 27th final of the FA Women's Cup, England's primary cup competition for women's football teams. The showpiece event was the fourth to be played directly under the auspices of the Football Association (FA) and was known as the UK Living FA Women's Cup Final for sponsorship reasons. Millwall Lionesses and Wembley contested the match at West Ham United's Upton Park in London on 4 May 1997. Millwall Lionesses made their second final appearance, after winning the trophy in 1991 with a 1–0 win over Doncaster Belles at Prenton Park. Wembley appeared in the final for the first time, having won the previous season's FA Women's Premier League Cup competition.
