Crystal Palace goalkeeper Fran Kitching says that the fans can play a big part when The Eagles take on Charlton Athletic at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
London derby day brings a return to SE25 for Crystal Palace who will be hoping to again break their attendance record for a match involving their women’s team.
Crystal Palace are well-backed both home and away and goalkeeper Kitching says that the fans can again play a big part on Sunday as the club bid for derby day bragging rights.
“It is a such family club, our fans are brilliant and we hear them every week,” Kitching said when speaking to FAWSL Full-Time. “Whether it is a small number of fans travelling the length of the country to follow us or lots more at Selhurst Park, when you hear them chanting, it really does spur you on.
“When we played here previously (against Southampton), I heard the fans cheer when I made a save, when we hit the post at the other end or just missed the goal. When you hear the fans, it really does spur you on to go and get that result for them.”
With the FIFA World Cup forcing Premier League football into a break, fans of Crystal Palace’s men’s team may be more encouraged to back the women’s team for the first time. Kitching went on to say that it is important that The Eagles play the game and not the occasion.
She said “I think so (it’ll be a big occasion) but we don’t like to think of anything as too much of a big occasion because we don’t want the occasion to get the better of us, it is just about playing a game of football. We are privileged to play here (at Selhurst Park) but the main thing is to stick to how we play.
“As I said, Crystal Palace are very much a family club so I hope that lots of fans will come out to support us. I would hope that some of the fans who usually get to watch the men’s team come along to see what women’s football is all about.”
On the pitch, both Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic have invested heavily in full-time squads while the London rivals hold the same aim, to win promotion to the Barclays Women’s Super League. Kitching knows what to expect against The Addicks on Sunday.
“I think it is a special game with it being a derby and the girls have prepared me for what to expect,” Kitching said. “It is about going out there and putting on a performance. I think it might be quite a physical game with it being a derby as they always are and it could be quite end-to-end. I’ve played against Charlton before and they are a tenacious team.
“We have to be at our best and after the last game (against Sheffield United) was postponed, we have just put all of our energy into this one and we are looking forward to it.”
Crystal Palace’s Barclays Women’s Championship fixture against Charlton Athletic kicks-off at 2pm on Sunday afternoon. Tickets remain on-sale and can be purchased by clicking here.
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